What’s the Game?

Put Me In Coach – What’s the Game?
Sycamore Creek Church
November 2/3, 2014
Tom Arthur

Peace friends!

It’s a good time of the year for sports fans.  The World Series just wrapped up.  Were you rooting for the Giants or the Royals?  Then the NBA & NHL seasons are just beginning.  The NFL is in full swing.  And for those of you whose sports tastes are a little more eclectic, later this month is the Men’s World Squash Championship held in Qatar.  I know, you’re waiting with bated breath to see who wins!

It’s also a good time of the year for us to be thinking about the game we’re all in together here at Sycamore Creek Church.  What is God’s game we’re called to play?  We’re on the edge of closing on a new building.  Is that the game?  Do we win when we move in?  We’ve become respectable now?  What exactly is this game we’re in?

A key thought we’ll explore through this whole series is this:

There are too many fans of the game and not enough players in the game.

Take football for example.  Football consists of 22 people on the field in desperate need of rest and 22,000 people in the stands in desperate need of exercise.  Too many fans and not enough players.  Put me in coach!

Most of us don’t want to be bench warmers.  We want to play.  We want to get in the game.  I know this first hand.  I played baseball growing up.  I loved it.  When I got to high school I found myself at a new level of competition.  Ninety guys were trying out for five spots on the baseball team.  I made it as what was called a “practice player.”  That titled could have been shortened to “practicer” because that’s all I did, practice and not play.  I sat on the bench in uniform and watched others play the game.  After doing this for a season, my love of the game disappeared.  Nobody wants to practice all time and never be put in the game.

So what’s the problem?  Why so many fans and so few players?  Maybe you’re saying to yourself:

I want in God’s game, but I don’t know what the game is.
I want in God’s game, but I’m not focused on the game.
I want in God’s game, but I haven’t trained for the game.
I want in God’s game, but I don’t know my position.
I want in God’s game, but I don’t want to do the work it takes.
I want in God’s game, but I’m not making it a priority.

Here’s a Public Service Announcement from everyone’s favorite classic basketball movie:

 

 

Did you hear what the coach said?  “God wants you on the floor!”  So get on the floor!  Put me in coach!  Today we’re beginning a new series.  Over the next four weeks we’ll explore all the bases and baseboards, all the goals and hoops, all the picket fences and hat tricks, all the bats, balls, mitts, sticks, pucks and pads of the game we play as Christians.  We’ll look at who your team is.  We’ll run you through the drills to determine your best position. You’ll meet the coach (it’s not who may think).  And today we begin with this: What’s the game?  We begin by going back to the basics.  This is a football.  I want to answer four basic questions about the game.  So let’s get on the field and get in the game.

1.     What’s the game?
This may seem like an obvious question, but it’s an essential one.  What is this game that we’re playing as those who follow Jesus?  What game do Christians play?  Let me begin to answer that question by answering what this game is NOT.  The game is not getting a building.  As tempting as it is to think we’re finally in the game because we’re buying a building, the game is not the building.  The building is just one tool on the court to play the game.  The game is also NOT getting safe and comfortable.  These two things are idols of our American culture but it is likely that if you’re going to get in the game Jesus calls us to play, you’re going to be uncomfortable and many of your most cherished possessions will be put at risk.  Likewise, the game is NOT getting to a place where you can coast.  As much as I am always trying to get to a place where I can sit back and relax because I’ve got everything in its place, the game we’re playing is NOT a game we can play with cruise control on.  The game is also NOT about getting as much money as you possibly can.  Again, this is one of those American idols that we are all tempted to worship.  We are tempted to think that we win when we’ve got just a little bit more money.  (Side note: it is November and that means that Christmas is just around the corner.  Don’t forget about our Christmas challenge: give as much money away as you spend on yourself at Christmas!  Begin planning for it.  This is part of the game.)  Lastly, the game is NOT getting what you want.  Whatever goals you have set in life, if they aren’t the goals that God has for you, then they aren’t part of the game.  So if these are all things that game is NOT, what is the game?

