May 25th 2008 - Let's Play Ball
I really enjoy being outside and playing golf, disc golf, camping, tinkering, talking, etc. I am not a great athlete, but do enjoy being outside. Over the last few years I have been working to better my golf game. My friend, Jeff consistently tells me that I need to get to the driving range and hit some balls. He keeps talking to me about the importance of practice. Of course being able to play consistently is important as well. Jeff reminds me that it is in the time of practice that I can work on my game, I can better my swing and work out the bad stuff.
Friends, this is true to life as well. Our game is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to become like Jesus Christ. A simple picture of this responsibility is being Jesus in the flesh. I love how Jesus said it, everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Friends when we are training for the game, we give place to the coaches in our lives to speak into it. As a Christ-Follower, we want people to speak to our blind-spots, to speak to our weaknesses, to help us become stronger for the game. Friends when we are training for the game, we give place to the coaches in our lives to speak into it. As a Christ-Follower, we want people to speak to our blind-spots, to speak to our weaknesses, to help us become stronger for the game.
When I was younger, I lifted weights and did a little bit of competition. In training for the competitions, my coach would work me hard and call out the best in me. He would work to push me past myself, so I would be stronger and have greater endurance. It took my coaches to push me past myself. Again, this is true of the Christian life. We need coaches in our lives to push, prod, call out and encourage us to go deeper and to move beyond our self imitations. This is the value of my role, the Leadership Council, the Pastoral Staff, and the small group leaders. There are also the members of your community group in which you must give place to speak into your life.
Friends, this week I am teaching to this truth that Practice Makes Perfect - finding strength in practice and in training. I had breakfast this week with a new friend whom said to me that he had spent his whole life pursuing his own interests and the interests of various religions. He has found himself completely empty. He is now pursuing relationship with Jesus Christ as his first priority. He told me that for the first time he is hearing God, that the messages he is hearing is making sense to him. He wants to succeed. How powerful!
Success will come in looking to God’s Word, Listening to the Holy Spirit, and Leaning hard into community and letting the community lean hard into you.
So friends, let’s play ball! Join me right now in our web cast. Our Senior Pastor, Mark Savage,taught this message May 25, 2008.
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