PLAYING TO WIN: GET IN THE GAME
OPENING TEXT: “24 Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. 25 All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
FAN DEFINED: an enthusiastic follower or admirer of a sport, pastime or celebrity
• As Christians, we should all be enthusiasts – en-theos = with or in God.
• ILLUSTRATE: enthusiast – Caleb loves going to football practices & games. Why? Because he is involved – he gets to play!
THE BIG IDEA:
Christianity is a contact sport. The true joy in the journey of faith comes when we get out of the stands and onto the court. Let’s get in the game and play to win!
QUOTE: “Getting involved in your church by using your gifts will accelerate your spiritual growth immensely. God designed us that way. Don’t head for the stands when you enter the kingdom of God. Head for the playing field. That’s where the excitement is. That’s where the action is.” (Wayne Cordeiro, Doing Church as a Team).
• Jesus never called anyone to ‘go to church’ – He called them to follow Him.
• You will never find a bored ‘follower of Jesus.’ Bored church-attenders? Yes.
KEY TEXT: Ephesians 4:11-16
I. THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY:
“11 He (Jesus) is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
• The hand symbolically represents the five-fold ministry of gifts from Jesus:
• The Apostle is the thumb because it is the finger that touches all the others; it establishes and brings order to the other ministries.
• The Prophet is the index finger because he directs the Church in the way it should go.
• The Evangelist is the middle finger because it reaches out to save the lost.
• The Pastor is the ring finger because symbolically he is married to the Church.
• The Teacher is the little finger because it balances the rest of the hand and the Church's teachings.
II. EQUIPPING GOD’S PEOPLE:
12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ,
• It’s not the job of the pastor to do the work of the ministry, but to equip God’s people.
• Therefore, the pastor is like the coach, designed to help build up the church.
• We firmly believe that every member is a ministry and has a job to do
QUOTE: Nicki Gumbel said: “The Church is a whole lot like a football game: 22 people on a field in desperate need of rest, with 70,000 people in the stands in desperate need of exercise.”
• “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.” (1 Peter 4:10, NLT).
• God wants us to discover and develop our gifts and use them to bless others.
• Are you using your gifts to minister God’s grace to others?
“4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:4-8).
• This Scripture tells us that we all have different gifts, but we are one body.
• Paul tells us to use our gifts! If you don’t use them, you’ll lose them!
• Seven gifts described here: Prophecy, Ministry (Serving), Teaching, Exhortation (Encouragement), Giving, Leadership, and Showing Mercy. There are other gifts:
• Craftsmanship / Artist Exodus 31:1-11
- work with wood, cloth, paint, metal, glass, and other raw materials
- develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc.
• Hospitality 1 Peter 4:9-10
• Intercession / Prayer Ephesians 6:18
• Missionary Ephesians 3:6-8
• Music / Worship 1 Corinthians 14:26
• Writing Luke 1:1-3
III. GOD’S GOAL FOR US = BECOME LIKE JESUS:
13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ, 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ—
• God wants all of us to become mature and full grown in the Lord – just like Jesus.
• What is Jesus like? Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).
• To ‘measure up to the full stature of Jesus’ means to be like Him:
• “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11).
• Are you serving in the church? All Christians are called to serve others.
IV. THE RESULT = A HEALTHY GROWING CHURCH:
16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
• What will happen when everyone in the church discovers and uses their gifts?
• It helps the other parts to grow; the church will become healthy, growing and full of love.
QUOTE: Michael Jordan said: “I play to win. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.”
• No one ever won a game from the sidelines – get on the court and in the action!
WHERE CAN YOU SERVE IN THE CHURCH?
• Ushering, greeting, worship, sound, children’s, youth, serving/cleaning, visitation, prayer
• What’s in your heart? What’s in your hand? “Find a need and fill it!”
• Not just serving in the church, serving your families, your workplaces, your community.
SONG QUOTE: “Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today; put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield.” (Centerfield, John Fogerty).
• Let’s let this song’s chorus be our prayer, “Put me in, coach – I’m ready to play!”
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
“14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (Then the same thing happened with the one with two talents).
24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” (Matthew 25:14-30).
• God is calling us to be a good steward of our time, our talents, and our tithe (money).
• What are you going to do with the gifts the Lord has given you? Where will you serve?
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
