Philippians 3:7-14

The story is told that in a certain church, on Super Bowl Sunday, the time for the collection of tithes and offerings was approaching. The pastor, a true sports enthusiast, reached into his pocket, took out a quarter, flipped it into the air, glanced at it as it landed, then in typical referee fashion joyfully announced: "The ushers will receive!"

Here is some humorous “football-speak” theology/definitions that will sort of set the atmosphere for Super Bowl Sunday:

Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.

Bench warmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.

Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer of morning worship.

Blocking - Standing inside the church door complaining to the pastor about the sermon.

Extra point - What you receive when you tell the preacher the sermon was too short.

Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

Fumble - A lousy sermon.

Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.

Halftime - The period between Sunday school and worship when many choose to leave.

Illegal motion - Leaving before the benediction

Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week’s illustrations.

Quarterback sneak - Sunday school teachers entering the church building five minutes after Sunday school begins.

Quarterback Sneak - Worshipper quietly gets up during the invitation and sneaks out of church ahead of everybody.

End Run - Getting out of church quickly, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.

Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord’s work.

Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."

Trap - You’re called on to pray and are asleep.

Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.

Most people will never know what it is actually like to play in a Super Bowl. However, there is a Super Bowl that Christians can all participate in and in fact participation is mandatory. You could call it the Super Bowl of Life, and whether we like it or not, we are in it.

The apostle Paul knew that well even though they didn’t have football back then. And Paul wanted to win the game. He wasn’t interested in setting on the sidelines. He is quoted in Philippians 3:13-14 or as the King James puts it: Paul is, “press(ing) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul was looking at the goal line and giving it everything he had. Sadly most Christians are not like the Apostle Paul in our single minded devotion. For various reasons we get off course and life is not about giving it all to the Lord. Instead we are much like the viewers of the Super Bowl and have many different reasons for the “passions” we have in life.

That word “passion” is used to describe a runner going hard for the tape. It depicts him as having eyes for nothing but the goal. It describes him with arms almost clawing the air, with head forward, and with the body bent and angled to the goal. It describes the person going flat out for the finish. He is not distracted and lets nothing interfere with crossing the goal line. He doesn’t let hardships interfere.

So often, believers get busy living life and making a living. It’s not that these are bad things, it’s just that they are not where their ultimate priorities should be. We are concerned only with what is best for us and our immediate family. Eventually the priorities God has in mind get buried.

The question is; how can believers begin pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for UCLA. Picking up the loose ball, he lost his direction and ran sixty-five yards toward the wrong goal line. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, ran him down and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. Several plays later, the Bruins had to punt. Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety, demoralizing the UCLA team.

The strange play came in the first half. At half-time the UCLA players filed off the field and into the dressing room. As others sat down on the benches and the floor, Riegels sat down in a comer, and put his face in his hands.

A football coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during halftime. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels.

When the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second."  The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He didn’t budge. The coach looked back and called to him. Riegels didn’t move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second."

Roy Riegels looked up, his cheeks wet with tears. "Coach," he said, "I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you. I’ve ruined the university’s reputation. I’ve ruined myself. I can’t face that crowd out there." Coach Price reached out, put his hand on Riegels’s shoulder, and said, "Roy, get up and go on back. The game is only half over." Riegels finally did get up. He went onto the field, and the fans saw him play hard and play well.

So often believers run a long way in the wrong direction. But because of God’s mercy, however, the game is only half over.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: 12:1-3, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (v2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (v.3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

Following a rags-to-riches season that led them to the Rose Bowl—their first in decades—Northwestern University’s Wildcats met with coach Gary Barnett for the opening of spring training. As the players found their seats, Barnett announced that he was going to hand out the awards that many Wildcats had earned in 1995. Some players exchanged glances. Barnett does not normally dwell on the past. But as the coach continued to call players forward and handed them placards proclaiming their achievements, they were cheered on by their teammates. One of the other coaches gave Barnett a placard representing his seventeen national coach-of-the-year awards. Then, as the applause subsided, Barnett walked to a trash can marked "1995." He took an admiring glance at his placard, and then dumped it into the can. In the silence that followed, one by one, the team’s stars dumped their placards on top of Barnett’s. Barnett had shouted a message without uttering a word: "What you did in 1995 was terrific, lads. But look at the calendar: It’s 1996."

It’s great to celebrate the accomplishments of the past. But with God, our best days are always ahead. So the question for contemporary Christians is this: Are you a Super Bowl Christian?

A Baptist Pastor from Illinois mad the following anouncement on Super Bowl Sunday:

“Tonight’s festivities will go on as usual, rain or shine. We’ll call it “God’s First Half,” and we’ll make Him top priority tonight. I’ll have a ball tonight and will probably choose to run with it…hopefully it won’t be offensive.  I suggest you choose to receive tonight as I am choosing to defend the faith. You may decide to sit near the exit, but I suggest you come down closer to the heat vents as you have the 1st “draft” choice.  As you can see in your bulletin, the 2nd half will be a “finger-food fellowship” on 2nd floor while we watch the last half of the game on the screens.

I will be officiating for the 1st half. The main points will be audibles but there will be some cool visuals as well.  Prior to the offertory special, a full congregational “hand off” will take place using offering baskets. This is a time to be serious…feel free to fumble thru your wallet as a simple coin toss is not enough!  Any young people found to be in illegal motion will be assessed a five pew penalty or half the distance to the front.  Just camp out on your own end zone and wait.  Anyone leaving before the closing prayer will be in illegal motion.

I want no wardrobe malfunctions tonight in the service, please!

Here’s my promise if you come back:
I promise not to “go long.” A sermon in excess of thirty minutes will be regarded as "Delay of Service." Some may at some point look at their watch in my plain view…this will constitute the 2 minute warning. This will be a special service because, unlike most of my sermons, tonight there will be no extra points.”

Question: what does it take to become a Super Bowl champion?

The winner of the Super Bowl will be the team that exhibits 5 specific traits:
- The team that has the greatest desire,
- The team that is the most disciplined,
- The team that has the most determination,
- The team that is willing to practice self-denial,
- The team that possesses the greatest distinction and character.
- That team, whoever it may be, will win the Super Bowl!

In football, many people play the game. But there are only a few that rise to the status of a Super Bowl Champion. The rest of the NFL, who didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, is at home watching the game along with most churchgoers. The thing that separates a Super Bowl Championship team from the team with the worst record is desire, discipline, determination, denial, and distinction, applied day in and day out.

Vince Lombardi, former coach of the Green Bay Packers, and the winning coach of Super Bowl I, stated in a speech called "What it takes to be number 1" said, "Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. Every time a football player goes to play his trade he’s got to play from the ground up-from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play."

Partnering with the Maine Family Policy Counsel

The Maine Family Policy Counsel understands what it takes to be a champion and usually practices the five specific traits of a champion. God is doing some exciting things through the ministry of the MFPC. I am inviting you to partner with us as we proclaim God’s word in the public square as the future of Maine is debated by our elected officials.  We need your support as we defend traditional marriage and the family.

The MFPC is watching and listening to what is going on in the State House on behalf of all of us who are unable to do so. Decision makers are listening to our point of view. Individuals can make regular contributions and churches can include the MFPC in their missions giving. It is the goal of the League, in the next five years, to partner with 500 churches in Maine who will commit to giving $50 per month. If your church would like to begin doing that, please contact the league office at (207) 622-7634 extension 1 and speak to our administrator. A big “thank-you” goes out to those churches who are already partner with the League. Your support is greatly appreciated!