Saturday Sermonette - Oh, no! That Stewardship Sermon!

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:9-11, NKJV

It seems like about once a year, a pastor stands up and gives the old stewardship sermon. Why? Don't they know it just turns people off? Everybody knows it's just a plea to get more money for the pastor's salary, right?

Okay, so here I am, preaching one more little bit about being good stewards. I hope that doesn't mean that none of you will read my blog anymore!👀

When you get to heaven, do you want the Lord to greet you with, "Well done, you good and faithful servant," or "Did you serve or not?"

Many churches these days are struggling. Old churches have termite damage, rotting timbers, cracked windows and not enough money to fix anything. However, at home, we also have financial woes. Would it be right to put the church building ahead of our own houses?

Next week I'm going to tackle our church. (No, I'm not the pastor. I'm just one of the congregation who occasionally gets to step up to the pulpit when the pastor is absent.) It doesn't take new glasses to notice we have some building maintenance needs. So I'm going to ask people to up their monthly giving. Not by a lot; no, by just a little--because if everyone would give an extra dollar or ten per week our shortfall would go away.

Most churches put funds into categories like maintenance and ministries and utilities and youth ministry. Normally, they won't take money intended to paint the church and put it towards utilities. It's as though they are separate accounts with separate checkbooks. So...if you want to make sure your money goes to a specific need, write that project on your check. The treasurer will make sure that check you wrote goes there.

It doesn't take a lot, but surely you can forego that Starbucks cuppa once a week and give it where it won't put an extra inch around your middle. And if you truly cannot afford an extra dollar--maybe volunteer to mow the lawn or pick up a paintbrush. For the love of God (literally), do something.

So...you have your assignment. God bless you and Amen.