Losing It In The End Game Series

Losing it in the End Game

Judges 1:1-2:5

4/26/09

INTRODUCTION

I confess I’d rather watch good basketball game than a football game any day. But this last year I remember one football game in particular. It was a Thursday Night game that became water cooler discussion material the next day.

WEEK 10 - Nov. 6, 2008

Denver Broncos

Cleveland Browns

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER DEN CLE

TD 07:03 Ryan Torain 1 Yd Run 7 0

TD 03:38 Kellen Winslow 5 Yd Pass From Brady Quinn 7 7

SECOND QUARTER DEN CLE

FG 12:45 Phil Dawson 24 Yd Field Goal 7 10

TD 10:29 Kellen Winslow 16 Yd Pass From Brady Quinn 7 17

FG 05:48 Matt Prater 35 Yd Field Goal 10 17

FG 01:09 Phil Dawson 52 Yd Field Goal 10 20

THIRD QUARTER DEN CLE

FG 10:21 Phil Dawson 33 Yd Field Goal 10 23

FG 05:37 Matt Prater 30 Yd Field Goal 13 23

FOURTH QUARTER DEN CLE

TD 13:30 Eddie Royal 93 Yd Pass From Jay Cutler (Matt Prater Kick) 20 23

TD 09:50 Daniel Graham 28 Yd Pass From Jay Cutler (Matt Prater Kick) 27 23

TD 04:57 Jamal Lewis 1 Yd Run 27 30

TD 01:14 Brandon Marshall 11 Yd Pass From Jay Cutler (Matt Prater Kick) 34 30

1 2 3 4 OT T

7 3 3 21 34

7 13 3 7 30

The Cleveland Browns had blown a 13 point lead and gave up 21pts in the end game. They had lost it all in the end game. Losing it in the end game is a nightmare situation for anyone who has ever coached. Finishing strong is often the difference between champions and losers.

T.S.

ƒt NO MATTER HOW WELL WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY, WE NEED TO ENSURE WE ARE FINISHING WELL.

1. Signs you are Starting Well 1-18

Since Judges are stores of deliverance I think we will discover things about our role in God’s story of deliverance that he is writing across history.

A. Embrace a clear vision.

The Top four reasons drivers get lost.

* Bad directions: 47 percent

* Unclear, missing highway signs: 45 percent

* Detours: 38 percent

* Confusing maps: 21 percent

The people of Israel start very well in the book of Judges. They have a very clear picture of what they are to do.

1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?"

2 The LORD answered, "Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands."

Why do we exist?

Matt 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

We exist to lead people to a transforming, consuming life with Jesus that compels them to live in such a way that others discover that same transforming, consuming and compelling life with Jesus.

B. Commit to the challenge.

3 Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, "Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours." So the Simeonites went with them.

Appl: Starting well is more than being a member or adherent. It is taking responsibility the challenge is your purpose your calling your destiny.

C. Pursue it with passion.

Coca-cola ’s vision is to offer the world a variety of beverages and they pursue it with passion.

The people of Israel start very well, under Judah they pursue their calling with passion.

4 When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek . . .

8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem also and took it. . . .

9 After that, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. . . .

11 From there they advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). . . .

17 Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites their brothers and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed the city. Therefore it was called Hormah.

18 The men of Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron-each city with its territory.

D. Follow Raised up Leaders

12 And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." 13 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

14 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"