June 11, 2012 - Game Changers

I remember sitting on the sidelines before a game and “scouting” the opposing teams as they warmed up and seeing guys that could really shoot – only to find out that they were not nearly as talented with defenders on the floor. As I sat at lunch this past week with one of our ministry coaches he talked of arriving early at a collegiate game and seeing the opposing team putting on an aerial dunk display that was quite impressive – only to have his team blow them out of the gym. I see players all the time that are great in clinic settings but not good in game settings. I’ve seen many teams walk in with a swagger and walk out with their tails between their legs… A simple truth is that game play requires much more than just having good skills.

Adversely I have seen some players that do not appear great in a controlled warm-up or clinic setting, yet thrived when the ball went up.

All of this to point out an unfortunate truth I see often in the church. We typically look pretty good on Sundays in the controlled environments – but do not have the same results in “game play.”

Again this past Sunday I found myself discussing this issue from the pulpit as I urged the body of Christ that our lives should show worth to Christ in all we do – lives of worship. I was reminded of Gandhi stating that he likes our Christ but dislike our Christians. I was reminded of the many, many, many youth that I have worked with in the past that admitted a huge disconnect in their view of their families at church versus their families at home.

God has commissioned us to be “game changers”; yet He has also empowered us to be “game changers”! How does your Monday stack up against your Sunday? Are you a Game Changer or a practice player?

Acts 1:⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This week I pray for you (and me) to be just that – Game Changers!

Acts 4:²⁹ Now, Lord, …grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word…