Last Sunday I preached… “The Passion of Superbowl Sunday”. I have to admit, I had a little fun with this. It was the Sunday morning before what was the most exciting Superbowl game I have seen to date. Okay, I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that MY team, the Giants not only were in the game, but WON the game! What a game!
I just wanted to share the 5 main points of my message in correlating the passion of a sports fan to what I would like to see more oft in the Church. Oh yes, and I did predict a Giants win behind the pulpit in from of a couple hundred people. HA HA!! God is faithful!
1. Sports Fans Are Faithful - They Don't Conform!
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Sports fans usually identify with their team. They have hats, shirts, socks, even underwear with the logos of their favorite teams on them. They don't mind being different. They enjoy being the only one in a crowd with the logo of their team on it. They are "representing."
2. Sports Fans Are BIG Spenders!
Super Bowl tickets, World Series tickets, and college basketball's Final Four weekend cost in the hundreds of dollars. No sacrifice is too great when your team is involved in the big game!
Someone said, "You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." How much do you love Christ? How passionate are you about this thing? Giving is a true test of our love.
3. Sports Fans Are Tireless!
Fans will travel for hours to see their team. Some fans will travel to road games no matter how far away. Further, they are emotionally attached to their cause. They feel that they are accomplishing something by supporting their “cause”.
4. Sports Fans Are Loyal!
If you enjoy sports at all, then you have probably heard of the term "bandwagon" fans. Don’t you hate that!? One minute they are rootin’ for this team and the next the other team. They are always on the side of the winner.
But these aren’t true fans. A true fan sticks with their team… through the good bad and the ugly!
We should have the same attitude as Paul taught the Philippians in Chapter 3: “That I may know him...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
5. Fans Are Passionate!
True fans will never give up until the last second ticks off the clock. They never stop believing in the in the chance for victory for their team no matter what the circumstances.
In John Chapter 6 we read of followers who walked no more with him. They heard hard sayings that were difficult for them to accept. Jesus watched them leave, and asked His disciples this question, Will ye also go away? Peter replied with the great acclamation: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
There’s no going back… there should be no doubting His love and compassion for us. Don’t lose sight of His goodness to us.
d a n p o n j i c a n
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