Top Lessons from 100+ Churches
Since we launched our 6-week financial class, True Financial Freedom, we’ve talked to a lot of churches about how to run an easy, well-attended financial class.
And here’s what we’ve noticed: the ones that overthink it tend to stall out.
The ones that actually get it done? They pick a format, set a date, and figure out the rest as they go.
That said, there are a few things worth thinking through before you start. Not because you need to get everything perfect—but because a little planning upfront saves headaches later.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
Pick a format (any format)
There’s no single right way to do this. We’ve seen all of these work:
One big room, everyone together. This is the most common. A church in Georgia ran 110 people through this way—tables with table leads, video on the big screen, discussion in small groups. A church in New Jersey did the same with about 20 people in their sanctuary.
Small groups in homes. A couple in Texas hosted their small group at their house after church dinner. About 8 people, very conversational. “It was intimate in a healthy way—like sitting in the living room with you guys.”
Virtual over Zoom. A facilitator in Canada ran the whole thing virtually—21 people signed up, 17-19 showed up consistently each week. “That made it possible for people outside the local area to join in.”
Spread out over months. One church in Canada did sessions 1-2 of our class in October, 3-4 in January, and 5-6 in June. They gave homework between sessions and used a text thread to keep people connected. Slower, but it gave people time to actually implement things.
Watch at home, discuss together. Some churches have participants watch the videos on their own time, then come together for an hour to discuss. Less time commitment per meeting, but requires more self-discipline from participants.
Individual access, no group meeting. Some churches just give their people access to go through it on their own schedule—no coordinated class at all. It’s less community-driven, but it removes every scheduling barrier. Great for staff development or premarital counseling, where couples go through it together at home.
The point: don’t let format decisions hold you up. Pick what fits your church and adjust if needed.
(And if you ever want us to actually teach it live over Zoom for your group, we do that too. It’s a higher investment, but some churches love having Bob & Linda lead the sessions directly. Just reach out if you’re curious.)
Timing matters more than you’d think
Block 90 minutes. For our program, most videos run 50-70 minutes. But you need a buffer for getting settled, discussion breaks, and questions at the end. One facilitator told us, “We scheduled for an hour and 45 minutes because it usually goes a little over, and I really wanted to be done by nine.”
Weeknights work. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Monday evenings are all common. One church did Sunday afternoons at 3:30—people had time to go home, have lunch, and come back. That worked well for them.
Time of year matters. January (New Year’s resolutions) and September (back to routine) tend to get better turnout. Starting in December or mid-summer—when people are traveling and distracted—sets you up for drop-off.
Don’t compete with yourself. If you have multiple classes that start around the same time in your church, you may be making it harder to get the attendance you’re hoping for. If possible, give each class some breathing room so people don’t have to pick-and-choose (or over-commit) in order to benefit from everything you have to offer!
Getting people to show up (and keep showing up)
No two churches are the same when it comes to their attendance goals, and we’ve seen successful classes in almost every configuration:
- Individual counseling & discipleship
- Small groups (individual groups and church-wide)
- Study-at-home with weekly meetings
- Large rooms
- And even church-wide campaigns
Here are a few things that make a difference in the churches that hit their attendance goals and keep people coming back:
Stage time. The bulletin isn’t enough. When the lead pastor mentions it from the stage—even briefly—it signals that this matters. One church had the pastor announce it multiple times AND gave away a copy of the book from stage. They had over 100 people sign up.
On the flip side, a facilitator told us, “My biggest disappointment was that there were only two couples. Part of that was a lack of marketing. We didn’t talk about it much in front of the church.”
We help with this by providing examples from other churches, scripts, slides, and teaser videos to make promoting from stage simple!
Pair it with a sermon series. A church in Georgia ran the class alongside a sermon series on generosity. “It worked out great because everything they were teaching, our pastor was basically teaching similarly. It was all God.”
Need some inspiration for a sermon series? Check out our outline here or see how this church incorporated our content into their weekly worship service.
Remove cost barriers. We covered creative ways to fund a church class in this article, but it’s worth repeating here: the people who most need this class are often the ones who can’t pay $50 to attend. The churches with the best turnout find ways to cover the cost or keep fees minimal.
Build on success. There’s no replacement for real experience. Testimonials from people in your own congregation carry more weight than anything we could say. One church told us they’re planning to have people share from stage before their next round of classes.
Small things that make a big difference
Childcare. If parents can’t bring their kids, they won’t come. One facilitator worked with their church to let the class drop off kids 15 minutes early so they could start on time and not run late.
Tables, not rows. If you’re doing it in a larger group, tables with 4-5 people work better than theater seating. Makes discussion easier and feels less like a lecture.
Print the worksheets. If you’re planning on using printed material, don’t assume people will print it at home. They won’t. A facilitator told us, “We printed copies and put them into a book for everybody. People loved that.”
And if you plan on bringing True Financial Freedom to your church, make sure you ask us about our workbooks. They’re a great companion to the course and could potentially save you a lot of time and money in printing costs.
The giveaways matter. Multiple churches told us people get genuinely excited about these. “They loved the giveaways. They sat around and waited for them every single time.”
And with True Financial Freedom, giveaway boxes come standard for every church (it’s the small things, right?).
Know the video lengths. Our videos vary from about 50 to 75 minutes, but we have a variety of configurations if a shorter class (30-35 minutes) is needed. Glance at the runtime before each session, so you’re not surprised.
Bottom line? Just start
The churches that make the most progress aren’t the ones with the perfect plan. They’re the ones who picked a date, told people about it, and pressed play.
Every church is a little different. You’ll figure out what works for your context as you go. And if you decide to join True Financial Freedom, you can email us anytime you hit a snag or want to talk through logistics. We’ve probably seen whatever you’re dealing with before – and you’ll get a real member of our team who will get back to you asap.
You can do it – and we’re here to help.
Discussion about this post