Becoming a MVP Christian Part 1

Romans   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Welcome to Freedom Chapel. My name is Pastor Terry and I am the lead Pastor here at Freedom Chapel. If you are new with us this this morning thank you for joining us. Please fill out the welcome card in your bulletin or online by using the QR Code
Our mission as a church is to bring Hope to our community. We do that by being a Place to Belong, Church for the Whole Family. We want every person who attends here to have the opportunity to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and to Go out and Make a Difference.
Today, I have asked Larry Purcell to share his testimony of how God has blessed his family as He and Reva as they have trusted God with their finances.
Pray over Offering.
Today we have an amazing opportunity to Dedicate a Baby to the Lord!
Casey and Jennifer Hainline have asked to bring Baby Jake Before the church to dedicate him to the Lord. Would you guys bring him forward.
Tonight we are getting together to enjoy the Super Bowl here at the church. If you have not entered the Wing Off it is not too late! You can register in the church app.
March 5 we will be having a Baptism Service. If you are interested in being Baptized please register on the church center app.
If you have your Bibles please turn with me to Romans Chapter 12. Today I am beginning a two part series Becoming a MVP Christian.
Last week we talked about the Gifts of the Body. As a body of believers we all have a part to play in making this church a championship winning church. It is our Goal as a church that everyone who calls this church home is doing their part in moving the ball forward. We want to Offensively decimate the enemy in all areas of Ministry.
This week we are going to talk about the attributes of the Most Valuable Players of a Church Body.
These apply regardless of your personality type. These apply regardless of your background. These apply regardless of your age or demographic.
What the world needs more now than ever is more MVP’s wearing the color Jesus.
Romans 12:1–2 ESV
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
MVP’s present themselves willing to sacrifice their bodies, they come in prayed up, the sit up front, the worship with enthusiasm, and hands lifted in worship.
Their minds are prepared though prayer and the reading of the play book. They desire to follow the Coaches plan.
We are going to pick up where we left off last week.
Romans 12:9a (ESV)
9 Let love be genuine.

An MVP is the embodiment of Love that is Genuine

If we want to to know what it means to love we need to look no further than the G.O.A.T himself Jesus Christ.
John 13:34 (ESV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
John 13:35 (ESV)
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If you are going to be an MVP you are going to have to love your team mates.
John 15:9 (ESV)
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
John 15:12 ESV
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17 ESV
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Jesus was explicit in one thing if you want people to know what team you are on show them through how you love.
Romans 12:9a (NLT)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.
Romans 12:9 (ESV)
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Psalm 101:2–4 ESV
2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
Proverbs 8:13 (ESV)
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Romans 12:9c (ESV)
hold fast to what is good.

An MVP strives to live clean and stays as far from evil as possible.

Romans 12:10a (ESV)
10 Love one another with brotherly affection.
Romans 12:10b (ESV)
Outdo one another in showing honor.

An MVP does no withhold love and honor. MVPs excel in it.

Romans 12:11a(ESV)
11 Do not be slothful in zeal,
Romans 12:11 (NRSV)
11 Do not lag in zeal,
According to the Sound of Heaven Church.
Zeal in the bible has the same meaning as everywhere else.  It is passion.  This was one of the key character traits of Paul the Apostle that allowed him to have an incredible amount of influence in the first-century church.
The difference between advancing in life and staying in the same place can often be summed up in one word.  That word is passion.  Success is not easy.  Any worthwhile accomplishment will be met with challenges.  It is when we face obstacles that passion can drive us to do whatever it takes to win.
A great example of zeal in the Bible is found within the story of the Apostle that wrote most of the new testament.  Before his encounter with Jesus,
Paul was Saul.  Saul was a man of influence who excelled at his life goals.  He was respected in Judaism for his dedication to Jewish tradition and gained even more credibility as a persecutor of Christians.  He would arrest them, beat and kill them as punishment for what he and the religious leaders deemed as blasphemy.  You could say that Saul was dedicated to his work.  That dedication came with opportunity, promotion, and notoriety......
Passion is not a destination.
So many of us have dreams, goals, and desires for our own lives yet go through life missing the mark on significant achievements.  This can often be attributed to a lack of passion. We treat passion as if it were a destination and somehow that once we get to a place, a title, a whatever, then we will have “achieved our passion”.  This is not so.
Passion is a trait within us.  It is a daily commitment of mind, body, and spirit that overflows into every area of life.  Zeal is a state of being and if present, shows up in our words and actions.  Win or lose, right or wrong, it is the will to do more than others.  This willingness sets us apart from those around us.

An MVP has a Passion for the Coaches Plan and the Life They have been Given.

One of the greatest things you can do is to get excited about your life and start to live enthusiastically day after day after day; your whole world will improve. If you wait to get excited until some lucky outer event happens–guess what? If you wait, what does life do? It waits. And if you hold back until a more appropriate time to get excited what does life do? It holds back. If you’re going to hold back on enthusiasm, develop lots of patience, because you’re going to wait a long time for an exciting life.
~John Maxwell
Romans 12:11b (ESV)
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:11b (ESV)
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Psalm 100:2 ESV
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Romans 12:12a (ESV)
12 Rejoice in hope,
Romans 12:12b (ESV)
be patient in tribulation,
Romans 12:12c (ESV)
be constant in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
17 pray without ceasing,
Romans 12:13a (ESV)
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints.....
Romans 12:13 (ESV)
seek to show hospitality.

An MVP is a Spiritual Contributor not a Spiritual Consumer.

God is looking for some MVPs!