Conference presentation at Iron Sharpens Iron, Spfd. IL.

1. Jesus and Baseball
Lessons Learned About the Kingdom
of God

2. Today’s Lineup
• Talking to coaches and leaders
• Short stories with a message
• Prayer for Wisdom
• Questions and Answers

3. Short Cuts
I know how to get along with humble means,
and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any
and every circumstance I have learned the
secret of being filled and going hungry, both of
having abundance and suffering need. I can do
all things through Him who strengthens me.
Php 4:12-13 NASB

4. Short Cuts
• The need to win
– Value and identity
– Significance
• Cheating or being “smart”?
– The wisdom of this world
– Justice

5. The Uniform Doesn't Fit
I do not write these things to shame you, but to
admonish you as my beloved children. 1 Co
4:14 NASB

6. The Uniform Doesn't Fit
• Shame
– In my quest to be productive an I producing shame?
– Am I requiring others to “deal with it” because I won’t?
• Gifts, talents and ability
– Do I know when someone is immature or when they are
not “gifted?”
– Is there opportunity to train, or do I need to screen for a
proficiency level?

7. Fear of Failure
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but
of power and love and discipline. 2 Ti 1:7
NASB

8. Fear of Failure
• Pretending
– Pretending is a popular coping tool used to avoid
rejection.
• Apathy
– Often we misdiagnosed fear calling it apathy.
• Equipping and Training
– We not only need to know how to instruct in the task,
but also how to instruct in overcoming fear.

9. False Praise
As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery
of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but
speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Eph 4:14-15 NASB

10. False Praise
• Deception
– What is needed to avoid deception?
• Humility
• Honesty
• Friends
• Is average the new “failure?”
• Do we give false praise because we do not know
how to value others for who they are?

11. Practice Getting Hit by the Pitch
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8-9 NASB

12. Practice Getting Hit by the Pitch
• Mistakes, weakness, sin and brokenness
– Overcoming Pride with honesty
– Divine Preparation
• Swagger
– What happens to relationships built on
boasting
An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair
just about anything.—Lynn Johnston (cartoonist)

13. Rodney is director of the Peoria Prayer Center and
serves as an author, speaker and retreat leader.
You can check out his blog at
http://rodneydrury.blogspot.com/
http://peoriaprayercenter.blogspot.com/
Questions and communication can be sent to
RodneyDrury@gmail.com
Jesus and Baseball can be ordered from Amazon.