get in the game

Get in the Game

I flipped a coin about going to church or the game.It took me thirty flips until it finally said game.

SUPERB OWL

Opening Questions

What skills and talentsdo you rely on the most?

How do you train or practice,to improve your skills?

Find me someone who can play well.(1 Samuel 16:17)

Selected

Jesus saw Simon and Andrewcasting a net into the lake,for they were fishermen.

Jesus said, “Come, follow me,and I will make you fishers of

men.”At once they left their nets

and followed him.(Mark 1:16)

“Go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey

everythingI have commanded you.

Surely I am with you always,to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:19-20)

You are a chosen people,a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,God's special possession,that you may declare the

praisesof him who called you

out of darknessinto his wonderful light.

(1 Peter 2:9)

Practice

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.For the joy set before him he

endured the cross, scorning its shame, to sit down at the right

hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured

such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow

weary and lose heart.(Hebrews 12:1-3)

No discipline seems pleasantat the time, but painful.

Later on, however,it produces a harvest

of righteousness and peacefor those who have been trained by it. Therefore,

strengthen yourfeeble arms and weak knees.

(Hebrews 12:11-12)

Whatever you do,work at it with all your

heart,as working for the Lord,not for human masters,since you know that you

willreceive an inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.It is the Lord Christ you are

serving.(Colossians 3:23-24)

We rejoice, for we know thattrials develop endurance.And endurance develops

character,and character strengthens

our confident hope of salvation.

(Romans 5:3-4)

Obstacles

He gives strength to the wearyand increases the power of the

weak.Even youths grow tired and

weary,and young men stumble and

fall;but those who hope in

the Lordwill renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.(Isaiah 40:29-31)

Do not be surprised at the fiery trial

that has come on you to test you,

as though something strangewere happening to you.

However, if you suffer as a Christian,

do not be ashamed, but praise God

that you bear that name.(1 Peter 4:12,16)

Do you not know thatyour body is a temple

of the Holy Spirit who is in you,

whom you have from God,and that you are not your

own?You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in

your body.(1 Corinthians 6:19)

Physical training isof some value,

but godliness has valuefor all things,

holding promise forboth the present lifeand the life to come.

(1 Timothy 4:8)

Halftime QuestionsWhat do you do when

you “hit the wall”?

How can you encourage otherswho are going through hard times?

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass.(Job 19:8)

Reason

Fight the good fightfor the true faith.

Hold tightly to the eternal lifeto which God has called you,which you have confessed so

wellbefore many witnesses.

(1 Timothy 6:12)

My only aim is to finish the race

and complete the taskthat the Lord Jesus has given

me – the task of testifying

to the good news of God's grace.(Acts 20:24)

I press on to take hold of thatfor which Christ Jesus took

hold of me.Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have

taken hold of it.But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining

toward what is ahead – I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called

me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 3:12-14)

Triumph

extra point

conversion

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in

such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the

games goes into strict training.

They do it for a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a

crownthat will last forever.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Therefore I do not runlike someone running

aimlessly;and I do not fight like

a boxer beating the air.No, I strike a blow to my body

and make it my slaveso that after I have preached

to others,I will not be disqualified for

the prize.(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

I can do all things through Christ who

strengthens me.(Philippians 4:13)

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,I have kept the faith.

(2 Timothy 4:7)

Well done,good and faithful

servant.(Matthew 25:21)

GET IN THE GAMEELECTEDRACTICE BSTACLESEASONRIUMPH

SPORT

1 Peter 2:9Romans 5:41 Timothy 4:8Philippians 3:131 Corinthians 9:25

Closing Questions

When is a time in your life that you succeeded

at a difficult challenge?

Does your past ever hold you backfrom reaching your future?

Triumph is just “try” withsome “oomph” behind it.

Dave Mattingly

Seek, and ye shall find.(Matt 7:7)

• dave@davemattingly.net

• www.davemattingly.net

• @dave_mattingly