Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
Taking One For The Team
March 12, 2006 Mark 8:31-38
IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!
When you think about sports super stars today, too often the image of Terrell Owens comes to
mind. Or we think of Kobe Bryant or Coach Larry Brown. When you think about sports today
you hear about steroid use, pay me or trade me attitudes. It’s almost too hard to be a sports fan
anymore. There’s always got to be an angle. Whatever happened to the games.
I think it is fair to say that we all want to win. The problem is that too often the cost is too
high. It means we have to give something up to get the victory. Now I know you’ll say T.O.
has got his wins and Kobe has got his rings, but I don’t think either of them are very happy.
Jesus once said, “What does it profit a man if he gives the whole world but loses himself.” You
see these sports heroes who decided to play the game by themselves, are not happy now.
There’s a story told in Mark’s gospel about Jesus and his disciples.
1) Peter’s Confession
2) Jesus’ revelation of suffering
3) The transfiguration
You see the point is this: Jesus gathered his team together. He called them his disciples. They
went out and were very successful. They were so successful that people were following them
every where they went. Jesus was a superstar in his day. He was on top of the world. Peters
response reflected that.
And that’s why his statement about his having to suffer and die was so strongly rejected by
Peter. Superstars don’t sit down and take one for the team.
I’m a Pittsburgh Steeler Fan. In 2005 Plaxico Burress was our long yardage man. Big, tall and
talented. Jerome Bettis was our running back. He is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, first string
on many teams but relagated to second string on the Steelers.
Plaxico kept saying “Get me the ball!” Jerome said, “Let’s do what it takes to win.” When
Plaxico didn’t get his way, he wanted to be traded to another team. On the other hand, Jerome.
loved being a team player and he restructured his contract and agreed to come back as a reserve.
Those who follow football know how that turned out.
Plaxico was the best receiver on a team that ended the season early. Bettis became the MVP
and inspirational leader of the Superbowl Champs.
You see there’s more to life than flexing your muscles and showing how great you are. Joe
Jensen made it to our Sports Ministry Hall of Fame, not because he was the best player on his
teams, but because he did what it takes to make everyone else better.
I remember one of the first games that the B team played this year. It was a tough loss and
Coach Brown said, “You didn’t lose because you weren’t a better team, you lost because you
didn’t play like a team.”
You see Jesus Got it. The devil took him out into the wilderness and offered him kindgoms and
power and glory and he turned it all down. Jesus understood that if the team didn’t win, no one
was going to remember how good he was. So he was willing to take one for the team.
He knew the only way for you and me to be right with God, to have our sins forgiven, was for
someone to step up and take the punishment. That’s what he was talking about in our story
today. That’s what he did on Calvary.
He took one for the team.
Because he did, we can now live the victory.
March 12, 2006 Mark 8:31-38
IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!
When you think about sports super stars today, too often the image of Terrell Owens comes to
mind. Or we think of Kobe Bryant or Coach Larry Brown. When you think about sports today
you hear about steroid use, pay me or trade me attitudes. It’s almost too hard to be a sports fan
anymore. There’s always got to be an angle. Whatever happened to the games.
I think it is fair to say that we all want to win. The problem is that too often the cost is too
high. It means we have to give something up to get the victory. Now I know you’ll say T.O.
has got his wins and Kobe has got his rings, but I don’t think either of them are very happy.
Jesus once said, “What does it profit a man if he gives the whole world but loses himself.” You
see these sports heroes who decided to play the game by themselves, are not happy now.
There’s a story told in Mark’s gospel about Jesus and his disciples.
1) Peter’s Confession
2) Jesus’ revelation of suffering
3) The transfiguration
You see the point is this: Jesus gathered his team together. He called them his disciples. They
went out and were very successful. They were so successful that people were following them
every where they went. Jesus was a superstar in his day. He was on top of the world. Peters
response reflected that.
And that’s why his statement about his having to suffer and die was so strongly rejected by
Peter. Superstars don’t sit down and take one for the team.
I’m a Pittsburgh Steeler Fan. In 2005 Plaxico Burress was our long yardage man. Big, tall and
talented. Jerome Bettis was our running back. He is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, first string
on many teams but relagated to second string on the Steelers.
Plaxico kept saying “Get me the ball!” Jerome said, “Let’s do what it takes to win.” When
Plaxico didn’t get his way, he wanted to be traded to another team. On the other hand, Jerome.
loved being a team player and he restructured his contract and agreed to come back as a reserve.
Those who follow football know how that turned out.
Plaxico was the best receiver on a team that ended the season early. Bettis became the MVP
and inspirational leader of the Superbowl Champs.
You see there’s more to life than flexing your muscles and showing how great you are. Joe
Jensen made it to our Sports Ministry Hall of Fame, not because he was the best player on his
teams, but because he did what it takes to make everyone else better.
I remember one of the first games that the B team played this year. It was a tough loss and
Coach Brown said, “You didn’t lose because you weren’t a better team, you lost because you
didn’t play like a team.”
You see Jesus Got it. The devil took him out into the wilderness and offered him kindgoms and
power and glory and he turned it all down. Jesus understood that if the team didn’t win, no one
was going to remember how good he was. So he was willing to take one for the team.
He knew the only way for you and me to be right with God, to have our sins forgiven, was for
someone to step up and take the punishment. That’s what he was talking about in our story
today. That’s what he did on Calvary.
He took one for the team.
Because he did, we can now live the victory.
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