Our key verse throughout this series is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  Paul was the first missionary of the church and he wrote several letters to churches all around the Mediterranean.  In chapter four he tells us explicitly what the game is.  He says that the game

will continue until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ…
~Paul (Ephesians 4:13 NLT)  

This one simple verse describes just about everything we need to know about the game.  We’re going to unpack it over the next four weeks.  The game is all of us coming to a unified purpose of helping others come to know through faith Jesus, the Son of God, and to grow in maturity to the point that we are completely full of the person and character of Christ.  Or as we put it around here at SCC: our mission is to ignite authentic life in Christ and fan it into an all consuming flame by connecting (to God and others), growing (in the character of Christ) and serving (the church, community, and world).  That’s the game.  That’s it.  This is a football.  This is the game.  Let’s go further.

2.     Where’s the playing field?
The field the game is played on is big.  Real BIG!  It begins in the cosmos.  Paul says:

God’s purpose was to show his wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
~Ephesians 3:10 NLT

Did you realize you were playing on a cosmic playing field?  But the field isn’t just out there in the stars.  It’s right here too.  The playing field is our world and community.  Again, Paul says:

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
~Ephesians 3:8 NLT

Paul was a Jew, but he knew that it wasn’t just the Jews who were invited to the game.   The non-Jews or Gentiles were invited to the game too.  It’s not just the insiders who are on the playing field.  The whole world is the playing field.

Paul has a big vision of the playing field, but while he’s thinking cosmic and global, he’s also focused on the very local church.  He says that those with special gifts and abilities have the responsibility…

to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
~Ephesians 4:12 NLT

The church, the community of people called out to play the game, is the unique place where God’s game is played most fully.  The game isn’t an individual sport.  The playing field isn’t primarily your family.  As important as the family is, if your family isn’t on the playing field of the church, you’re missing something.  The primary playing field isn’t the government (even though Paul tells us to pray for those in authority).  The primary playing field isn’t some parachurch (alongside-the-church) ministry.  As awesome as The City Rescue Mission is, as great as Compassion Closet is, as amazing as any other local or national ministry is, these are not the primary playing field for God’s game.  Rather, the church is the first and foremost field that the game is played on.   The church is literally those who are “called out” to play the game together.

3.     How do you score?
There are two ways to score in this game.  The first way to score is to help someone connect to God in Jesus Christ.  Back to our key verse for the series:

[The game] will continue until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ…
~Paul (Ephesians 4:13)

Until all of us come to the knowledge of the Son of God.  ALL of us!  We’re talking raw quantity here.  Lots and lots of people.  Not just some.  Not just a select few.  Not just your close friends.  Everyone.  All of us.  This happens in one of two ways.  Either someone comes to make a commitment to Christ for the first time or someone comes to a place where they recommit their life to following Jesus.  Paul gives us a clear game plan for this score:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
~Paul (Ephesians 2:8 NRSV)

We come to Jesus by grace through faith.  We don’t connect to Jesus because we’ve gotten good enough to do it.  We don’t get our life together to follow Jesus.  We follow Jesus and then he helps us get our life together.  Connecting to God or salvation is a gift, it’s not something we earn.  And God wants everyone to be saved.  God wants the church to grow.  Healthy things grow.  A healthy sports program isn’t a one-and-done program.  It attracts new players every year.  God wants SCC to grow.  Do you believe that?

Now to score in this way each volunteer at SCC is a pick, screen, fake, assist, or score in the play.  Office volunteers put together bulletins that help communicate God’s word.  Offering counters are never seen by anyone except other counters, but the money they count supports everything that we do (rent, salaries, materials, etc.).  Crew Chiefs turn a cafetorium into a sanctuary Sunday after Sunday after Sunday for the past fourteen years.  And they’ll have a unique roll to play to turn a “church” into a Church every Sunday when we move into the new building.  Nursery workers provide safe care for children and free time for parents week after week.  Think about it this way.  A single mom is at her wits end with all the stresses in her life.  She decides to come to SCC some Sunday, but she doesn’t know what she’ll do with her kids.  How can she pay attention or will it just be another wrestling match with her kids to keep them quiet and not do anything too embarrassing.  She looks at our website and sees that we offer a professionally staffed nursery at every service we offer.  She decides to give it a try.  She walks in on Sunday and immediately meets someone at the door who asks her if she needs to know where the nursery is at.   The greeter walks her over to the table, it’s right there by the front door.  She checks her kids in and feels like she’s dropping off her kids, the most important thing in her life, to people who are going to make her kids feel like they’re at home in a place that is safe and secure.  After she’s dropped her kids off something amazing happens.  She’s got some time to herself. She walks back into the Connection Café and sees the free coffee.  She grabs a drink and is surprised to see you can take it into the sanctuary.  Coffee in worship?  What kind of church is this?  She finds a seat and someone next to her introduces themselves with a smile.   The music begins and she’s amazed that everyone is singing with heart led by a really good band.  The pastor gets up and talks about something that she can really relate to.  She finds herself having a “spiritual encounter with God.”  She almost forgets about her kids, but when the worship service is done, she’s surprised that the person who introduced themselves before the service began remembers her name.  They chat for a moment before she gets her kids from the nursery.  As she picks them up and heads out to her car, she realizes something is different.  She realizes she’s not alone.  She knows that God isn’t left in the building.  God goes with her.  She’s still not sure who this Jesus guy is, but she’ll be back next week.

