Get in the Game ... Pastor Clay Baggett

Extraordinary happens when ordinary people do whatever it takes!
You are a product of your decisions... not your conditions.

You are called to love others as you love yourself. No ifs, ands, or buts about it!

 Matt 22:36-39 "36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'t38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

You have to take ownership of your Christianity. You have to get in the game. Christianity is not a spectator sport! It's easy to judge the mistakes of others when you're a spectator, but until you get in there yourself, you're in no position to speak.

Mt. 28:19 "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

GO! Not watch.

I Cor 12:12 "12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ."

We each have our own assignments. There is a seed of greatness in each of us. You were created for offense, not defense!

So, how do we play? How do we get involved?

1-Players know who they are.
Mt 16:17-19 "17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell you that you are Peter,t and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadest will not overcome it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bet bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will bet loosed in heaven."

You have to know who you are in Christ. You hold the keys.

2-Players focus on what they can control.
Matt 6:21 "21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
 
You can control:
a-your attitude
b-your mouth (gossip, lies, exaggerations, etc.)
c-your actions

Bloom where you're planted! Stop waiting for _____ to happen and make the most of where you are now!

3-Players take the field.
Matt 24:12-14 "2 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
 
Players charge onto the field with passion, energy and a desire to win. Sometimes they get dirty, bruised, and bloody, but they still give it their all! If we would approach life like that Satan would be scared! He would say "uh-oh. I know who you are" and he'd run!

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

4-Players carry the ball.
They step out from behind their titles, job duties, position and act on behalf of the vision (winning the game).

They are willing to try other ideas if it will help win the game.

It is your responsibility to run with the ball if it lands in your hands. (According to Matt 24:12, it IS in your hands!)

5-Players choose to play hard and they play hurt. 
You can't give up! How about you? Are you willing to play hard? Even if you're hurt? Church people inevitably will hurt you. Are you going to let that get in your way? There are lives out there who need the hope that you have found.

6-Players know that change begins from the inside out.
Personal change always precedes great moves of God.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Ghandhi

Most of us like this intellectually, but we don't like it enough to change our lifestyles.

It's time to get out of the bleachers and get in the game!