Last weekend we kickoff a new ministry at FHCC, Flag Football. Many were excited for the chance to play a great American game, hang out with church friends, and establish some new relationships along way. Others, however, were not so thrilled with a church adopting a multi-week event of such a secular nature and billing it as an "outreach." The problem is that the first group simply wants to socialize, while the the second only wants the familiarity of religious traditions. Both are wrong, and both need to change.A survey of the Bible will inform us that there is very little instruction on living a Christian life. There is plenty of "corrective theology," which draws us out of sin and into a relationship with Jesus, but the commands of what to do after coming to Jesus are pretty short and sweet. Essentially, they are "live life under the influence of the Holy Spirit." There is no command for how many times we are to go to church, what kinds of Bible studies we should be implementing or how many street campaigns we are to participate in. Instead, we are told to simply do all things for the glory of God.
Flag football presents us with a great opportunity to live like Jesus in the presence of the unsaved. While others are celebrating their talents, achievements, and bodies on the field, we, as the church, have the privilege of playing of celebrating our friendships in Jesus, rejoicing in the victories of others, and living above reproach when things don't go our way. We get to show the world what being a Christian is all about as we live life under the Spirit in every possible way.
If you are looking for a new Bible study to get involved in, we have one for you. It's called, LIFE, and it'll be taking place this Saturday from 10am to 2pm on the football field. We're going to pray together, play together, and do it all for the glory of God. More encouragement and conversations will take place during this time, then could ever take place behind a pulpit.
And if you think that you can dodge a Bible study by playing football, then you have another thing coming. Win or lose, we play for Jesus. Flag or two-hand touch, either way you are getting a bear hug from Pastor Jeremy. And we don't care whose team you play for during the game, because at the end of day we all want to be on Jesus' team.
This is ministry, this is life!
