Making The Most Of Opportunities Series

Making the Most of Opportunities

Philippians 1:12-18

Rev. Brian Bill

January 25-26, 2025

I appreciated John Stonestreet’s recent Breakpoint Commentary called, “Everybody Was Talking About Jesus Monday Night, Even Scott Van Pelt.” Here’s an excerpt.

Outspoken faith has been part of the story line in college football this season. This is especially the case with Notre Dame and Ohio State, two teams who put together incredible runs of victories to advance to Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game…though it’s not unusual for athletes and coaches to thank God after big games, faith in Christ was consistently and specifically credited for the culture of both programs. So much so in fact, that, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and Rece Davis made it a point of emphasis in their post-game analysis.

As Davis said, “We hear a lot of times people talk about their faith and people sort of dismiss it. These guys were sharing their faith and reaching out and baptizing guys on campus…not just football teammates. And it became something powerful, not because they thought it was going to be handed to them to win a game, but it changed their relationships. It changed selfishness and made it go away…it didn’t guarantee they were going to win. And Notre Dame had a lot of that going on as well.”

The quarterbacks from both sides confirmed this analysis. Ohio State’s Will Howard, accepting the Offensive Player of the Game, gave this strong testimony, “First and foremost, I gotta give the glory and the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Emotionally wrecked from the loss, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard spent his press conference also describing how much he loved and respected his teammates. He then added, “Us and Ohio State were the two teams who praised Jesus Christ the most, and I think we strengthened each other in our faith…I’m happy to see Godly men come out on top no matter what the circumstance is. I’m happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows.

In addition to the time given to the role faith played for both teams by players, coaches, and the media, this was the other unusual part of the post-game praise reports Monday night. Athletes and coaches often thank God for wins, but acknowledging God’s sovereignty and goodness after a tough loss is far rarer.

Thus, I believe we can finally answer that annual question that plagues us…does God really care who wins the Super Bowl (or the College Football Championship or March Madness)? The answer is yes, because He not only cares for those who win but also for those who lose.

Speaking of God’s goodness, we had a business meeting last Sunday afternoon and a worship service broke out as we celebrated God’s provision and the progress of the gospel this past year. We’re seeing more and more salvations and many surrendering to Christ.

I believe God is answering our prayer from Psalm 85:6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” I see the Holy Spirit reviving my own heart, which is an answer to another prayer I’ve prayed: “Lord, bring revival…and let it begin with me.”

We spent time explaining and illustrating our updated mission statement: Living on mission by glorifying God and making disciples of Jesus among our neighbors and the nations. We’re asking God to help us “Thrive in 2025” by revitalizing and mobilizing us for greater kingdom impact as we gather, grow, give, and go with the gospel. All the proposals were overwhelmingly approved, including our recommendation to expand the restrooms in our EdgeKids area, which passed unanimously.

Recently, the Great Commission Research Network surveyed thousands of pastors to identify what they believed to be the greatest challenges for the church today. The top two were mobilizing for evangelism and concern for evangelism. Related to this, community outreach was also in the top ten. Interestingly, member indifference and lack of member mobilization keep many of us from fully engaging in outreach.

Previous research has shown 79% of unchurched Americans are open to conversations about the gospel, but 40% indicate a Christian has never shared the gospel with them. Pew Research predicts if current trends continue, Christianity will be in the minority in the United States by 2070.

As we continue in our Journey to Joy series from Philippians, we’ll be challenged with this truth: Since the gospel changes everything, it must change everything about us.

Please turn to Philippians 1:12-18: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.”