Hit a Home Run: Bring in the Tithe

SERMON SERIES: “World Series of Stewardship”
SERMON TITLE:   “Hit a Home Run:  Bring in the Tithe”
SERMON TEXT:    2 Chronicles 31:1-10
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           October 28, 2018, at First UMC
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                With all the World Series baseball you might have been watching this week, you may not remember all the way back to Tuesday’s game one.  The Red Sox were hosting the LA Dodgers at Fenway Park.  In the seventh inning, the Red Sox were ahead 5-4.  That’s when pinch-hitter Eduardo Núñez hit a homer that scored three runs.  That 8-4 advantage held out for the rest of the game, giving the Red Sox their early lead in the series.
                As I’ve read up about Eduardo Núñez, I’ve discovered that this guy who became the Red Sox’s most valuable player in game one hadn’t produced many scores for the Red Sox during the regular season.  In fact, one sports article said he was among “the worst players in baseball.”*  But—due to some injuries of his teammates and some excellent coaching by the Red Sox manager Alex Cora—when Núñez’s turn came, he was in the right place at the right time and ready to make a significant difference.  No matter what his batting average had been in the prior season, Eduardo Núñez became a much-valued player that night with his powerful home run.
                Throughout this month, we’ve been using baseball imagery to grow in our financial stewardship.  On the first Sunday of October, we talked about the importance of stepping up to the plate by having hearts ready and willing to share.  On the second Sunday, we talked about getting a base hit by figuring out a personal financial strategy for giving.  And last Sunday, we talked about increasing runners batted in by encouraging others through our financial support of this church.  Today, as we get ready to come up to the front and place our pledge cards in this giant catcher’s mitt, we have one more baseball image to consider.  Let’s hit a home run and bring in the tithe.

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