Be Excellent - Spiritual Gifts (Accountability) Series

Spiritual Gifts / Accountability

February 14, 2016

Philippians 3:17

We’ve started the year talking about what it means to be excellent! Excellent individually and excellent as a church. With that in mind, last week we started talking about Spiritual Gifts. If we use the gifts God has given us, and every believer has God given Spiritual Gifts, then we have a greater opportunity to bring glory and honor to Christ, because we’re serving Him in the manner which brings us fulfillment and joy; and we find ourselves enjoying God and blessing other people.

We have more Spiritual Gift Inventories available in the lobby area. Take one on the way out!

That’s a mouthful for the first paragraph. Usually I try to make a joke or say something a little more lighthearted, but I’ve really been struck by something which happened last week and want to take some liberties this morning to talk about them, and loosely correlate them to Spiritual Gifts and our walk in Christ. Then I will finish Spiritual Gifts next Sunday . . . maybe.

If you didn’t know it, last Sunday was the official end of the 2015-16 Football season. It was the Super Bowl. The Broncos won! I totally didn’t see that coming. I thought Carolina would win.

I am not going to dissect the game, but I am going to analyze the post game responses from 3 different athletes. I’m doing this for a couple of reasons, all 3 of these men are followers of Christ, and their words and actions impact their ministry and the worlds view of Christ through them. And secondly, this is important for us to understand as well. What we say and do has a huge bearing on those around us . . . whether we believe it or like it. It’s true!

Firstly, we’re going to look at Cam Newton. If you don’t know who Cam Newton is, he’s the Quarterback for Carolina and was the MVP in the NFL this year. It was a landslide victory, winning 48 out of 50 votes.

He likes to think of himself as Superman, and before the Super Bowl this is what he was wearing. He had his Superman shirt and MVP shoes on. He’s a little arrogant about his skills and abilities. He wants you to know he’s the MVP and Superman.

His antics on the field are colorful, he’s an amazing athlete, and certainly enjoys celebrating. Here is a quick peek at his celebrations. Notice he will do the Superman and he will do what is called the dab. That will be the last image.

VIDEO of Newton Celebrations

He really looks like he’s having a ton of fun out there. And that’s great! But he has something else he has to live up to. Cam Newton is also a Christian. The night before the Super Bowl, his mom sent him a message which he posted on social media. Here is part of the message from his mom.

But I want you to understand that hot and cold water comes out of different fountains. You are either hot or cold. You have a big platform. Which fountain are you? Don’t let the devil win over your words or speech that represent the dark world.

But represent the awesome God you serve thru your words. Don’t confuse the devil and the enemy of what side you are on; so speak boldly to the nations, that you represent Christ for the great things He has done . . . Remember God!

She’s a wise woman. Those are especially great words for someone who’s in the spotlight and who wants the lights to be focused on him. Newton has a great platform in which to speak, not just about God, but to show Christian maturity.

Well, the game didn’t go his way. Carolina was outplayed and Denver won the game. Cam Newton played his worst game of the year. After the game, there’s a news conference . . . and Newton is required to go and answer questions. When you lose, it’s no fun. This was Cam Newton after the game.

VIDEO of Newton Post game not answering questions and leaving podium

In the end he just got up and walked off the stage. Now, I thought his affect was really poor. I understand he just lost the biggest game of the year and his career. I also understand a lot of the questions you’re asked are not overly intelligent. He was upset and angry, use whatever words you want. But, looking at what mom told him, he was definitely not hot, he was cold. He forgot he represented Christ. He didn’t remember God.

Again, it’s not easy to do when you lose, especially with some of the questions thrown your way. Sometimes there’s not much you can say, but lose with class and grace.