Now how many different people did it take to make that connection with God happen?  Lots and lots of people.  In fact, it took everyone because she could have sat next to any one of you.  But one key position was the hidden volunteers who staffed the nursery.  Friends, we happen to be in a nursery explosion right now.  This is a good thing.  Babies are popping out everywhere.  You have an opportunity: help that single mom, help that couple with kids whose marriage is on the rocks, help that teenage mom connect with God at SCC by volunteering in the nursery.  Will you do it?  That’s one of hundreds of ways to score in this game we play at SCC.  Volunteer and help someone connect with God.

There’s a second way to score.  Back to our theme verse:

[The game] will continue until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ…
~Paul (Ephesians 4:13 NLT)

The second way to score in this game is to help someone grow in the character of Christ.  Connecting is about quantity.  Growing is about quality.  Growing is about deepening and maturing your character and virtue.  You are connected to God by grace through faith, but you grow by practicing good works.  Paul says:

For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
~Paul (Ephesians 2:10 NRSV)

We’re created for good works.  We’re created to grow into becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about becoming Jesus literally, I’m talking about being so filled with the Spirit of Jesus that you take on the character and virtue of Jesus.  We score in this game when we help someone come not just to commit to Christ for the first time but also to commit to Christ at a deeper level.  God wants you to grow in maturity.  Not just half way but “to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

Church, we’re scoring in this way at SCC.  We had an 85% sign-up rate for our fall small groups.  85% of our average weekend attendance signed up for a small group to grow deeper in Christ.  To accomplish that took lots of volunteers.  Seventeen different small group leaders.  A team organizing behind the scenes.  Staff and volunteers creating a GroupLINK sign-up sheet.  Hospitality team members putting stickers on people each week.  Volunteers serving to help people grow deeper in the character of Christ.  Score!

4.     How do you win?
So far we’ve looked at what the game is, where the playing field is, and how you score.  But how do you win?  Here’s a paradox: winning isn’t actually about the score, it’s about how you play the game.  Let’s go back to our theme verse:

[The game] will continue until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ…
~Paul (Ephesians 4:13 NLT)

We win when we all are working together in unity serving with our time, talent, treasure, testimony, and temple (your body) to help people connect and grow.  We win when everyone is united in that one purpose.  We win when we’re all playing the same game in our unique position and role.  We win when we’re all pointed at this one goal with everything we’ve got.  So are you united with God in SCC in this way?

One tool we use to help you get in the game is an online inventory called Assessme.org.  Visit www.assessme.org/2364.aspx and you’ll find four different inventories that will help us put you in the game, that will help you unite with us in this one goal: to ignite authentic life in Christ and fan it into an all consuming flame.

Another tool we use is our service inventory sheet (below).  It has listed all the “positions” in our church where you can get in the game.  You circle the ones you’re interested in and a coach who leads that area will be in touch.

For SCC to win in this way it’s going to take attempting to win all the time.  All the time!  Winning is a habit as Vince Lombardi, the iconic 1960s Green Bay Packers coach, says:

 

 

Vince Lombardi says, “Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”

You may be tempted to think that “winning” is below the church.  But Paul says he’s in it to win it:

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
~Paul (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT)

We’re not SCC to come in second.  We’re SCC to win.  So put me in coach!  I don’t want to be watching the game at home.  I don’t want to be tailgating.  I don’t want to be in the stands.  I don’t want to be on the sidelines.  I don’t want to be on the bench.  I want to be in the game.  Put me in coach!

Prayer
God, I want to be in the game.  I want to be serving in unity with your church to help people connect with you and others and grow in the habits and character of Christ.  Let my life be dedicated to scoring in that way.  Let my church be dedicated to winning in that way.  God, put me in the game.  Amen.