Spiritual Olympics; Part Two
Everybody Should Be Part Of The Team; Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the
church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and
purpose 1 Cor. 1:10
Intro:
· Of all the Olympic events of the past week , the team event that
encouraged me the most was Equestrian. Not that I am the biggest horse fan
(that would be my daughter Promise), but the team itself. Id
never hear of dressage; before. [The sport of guiding a
horse, almost imperceptivity through a series of complex maneuvers and
jumps].
· But it was the O'Connors that caught my attention on Tuesday
evening. A husband and wife who are part of the USA Equestrian team. David
O'Connor made history with the best ever score for the event on
Wednesday.
· Both David and his wife Karen are at the top of their
sport and it would be easy to think they made it their alone but
listen to what they have to say about Team
O'Connor, Karen and David O'Connor, two of the most successful riders
currently sporting the stars and stripes in any equestrian discipline,
are more than just two talented individuals. Combined with a wide array of
owners, sponsors and staff, their collective total is greater than the sum
of its parts; it is in fact, the O'Connor Event {Though] Karen and David share the limelight that comes with
top-notch riding; their wins are the result of a number of factors, each
of equal importance. Without the support of a large group of people that
help and care, the O'Connor Event Team would not be in a position to claim
the success that has been so hard earned. {oconnoreventteam.com}
That's team work
· That's what the Apostle Paul is telling the church at Corinth as
he opens his first letter to them.
· Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in
the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and
purpose 1 Cor. 1:10
· Let there be real harmony, united in thought and
purpose;
or I wonder if he was also thinking: SO THE WHOLE TEAM CAN WIN!
Trans: I want to talk to you think morning about THE TEAM
and with that the TEAMWORK involved in having and being a part of
the TEAM.
· Everybody needs a team
· And from my perspective most teams need EVERYBODY!
· Good teams are united and everyone (whether on the field or in practice)
is needed!
In the New Testament , and today our team is called the
CHURCH.
· Jesus Christ never expected any individual Christian to go it
alone.
o Though the Christian life may be a marathon and not a
sprint [last week's message)
o All of us should be part of the whole THE TEAM
o In the church[;adjusted quote]
Our collective total is greater than the sum of {our} parts; it is
in fact, the First Family Team. {our} wins are the result of a
number of factors, each of equal importance. Without the support of a
large group of people that help and care, {we would never} be in a
position to claim the success that has been so hard earned.
So what does it take to be a part of the TEAM
Well first, maybe I need to share with you the
IMPORTANCE OF THE TEAM
Why The TEAM Is Necessary At All.
Side: Some people feel being a part of the church is an option.
- Ill just attend
- ll just when I'm comfortable going when
it's convenient
- I don't need to commit or join the TEAM
- Just hanging out with the TEAM surely is enough
There are several reasons why just attending isn't enough
- just hanging out or pitching in from the sidelines just
won't accomplish what God intended for His Church His TEAM
(And amazingly – the four reasons spell out TEAM)
T Testimony There is theTestimony Reason
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so
you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35 (NIV)
· Jesus knew what we should know PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US
o When the world seeing us loving and working as a team they take
notice
o We live in a very look out for number one society
o The church THE TEAM goes contrary to that
o What we do we do for OTHERS
o And when we do it right it is a powerful testimony to those
outside the church
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the
Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts
2:46-47 (NIV)
E Encouragement There is the Encouragement Reason
*Nothing is as powerful as an encouraging word
Timely advice [encouragement] is as lovely as golden apples in a
silver basket. Proverbs 25:11
Where do you get it? You should get it at church!
Why we try to maintain a positive service
o We can point out the errors, spots to be strengthened
o But our primary purpose is to encourage you as you run
Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you
are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among
you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the
highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each
other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the
timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays
back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to
everyone else. 1 Thessalonians. 5:11-19
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called
Today Hebrews 3:13
A Acts There is the Acts Reason
Read with me this important verses
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.
Romans 12:6
Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the
same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5There are different kinds
of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6There
are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does
the work through all of us. 7A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a
means of helping the entire church. 1 Cor. 12:-7 (NLT)
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift
God gave you 2 Timothy 1:6
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of
spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow
through you. 11Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God
himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it
with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given
glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to
him forever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet. 4:10-11 (NLT)
· The Holy Spirit has given each of us abilities
o And the only place we can use them is in the church!
