SUPER BOWL SUNDAY:
VICTORY CELEBRATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS
(*Note - this is outdated, but is the kind of information you can find in the current year and makes for interesting start to the sermon.)
At this moment two of the “best” football teams in our country are battling it out so that they can be the winner of the 35thSuper bowl. No doubt tonight will be a time of victory and celebration for the winning team! The Winner’s Rings cost $5,000 each. The Referees will be paid $12,000 each! Last year’s super bowl was the 5th most watched program in television history. They expect 750 million viewers worldwide.
In an effort to attract the unchurched, some churches have considered translating their unfamiliar terminology into familiar football phrases:
*Blocking: Talking endlessly to the preacher at the church door and keeping everyone else from exiting.
*Extra Point: What you receive when you tell the preacher his sermon was too short.
*Illegal Motion: Leaving before the closing prayer.
*Two-minute Warning: The preacher's wife looking at her watch in full view of the pastor.
*Quarterback Sneak: Sunday School teachers entering the building five minutes after classes began.
*Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.
*Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.
*Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime".
*Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.
It is fun to watch, stay up to date on, and such, but next year it will be two different teams and today will just be a memory and a source for statistics!
The Victories that Christians enjoy are not so short-lived! We are able to celebrate many victories because of our relationship with Christ. We have more to celebrate than the winner of game. We have more to celebrate than a MVP or even one who might make the NFL Hall Of Fame! Here are four Christian celebrations!
1. CELEBRATE WHEN PERSECUTED
Though contrary to human nature, we are called to look upon our celebration from a divine perspective. Matthew 5:11-12 - "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.read (Luke says, “leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”) Celebrate / rejoice – why? Because our trials make us stronger. Because our trials align us with Christ. (1 Pet. 4:13 “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”) Because our trials give us opportunity for testimony. Romans 5:2-6 “…through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Paul practiced what he preached! (Philippians 1:18)
Suffering for Christ is a time to celebrate victory!
2. CELEBRATE WHEN THE LOST ARE SAVED!
Our own salvation is a cause for celebration! Luke 10:20 “… rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. “
The salvation of others (friends, family. Acts 8:39 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 16:34 “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.”
So we celebrate victory in persecution, and in salvation!
3. CELEBRATE BECAUSE OF EACH OTHER!
The first church was a celebrating church! Acts 2:46,47 “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Philemon 1:7 “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
When we gather together, one of our chief goals needs to be to encourage and bring joy to every brother and sister we can!
Celebrate victory in persecution, and in salvation, in each other!
4. CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF GOD!
In His Presence! Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
Psalm 70:4 “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
In His Blessings! Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In His Kingdom! Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Conclusion:
Let the world rejoice over pigskin balls, excellent athleticism, coaching skills, and color commentary – and a great half time show! We rejoice in our sufferings, salvation, family, and father!
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