It’s almost Spring and here in Central Florida that means professional baseball is about to get into full swing (no pun intended). Spring training is always fun to watch. Rookies trying to make the team, veterans trying to keep their jobs and coaches trying out new strategies to win games.
One of the strategies that is seen quite often during spring training – believe or not – is the bunt. The bunt isn’t dramatic or powerful. It doesn’t get your adrenaline flowing like a home run or bring fans to their feet. The bunt is not a “swing for the fences” type of play that can inspire or rally the team. It is a small play that is actually one of the most strategic ways in baseball for winning games.
Bunts Can Equal Wins
As a senior pastor I have learned over the years that the “bunt” is also a great strategy for seeing the “win” in church leadership. Sometimes it’s not the big dramatic event, powerful marketing effort or adrenaline pumping sermon series that brings about the greatest success. More times than not it’s a small change that has the greatest impact.
Slight Tweaks Can Make Big Differences
At times it has been a slight tweaking to how guest follow-up is done or discipleship is handled. Other times it’s been a simple invite card in the hands of regular attenders or a new banner in front of the meeting location. On many occasions it’s just been the humble act of praying over all of the seats before the service or adding a new element to worship.
Just One Bunt Away
It’s been said that churches are just one small change away from where they are to where they want to be. The key word in that statement is small…a bunt. The bunt puts baseball players on base and a small “bunt” in ministry can help the church get one step closer to seeing people coming to know Christ.
The power of God combined with one small step can easily turn a bunt into a home run.
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As Pastor Elrod noted, the bunt, while not the crowd pleasing play, is integral to the team manager as one more ‘weapon’ in his arsenal to coax a win in the game.
Some bunts are offensive, a strategic means to get a runner on base. Other bunts are ultimately sacrificial, the batter giving up his opportunity at bat to advance the runner(s) for the good of the team.
Jesus Christ “took one for the team” and offered Himself up to sacrifice for the good of humanity. Jesus laid down the perfect sacrifice bunt and paved the way for the rest of us to come home to the Father.