Get Your Head In The Game

Sermon Materials: Get Your Head in The Game

by Jon Walker

“But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 MSG)

A few years ago, a movie called “Hoosiers” told the story of a small-town basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During an intense game, the team’s coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray.

And he continued to pray, delaying the game on the court. Finally, the coach leaned down and said, “Son, God wants you out on the court now.”

Some of us are like that – we’re still praying for God to strengthen us for the game, when God wants us to get into the thick of the game, promising that he will be our strength.

The truth is, time is running out for you to fulfill your life mission!

Even if Jesus doesn’t return for another 100 years, you only have a limited time to complete your life mission. Your days on earth are numbered, and you can only share your faith with others while you’re here in this world. For that matter, you can only share your faith with others while they’re still in this world.

Back in the 19th-century, a missionary toChinanamed Hudson Taylor said he was talking to a Buddhist leader, one who’d become a follower of Christ. The former Buddhist askedTaylorhow long the gospel had been known inEngland.

“For hundreds of years,”Taylorsaid.

The new convert began to cry. He said, “For hundreds of years! My father sought the truth for more than 20 years, and he died without finding it. Why didn’t you come sooner?”

And that question burned in Hudson Taylor’s soul as he thought about the millions of Chinese who’d never heard of Jesus Christ.

So what?

· Get into the game – There are still more than 3,000 people groups in the world with no known church, no local witness, and no eternal hope. They’ve never heard about Jesus.

· Understand this pivotal moment – My friend, Rick Warren, explains it this way: “We are in a pivotal moment in history. We have to stop making excuses for why we cannot go. It’s not too far; it’s not too costly; it’s not too dangerous; it’s not too inconvenient. Not anymore. It’s time to stand up and say that we will be the last generation to have to answer the question, ‘Why didn’t you come sooner?’”

· ‘I will go’ – God wants you moving toward your mission now. You may need to pray about your concerns, fears, or indifference. You may need to simply pray, “God, I don’t know when, where, or how, but I will go.”

· Why didn’t you come sooner?

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.