This sermon compares sports to our Christian walk.

1. 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

2. Opening Questions
What skills and talents
do you rely on the most?
How do you train orpractice,
to improve yourskills?
Find me someone who can play well.
(1 Samuel 16:17)

3. Selected

4. Jesus saw Simon and Andrew
casting a net into the lake,
forthey were fishermen.
Jesus said, “Come, follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left theirnets
and followed him.
(Mark1:16)

5. “Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing themin the name
of the Fatherand of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching themto obey everything
I have commanded you.
Surely I amwith you always,
to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20)

6. You are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
God's special possession,
that you may declare the praises
of himwho called you
out of darkness
into his wonderful light.
(1 Peter2:9)

7. Practice

8. Let us run with perseverance the race
markedout forus,fixing oureyeson
Jesus, the pioneerand perfecterof
faith.
Forthe joy set before himhe endured
the cross, scorning its shame, to sit
down at the right hand of the throne of
God. Considerhimwho endured such
opposition fromsinners, so that you
will not grow weary and lose heart.

9. No discipline seems pleasant
at the time, but painful.
Lateron, however,
it produces a harvest
of righteousness and peace
forthose who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your
feeble arms and weakknees.
(Hebrews 12:11-12)

10. Whateveryou do,
workat it with all yourheart,
as working forthe Lord,
not forhuman masters,
since you know that you will
receive an inheritance
fromthe Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.
(Colossians 3:23-24)

11. We rejoice, forwe know that
trials develop endurance.
And endurance develops character,
and characterstrengthens
ourconfident hope of salvation.
(Romans 5:3-4)

12. Obstacles

13. He gives strength to the weary
and increases the powerof the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew theirstrength.
They will soaron wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walkand not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:29-31)

14. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial
that has come on you to test you,
as though something strange
were happening to you.
However, if you sufferas a Christian,
do not be ashamed, but praise God
that you bearthat name.
(1 Peter4:12,16)

15. Do you not know that
yourbody is a temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whomyou have fromGod,
and that you are not yourown?
You have been bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in yourbody.
(1 Corinthians 6:19)

16. Physical training is
of some value,
but godliness has value
forall things,
holding promise for
both the present life
and the life to come.
(1 Timothy 4:8)

17. Halftime Questions
What do you do when
you “hit the wall”?
How can you encourage others
who are going through hard times?
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass.
(Job 19:8)

18. Reason

19. Fight the good fight
forthe true faith.
Hold tightly to the eternal life
to which God has called you,
which you have confessed so well
before many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:12)

20. My only aimis to finish the race
and complete the task
that the Lord Jesus has given me –
the taskof testifying
to the good news of God's grace.
(Acts 20:24)

21. I press on to take hold of that
forwhich Christ Jesus tookhold 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
behindandstraining towardwhat is
ahead – I press on toward the goal to
win the prize forwhich God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14)

22. Triumph
extra point
conversion

23. 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 fora crown that will not
last, but we do it to get a crown
that will last forever.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

24. Therefore I do not run
like someone running aimlessly;
and I do not fight like
a boxerbeating the air.
No, I strike a blow to my body
and make it my slave
so that afterI have preached to others,
I will not be disqualified forthe prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

25. 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)

26. Well done,
good and faithful servant.
(Matthew 25:21)

27. GET IN THE GAME
ELECTED
RACTICE
BSTACLES
EASON
RIUMPH
S
P
O
R
T
1 Peter2:9
Romans 5:4
1 Timothy 4:8
Philippians 3:13
1 Corinthians 9:25

28. Closing Questions
When is a time in yourlife that you succeeded
at a difficult challenge?
Does yourpast everhold you back
fromreaching yourfuture?
Triumph is just “try” with
some “oomph” behind it.

29. Dave Mattingly
Seek, and ye shall find.
(Matt 7:7)
• dave@davemattingly.net
• www.davemattingly.net
• @dave_mattingly