A Super Bowl Church
Ephesians 6:10-18
Well it’s Super Bowl Sunday again and the Cardinals and Steelers are pumped up and ready to play in the worlds’ biggest game on the world’s biggest stage.
The game will be witnessed by millions if not billions of people worldwide.
Multitudes will tune in and witness two teams engage in an epic battle of wits and wills that will decide world football supremacy.
Church we also have a multitude of witnesses watching us as well.
Heb:12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
If you look at past Super Bowl Champions there are great similarities in the characteristics and makeup of their teams and an effective New Testament church and yes they even dress alike.
Helmets = The Helmet of Salvation
Shoulder Pads = The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Girdle and Thigh Pads = Girting of the Loins with truth.
Cleats = Shodding your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Blocking Schemes = The Shield of Faith
They are all very solid in several key areas.
Read Ephesians 6:10-18
The same characteristics also abound in a Church that is on fire for the Lord and they must also be solid in the same key areas.
This morning I want us to look at the similarities between a Super Bowl Champion and a Super Bowl Church.
I. They Have a Good Defense
It has been said that Offense sell tickets but “Defense Wins Championships”
A Super Bowl Champion must have a solid defense, one that stops the opponents’ offensive attacks.
They must be able to turn back the opposing team and defend their territory.
Eph:6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph:6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
A. We must defend the Faith
It is the duty of all Christians.
The Apostle Peter commanded Christians: “Always be prepared to give an answer.
1Pe:3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
II. They Have a Good Playbook
The Bible is our playbook!
Good football players know their playbook!
We need to know our playbook!
1. How do we Know our Bible?
A. We come to know the Bible by reading it.
Charles Spurgeon was asked how a Christian could obtain a thorough knowledge of the Bible.
He replied, "There are three rules to follow in order to have a deep understanding of the Word of God: First, read the Bible; Second, read the Bible; and Third, read the Bible.
3. The Bible does not need to be re-written, but it does need to be re-read!
B. We come to know the Bible by memorizing portions of God’s Word.
1. We teach our children to learn memory verses in S/S, but what about us?
2. Ps. 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
3. God instructed Joshua concerning His Word, "...thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein..."
4. If we are to know “our playbook” Bible we need to read it and memorize it.
C. We come to know it by studying it.
1. We should study its history, its prophecy, and its theology.
2. Paul’s instruction to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
III. They Have a Good Play Caller
The Holy Spirit is our Play Caller.
He not only signals in the play from God, but also brings about understanding of the playbook.
The Holy Spirit Illuminates Scripture.
A. Illumination is necessary.
1. Having intimacy with God is wonderful, but it must be a two-way conversation.
2. We speak to Him in prayer, but He speaks to us through His Word.
3. It is the Spirit of God who opens our minds to God’s Word and makes it come alive to us as God speaks through its pages.
1Co:2:12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co:2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
4. Scripture is sufficient to supply all God wants us to know about Himself and His will for our lives.
5. But Scripture must be illuminated by the Holy Spirit if we are to understand it.
6. The Spirit works through the Word of God to accomplish His purposes in our lives.
IV. They Play Hard for 60 Minutes
We must play hard for 4 quarters.
Many a battle is won in the mind and the heart long before it is ever fought on the battlefield.
Persevere = to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
How can we persevere and play hard for 60 minutes?
1. Know the Course You’re Called to Run
2. Don’t Let Anything Slow You Down
3. Remember Those Who Have Finished Well
"WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES..."
B. We must learn to put other things in proper perspective.
1. Pain
a. We often allow pain to play too big a role in our decision-making.
b. We must "think less" of pain and more of "God’s approval".
2. People.
a. Jesus faced a continuous movement of disapproval and opposition from people.
b. He obviously thought less of their approval than God’s.
c. If we are to do what is right in the race that is set before us we too must worry less about the world’s thinks and more of what God thinks.
We must realize that much of our lives are determined by the choices we make.
We must choose to follow God’s purpose for us, and we must choose to persevere.
Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Keep serving God and living for Him!
Realize also that failure is not final.
One of the most subtle and effective attacks of the enemy is to use our failures to cause us to quit altogether!
The illustration is one of a race.
What is most important is not how fast we run the race, but that we keep our focus on the finish line!
There will be obstacles in our paths, and there will be failures...but don’t give up.
There is a stadium filled with battered and beaten teammates who have already crossed the finish line.
They are cheering us along.
Then, perhaps most important, there is the Coach who is telling us to "Come on!"
Don’t choose to be a used-to-be or a has-been.
Choose to keep on "pressing toward the mark."
Remember, if we are to be a Super Bowl Church we have to:
A Good Defense
A Good Play Book
A Good Play Caller
Play hard for 60 Minutes
