Sunday February 1 2015 was “Super Bowl Sunday!” We dressed down and wore our favorite team’s colors, and Pastor Jim’s sermon looked at what it takes to be a championship team. Teams work together to achieve a common goal. But how has God assembled His team- the Church?
Click the following “Play” button to start the sermon, scroll down, and follow along…
1 Corinthians 12:4-25
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. Unity and Diversity in One Body (cf. Eph 4:1-16) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. NKJV
1: Championship Teams Share the Same Purpose
The playbook (or as we commonly call it; the Bible) spells out several purposes for our lives:
2: Championship Teams Play within Their Strengths
In 1 Corinthians 12:6, Paul tells us that there are many gits. But look at verse 7; the gifts are given by the Spirit for the common good. You and I have different gifts (talents and abilities) and God gives them to us so we will use them as part of God’s Team… the Church.
An NFL team has 53 players active for game day. Each has their own degree of ability and while some can play different positions, they excel in their particular area of strength. They do their part; they do what is best for the team.
- Are you in the right seat in the church’s service?
- Is there an empty seat that you are uniquely qualified to fill?
In Ephesians 4:11-14, Paul says…
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
What’s your unique gift from God that you can use on this Team so that we may realize the victory?
3: Championship Teams Follow the Same Play Book
The players from both teams have had many meetings,time of the practice field, and time studying the playbook. Do we study the play book privately and are we becoming involved with a small group so we can study the play book together?
On game day, when people ask us about our faith, ask us qu3tions about matters of life, ask about what our church is doing to be a relevant presence for Jesus Christ in the community, or ask us general questions about our church…. are we prepared to respond?
If someone asks you “Why do you go to church? What is it about this Jesus that makes a real difference in your life?”…. what would you answer?
If the quarterback yells out a bunch of crazy sounding words (ending with the word “Omaha”), will you understand? In order to understand what’s going on around you and in order to be able to explain the meaning of your faith (part of our common vision), you need to read the “Play Book.” You need to know your Bible.
1 Peter 3:15…
And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
Psalm 119:9-11…
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
God’s plan of redemption for the world wasn’t an improvisation or some knee-jerk spur of the moment idea by God. It was well planned, even before the creation of the world. From Genesis to Revelation, we read that God is a God of order, of process, or preparation, of vision, of proper action. And… He tells us about His plan in the “Play Book.” This play book has always been in place. The “plays” haven’t changed. If we’re going to be ready on “Game Day”- when the moment comes where God needs us in His game… will we be ready???
4: Championship Teams are in Constant Contact with the Head Coach
The Head Coach calls the plays and directs the team. Through prayer, we have a direct line to our divine Coach. In Isaiah 65:24 God tells us,
I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
In Psalm 91:15, we are told…
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
With all due respect to Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, Chip Kelly and every other NFL coach, only our Head Coach can wear the title of Sovereign. This means that God is an all powerful being. There’s no greater power than God. Very often as we are on the playing field of life we are tempted to focus on the situation before us, forgetting that God is a very powerful being.
God ALWAYS calls the right plays!
However things might look right now… however bad the score may look, know that God won’t call for a pass when a rush is needed.
Billy Graham listened patiently as someone questioned his faith. His simple response is profound:
I’ve read to the end of the book: God Wins!
Lifting the Trophy…
At the end of the Superbowl, one of the teams will shower their coach with Gatorade, hug each other, and then they will lift the Lambardi trophy.
God has called us to play on His championship team. We won’t earn the Stanley Cup or Lambardi trophy. But God has given us something to remind us of the victory Christ has won for us. The cross is our trophy. Forgiveness, restoration, and purpose from our all powerful all loving Head Coach is our trophy.
We are gifted and called to use our gifts to show others that God has won the victory. We are called to study the playbook; to keep close to the Head Coach, and then to Lift High the Cross.
Quiz Time!
As you reflect on what you’ve just heard/read, give this quiz a try. If you don’t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the “correct” answer, post a comment)…
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