March Madness 2012

Luke 8:26-39• “27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there

met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.”

• “35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed.”

What madness is going on in your life?

John Wooden is considered to be the best basketball coach of all-time

•10 National Championships in 12 years

•7 consecutive NCAA Championships •88 consecutive victories •4 undefeated seasons •8 undefeated conference seasons •His overall coaching record totaled 667 wins and 161 losses, a whopping 81% winning percentage.

RECRUITING “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“’These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe … so that you … may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all of His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” Deuteronomy 6:1-2

 

Game Plan

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest. John 10:10

Game Plan

Game Plan

“The greatest command is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Mark 12:29-30

“This is eternal life: that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent.” John 17:3

 

TIMEOUT: God’s game plan is that He loves

you, He came for you, and He came so that you may have life to the fullest.

Is your life truly satisfying? Are you experiencing life to the fullest?

If not, you need another game plan.

Game Plan

Dunk Fest

Can’t Do It Alone“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23  “Your sins have separated you from God.” Isaiah 59:2  “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23  

Can’t Do It AloneTIMEOUT:  You may think you’re winning, but God’s scoreboard may say otherwise. And to lose the game of life means separation from God and everything that is good.

How does your personal scoreboard look?

HALF-TIME: Time for Adjustments?  

When you are losing at half-time, you have two choices: do it yourself or listen to the Coach.

Will you make adjustments by submitting to the Lord and following His game plan?

Really Need a Substitute

Simply Need a Substitute

Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; 

      it was our sorrows that weighed him down.    And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!  5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,       crushed for our sins.    He was beaten so we could be whole.       He was whipped so we could be healed.  6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.       We have left God’s paths to follow our own.    Yet the LORD laid on him       the sins of us all.

Our Substitute

This is what love is all about: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the perfect sacrifice (substitute) for our sins. I John 4:10

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. II Corinthians 5:21

Freedom in Our Substitute

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Our Substitute

TIMEOUT:  God cared about us and our situation so much He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place so that we could win in life now and eternally. I’m so thankful for such a great substitution!

“For the wages of Sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23  

Crunch TimeAs Coach Wooden says, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” You can’t save yourself, but you can trust the One who can.

 

Wayne Simeon

Crunch TimeTo all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God. John 1:12

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9

Crunch Time If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who  trusts in Him will never be put to shame.‘ Romans 10: 9-11

TIMEOUT: Do you completely trust God’s game plan?

Have you decided to follow His plan, believing in what Jesus did on the cross for you?

The Final Score•  Those whom I love, I reprove and

discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:18-20