Give the Best - Get the Best, Sermon by Patrick Carvell
Scriptures Mark 12:28-31
Most of you know Tiger Woods the Pro Golfer
Woods was born in Cypress, California, on Dec. 30, 1975. His given name is Eldrick Woods. His father named him "Tiger" after an Army buddy. Woods had a great impact on golf internationally because of his diverse ethnic background, which is African American, American Indian, Chinese, European, and Thai.
This American golfer, created a sensation in the sports world with his brilliant play. Woods is especially known for his long, accurate drives, but he has also gained praise for his complete game as well as his composure and his competitive intensity.
Woods first gained attention as an amateur golfer. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 1991, 1992, and 1993. He also won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1994, 1995, and 1996. He won the Division I men’s title in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in 1996 while attending Stanford University. Woods turned professional in 1996 and won two tournaments as a pro that year.
Woods became the youngest golfer to win the four Grand Slam tournaments during a career. He is also the first professional player to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. The Grand Slam consists of the Masters Tournament, the United States Open, the British Open, and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship. Woods holds or shares the record for the lowest total score for each tournament. He won his first Masters in 1997 at the age of 21, becoming the youngest golfer and the first with African American heritage to win the tournament. Woods won the Masters again in 2001 and 2002. He won the PGA Championship in 1999 and 2000, the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2002, and the British Open in 2000. (Source:World Book Encyclopedia)
For Tiger Woods to achieve this outstanding record, he defiantly had to give his best to get the best.
We to can get the best by giving the best we have to the Lord.
I. Giving the best in Love.
Can you imagine Tiger Woods w/o love of the game? (role play)
A) Loving God w/o Love of Him.
1. Religion
2. Habit
3. Little reality
B) Loving with all your heart. (seed of emotion)
C) Loving God with all your soul. (inner man that is saved)
D) Loving God with all your mind. (determination)
E) Loving God with all your strength. (Might)
Without love none of these can be accomplished. The love of God will take our focus off anything else that is not of God. This love will keep us in the right attitude when things that are not of God try to overcome our souls. Then keeping this love will allow us to follow all other commands.
II. Giving the best in Obedience.
Think what would happen if Tiger Woods did not obey his Dad?
He would not be the great Pro Golfer he is today!
A) Our Heavenly Father expects our obedience.
1. not to burden us with His commands.
2. Eternal life weighs on our obedience.(Way, Truth, Life)
3. Lead us to the best possible life.
B) Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, (blessed=happy)
C) The Bible is written as a testimony of God.
The practices we apply will be lived out in our lives. Seen by all of who we really are in our relationship with God. The obedience given to those practices is the determining factor of the best that we can get. God desires for each of us to have His best in obedience to His Word and through His Son Jesus Christ.
III. Giving the best in Trust.
What would have happened If Tiger Woods didn’t trust his Dad?
He would have little confidence in him about golf.
A) Trusting God with all your heart (faith)
1. Can’t see the Green Jacket as a boy.
B) Trust the Lord completely.
1. Total confidence in God’s wisdom, power & goodness.
2. Believe He is able.
3. Wise to do what is best.
4. Good, according to His promises.
C) Our understanding is based on limited knowledge, God understanding is unlimited.
IV. Giving the best in Prayer.
What if Tiger Woods never talked with his Dad, do you think he would know much about the game or gain much without his input?
Conversation is crucial to knowing what to do.
A) God desire for us to seek Him in prayer.
1. Conversation
2. Listening
3. Evaluating
4. Applying
Every time Jesus invested in prayer with the Father, He knew exactly what to do.
Many times we do not know what to do because we do not spend the time in conversation with the Heavenly Father.
Jeremiah 29:13, 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Why settle for less than the best that God offers to you.
V. Giving the best, Yourself.
Tiger Woods could only have the best if he was willing to give himself to the game of Golf.
A) We can only have the best that God offers if we are willing to give Him our best.
B) The best we can give to God is
1. Love of Him.
2. All your heart. (seed of emotion)
3. All your soul. (inner man that is saved)
4. All your mind. (determination)
5. All your strength. (Might)
One day Tiger Woods will be remembered as a great golfer. His best game will be beat by another Pro. The story of who he was will fade over time but the best he can get is history.
The best you can get is everlasting life, abundant living that does not end and a relationship with the Maker of the universe. God offers all this as a free gift.
