Bible Text: 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2
Series: NASCAR Comes To Church
Title: The Team is Vital
Topic: Christian Living / Relationships
Theme: Christian Living in Relationships
Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to respect others and to develop pure relationships.
Response: Individuals prompted by the Holy Spirit will promise to develop holy Christian lives by confessing their sins and submitting to God’s truth while receiving his forgiveness and restoration.
Pattern: Parable leading to Textual Exposition
Visual Illustration: Race flags; NASCAR memorabilia; R C car
Introduction:
Jesus told stories called "parables" to bring everyday experiences along side eternal spiritual truths. His goal was to help people like you and me understand God and his PATTERN FOR LIFE.
Review:
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR driver who works out everyday -- training hands, feet, eyes and mind to function at his peak on race day. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR driver who studies every rule and decision made by the Racing officials in order to avoid any possibility of being disqualified on race day. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR drivers who focus all their energy on finishing the race. Once the green flag has been waved they forget the qualifying runs. They know the prize goes to the winner and each one is determined to take the checkered flag. As the laps mount, up they try harder and harder to finish the race well because they know Victory Lane is reserved for one who finishes the race first -- no matter how many laps were led by someone else. (Philippians 3:13-14)
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR drivers who keep a sharp eye out for other drivers who might cut them off and send their cars into the wall. (Galatians 5:7)
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR drivers who work with their pit crews and other teammates to lighten and tune their cars so that they can have nothing holding them back on race day. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
These parables show us that we need to choose the Necessary Actions for Superb Christ-like Attitudes & Relationships because living according to God’s pattern for life doesn’t happen by accident. It is something we do intentionally.
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE NASCAR. Every driver lines up at the Starting Line with one purpose in mind. Every one of them is determined to complete the set number of laps and to cross the Finish Line. Every driver in a race has his/her own strategy for winning the race based on the car they are driving and the skills he/she possesses. The drivers know they must START WELL and FINISH FIRST in order to win. When the Green Flag is flying they concentrate all their thoughts and decisions on running a good race. They will follow the rules or they will face the Black Flag of disqualification. They are focused on doing their very best in hopes of crossing the Finish Line and receiving the Checkered Flag first. And every driver knows the power to win the race is not in his/her own skills, mind or strength. The power is under the hood as the engine converts fuel into acceleration and momentum.
This parable shows us that we need to pursue a love relationship with God and others. We need to plan and purposefully decide how to realize those relationships in our lives. The more we strive for these things the more we will see our need to pray in order to fill up on God’s power.
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE the NASCAR driver who refuses to drive the wrong way in a race and who also refuses to drive the wrong vehicle on the track. To do anything else would cost the driver a disqualification. It could even cost him and others their lives.
This parable shows us that we need to live according to God’s pattern for life. We dare not fall into the trap of thing any and every lifestyle is acceptable. We must pursue progress in developing the attitudes and actions of Jesus with persevering purpose.
Today’s Parable:
GOD’S PATTERN FOR LIFE IS LIKE THE NASCAR DRIVER who knows he/she cannot win without a team. It takes a top-notch pit crew to change tires, adjust the car, and fill the fuel tank so fast that the driver doesn’t lose his/her position in the race. It takes a team of drivers, sponsors, owners and designers to win championships. So every driver DEVELOPS a good team and TREATS each member well because he or she knows that THE TEAM IS VITAL.
People who plan on following God’s pattern for life will recognize their need for a team too.
Thesis:
Living God’s way is a team effort. We cannot finish the race without each other.
We need each other to share God’s love with those in need.
We need each other to share God’s love with those who need a friend -- without trying to get something back from them.
We need each other to share God’s love with those in the church.
Key Question:
God DESIGNED us to live according to his pattern for life. His pattern for life requires us to live in loving RELATIONSHIPS. How can we?
It takes RESPECT and PURITY. Respect treats others with the kindness and honor that God bestows on every human being. Purity involves our motives. Purity loves and respects in order to give to the other person and not to get from him/her. The apostle Paul put it this way:
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
Application: What are the Necessary Actions for Superb Christ-like Attitudes & Relationships?
NEXT STEPS:
I think we can summarize the actions of God’s team with three simple sentences.
1. Respect and purity do not LORD IT over others.
2. Respect and purity are not LORDED over by others.
3. Respect and purity LOVE others.
Responding to God:
Let’s take a moment and consider the relationships in our lives. Are you living out respect and purity at home? At work or school? How about in the church family?
Listen to the Holy Spirit and make whatever corrections are necessary.
