First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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Super Bowl Sunday Let's Take the Field!1 Corinthians 2:16b Mark Howdeshell (February 3, 2008) 1 Corinthians 2:16b But we have the mind of Christ. Introduction We’ve fought all season…we’ve been successful…we’ve bowled over the competition…and now we’ve made it…we’ve finally made it! · Thousands have dreamed about it. · Many have played their entire careers without getting there. · Millions have watched it…and cheered or cried at what transpired. · Millions of $ have been wagered on it. · Millions more $ have spent on advertising during it. Have you guessed what I’m talking about? I know…it’s on the bulletin so you really don’t have to guess….but its part of my introduction! You got it……… I’m talking about the Super Bowl. Today is Super Bowl Sunday for millions…so what? Heart of the Matter Millions of people will spend part of today watching the game of football. Besides dreaming about playing ourselves, or making millions of dollars doing it, what can we learn about the game that captures so much of America’s attention? The Meat of the Message Football is made up of a lot of small things that work together to reach the big goals. In a lot of ways, it is no different than life. In order to succeed in the game, you have to succeed in the little things. Let’s look at the little things… 1 Cor 2 1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
i. Coach calls a play from the sidelines or from the coaches box 1. Play depends on what the coach thinks the opponent is going to do 2. The goal is to counteract the opposing coach with a play that will gain you the most yardage ii. Quarterback receives the call and relays it to the guys in the huddle 1. Leader on the field must relay the correct information iii. Each individual player must be able to… 1. Interpret the play because of countless hours of practice and studying the game book 2. Execute their assignment 3. Be rigidly flexible if the defense reacts differently than expected a. Study of game film b. Expect the unexpected! iv. Play can be… 1. Successful and gain yards (10 feet/play) 2. Unsuccessful and lose yards or turn the ball over
i. God gives us direction through the Holy Spirit 1. Holy Spirit knows the will of God 2. Knows the best play to defeat the enemy ii. We have to be in constant communication and be the leader in our lives. We can’t blame anyone else for failures in our own moral character. iii. We must also study the Game Book….and know it better than we know any textbook! 1. Game book will allow us to interpret the “plays” called by the Holy Spirit 2. Game book will explain exactly what our assignments are…we have to then EXECUTE 3. By studying the enemy (Let’s Fight!) we can know the tendencies of the opponent and be able to react if they do the “unexpected” iv. What is success in life? 1. Gain in knowledge, understanding, and maturity brings you closer to God 2. If a play is unsuccessful, then you just have to call a different play to overcome the loss. Don’t give up!! Keep fighting forward.
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, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
i. Gain 10 yards in 4 plays 1. Allows you to continue towards your goal of scoring 2. Not limited to 10 yards ii. If you don’t think you can get 10 yards in 4 plays, you punt the ball to the opposing team and you play defense trying to get field position
i. We must set small goals and keep driving to get to them! 1. Achieving small goals will prepare you for the next small goal which will prepare you for the next small goal……….. 2. We sometimes overachieve the goals we set for ourselves a. Trust that God knows what He’s doing! b. Remember that the successes are because of HIM! ii. Sometimes we have to punt in life… 1. Maybe a direction we thought we were supposed to go isn’t working a. Don’t be afraid to punt if you feel led to b. Continue to prepare your offense for when you go back on the field 2. We can make great strides by failure…in the grand scheme of things (which we don’t see until after the fact)
i. You score more points than your opponent by achieving more of your goals than they did (REMEMBER: THEIR GOAL IS TO BEAT YOU!!) ii. Victories are never guaranteed
i. Glorifying God in the way that you live 1. Your legacy is one of Christ crucified, glorified, and magnified 2. Draw closer and closer to Him 3. Living a life of LOVE ii. You can continue to do this and still others may not see Christ…BUT YOU ARE GUARANTEED VICTORY in this game of life
i. Achieving still more of your goals than everyone else ii. Season played to get into the playoffs iii. Most wins in the playoffs wins the Super Bowl Championship iv. BIG AFFAIR just to get there 1. John Elway lost 3 before he won 2 2. He just didn’t want to get there….
i. Our Super Bowl victory will come… 1. When we die and are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb 2. Trumpet sounds and we are all taken into Heaven 3. All of our goals, and the goals of Jesus, will be realized ii. We are born into life on earth… 1. Accept Christ to get into the playoffs a. Live as a Christian on earth b. Fulfill God’s goals for you 2. Win in the playoffs to get into the Super Bowl a. We are promised that we’ll get into Heaven b. Our “rewards” waiting for us in Heaven depend upon how we do in the playoffs 3. How GLORIOUS IT WILL BE!!
Matt 6:19-21 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Bottom Line A successful season depends upon a successful team of football coaches that buy into the head coaches program. All of the coaches will complement each other as they strive to reach the head coaches plan. Disputes, trying to get ahead of one another, trying to do their own thing, and all of those types of things will result in a terrible season and probably the loss of a few jobs. The coaching staff that God has placed in your life is vitally important. Godly examples, pastors, Sunday school teachers, deacons, good Christian friends, family members and many others all have to be unified with the Master’s game plan. Our Play Book is the Bible. Our “helmet communications” is prayer. Our goal is to glorify God until we’re called to our Super Bowl victory. Praise God……we’re going to win SUPER BOWL ETERNAL!!! INVITATION Time to huddle up….get together and get in on the same play. Huddle up with God and ask Him to reveal His plays in your life. Tell Him you want to score a few points before you win. Ask Him to let you get into the game and not just on the sidelines. |
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