If you're telling them to give to pay the light bill, it doesn't work. They want to hear about lives saved and changed. The second principle is, of course, there has to be good clean accounting. The third principle is to encourage a climate of openness. Talking about money is hard, and it usually happens in small groups.
Majors encourages candor and reflection.
I don't think people are that impressed with sermons from the pastor about giving. The stories of struggle are more effective than the ones where they've been doing it all along and have plenty of money. Langness said the struggles of his mother convinced him to be a faithful tither. My mother raised four of us and gave us a debt-free college education. It puts the rest of your life in perspective.