· Best part the results of those abilities is ETERNAL!
M Matters The final reason THE TEAM MATTERS TO
Jesus
May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and
ever through endless ages. Amen Eph. 3:21
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her
by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself
the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;
but that she would be holy and blameless. Eph. 5:25-27
the church, 23which is His body Ephesians 1:22
· It mattered enough that He died for it
· It matters enough that He gave it to Himself
· It matters to Him enough that He keeps working with it, cleansing it.
etc.
TRANS:
· The TEAM (church) is important
· But there is no TEAM (church) without YOU!
· You belong ON the TEAM (church) You belong TO the Team (church)
· You NEED the TEAM (church) and the TEAM (church) needs you!
That's why it is VITAL that you are a PART!
Why become a part of the church the TEAM?
What benefit is there to actually being a member versus just attending
sitting on the sidelines?
Jesus wants us to be a PART
FOUR BENEFITS TO BEING A PART OF THE TEAM
P Participation
* Being a PART allows you to be fully involved within the Body we belong to each other Eph 4:25
The Apostle John said it this way: We are telling you about what
we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship
with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus
Christ. if we are living in the light of God's presence, just
as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of
Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
1 John 1:3-7 (NLT)
· Fellowship participation
o Two fellows rowing in the same ship
Ø Participation helps you become productive
4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
5so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and
each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in
Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. 6God
has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.
9Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them.
Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Rom. 12:3-6,9 (NLT)
Ø Participation helps with the pressure
when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Cor
11:33
You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive
the person who offends you. Col. 3:13
Ø Participation produces power in your life
9Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a
better return for their labor. Eccl. 4:9 (NLT)
As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs
27:17
20For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am
there among them. Matt. 18:20 (NLT)
A Accountability
· Being a PART gives you accountability
o That's something we often fight , but something that is VERY
necessary in our lives
1 Thessalonians. 5:15 (NLT) 15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but
always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.
So put away all falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth £
because we belong to each other. Eph 4:25
· Being a part of the church constantly reminds me that I am not only
accountable to God but to other believers within the Body
o Sometimes I can attempt to ignore God (but I can't ignore you both!)
· I call this the altar & alter benefit
o Accountability reminds me of my altar
So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a
sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something
against you, 24leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be
reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matt
5:23-24
o Accountability also helps me alter” areas of my life that I
simply can't handle on my own
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each
other and to everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good
deeds. Heb. 10:24
o Accountability also make me AWARE in a safe environment!
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him Eph
4:15
R Reach
Being a PART of the TEAM gives me resources to help reach others with the
Good News
· Do you realize that the Great Commission was given to the CHURCH?
o We may share our faith individually but we do it with the help
of our church TEAM
· As we reach the Church TEAM helps me be REAL
· As we reach the Church TEAM helps me to be RELEVANT
So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend
to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. 2You
must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of
your salvation. 1 Peter 2:1-1
And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's 1 Cor
11:1
· And reaching allows me to REINVEST what God is doing in my life
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just
as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph 4:23 (just as)
T Touch
Being a PART of the TEAM where I belong, where I am a member
allows me to TOUCH others lives and be touched by their lives!
ILL: That Holy Kiss Thing
Greet one another with a holy kiss. Romans 16:16
· 4 times philma (from brotherly love)
o an outward expression of brotherly love - care
· I can touch on the TEAM by using my TALENTS
Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is
required from those to whom much more is given. Luke 12:48
· I can touch on the TEAM by investing my TIME
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering Gods grace in its various forms. 1 Peter
4:9
· I can touch on the TEAM by giving THANKS to God by simply obeying Him
If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15
CONL:
· Being a part of the CHURCH TEAM is important to God and to You!
o Your testimony is at stake
o Encouragement is available
o Your gifts and abilities are needed
o It matters to God
· Become an ACTIVE PART and youll benefit
because of it
o It provides you accountability and you'll benefit because
of it
o It will help you reach others with God's Good news and
you'll benefit because of it
o It will give you the privilege of touching and being touched more deeply
by God's people, and you will benefit because of it!
