Sunday, February 22, 2009: Spring Training 2--Basic Skills / Mechanics

Spring Training: Mechanics
Mark 12: 28 – 34

I. Introduction.

For those of you who were with us last week, I want to remind you of something Trey Hearne said in our interview. Trey is a member of our church who plays professional baseball with the Saint Louis Cardinals’ organization. Trey and I sat down up here and talked about Spring Training and what he can expect to happen when he goes back in two weeks.

Trey said something very important, but it went by very quickly. I asked Trey if professional baseball players have to go over the basic skills of playing baseball. He said that is one of the most important things that happen during Spring Training.

Some players go to Spring Training to “try out” for the team. Spring Training is the last time some players will ever wear a professional uniform. They give it their best shot, but they have to go home if their best shot is not good enough.

Other players go to Spring Training to get back into shape. Maybe they ate too much during the off season. Or perhaps they didn’t spend enough time working out. For these players, the most important thing they get during the two months of Spring Training is conditioning and exercise, exercise, exercise.

But ALL the players go back to the very basic skills of playing baseball. Pitchers practice throwing the ball. Catchers practice catching the ball. Hitters practice hitting the ball.

One example Trey gave about basic skills was a brief mention of Albert Pujols. For those who might not know Albert Pujols, he is the first baseman for the Saint Louis Cardinals. He won a World Series in 2006, and won the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player award in 2005 and 2008. He is known as one of the best hitters in professional baseball. But Trey said during Spring Training, Albert Pujols can be seen hitting baseballs off of a tee—like a 5 year old playing tee-ball.

Hitting balls off a tee is a basic skill. It teaches hand-eye coordination. It trains the hitter to keep his head down and his eye on the baseball. When it comes to hitting a baseball, it just doesn’t get any more basic than that.

What about for Christian men and women? Is there something we should do to hone our basic skills? Is there a discipline we should not neglect?

The most basic description of the Christian life can be found in the words of Jesus, when he was asked about the most basic commandments in all the Bible.

Read Mark 12: 28 – 34.

This story appears at the very end of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the last time. Jesus has intentionally traveled to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. And the controversy surrounding Jesus has reached its highest level.

This story is one of several stories that occurred in the Jerusalem Temple. Notice that Jesus is stationary throughout these final chapters of Mark’s Gospel. The religious leaders are coming to Jesus to ask him questions. Most of the questions have a ring of hostility. The Pharisees and Scribes are trying to trick Jesus by asking him political, theological and legal questions. They are hoping Jesus will say something that can be used against Jesus. Maybe they can get him to say something against Israel, God or the Jewish Law that will turn the crowds of people against Jesus. But Jesus is too wise and wonderful to fall into their traps.

This particular question does not sound very hostile. In fact, I would argue that this particular Jewish Scribe is so impressed with Jesus’ wisdom that he is actually approaching Jesus as a genuine seeker. The Scribe has come to Jesus seeking the truth about the Jewish Law as well as the truth about the character of Jesus.

In fact, this is the only Scribe who actually agrees with one of Jesus’ answers. He is also the only religious leader in the Gospel of Mark to receive a favorable response from Jesus. Notice how complimentary verses 32 and 34 are… “32. Well said teacher, the Scribe replied. You are right in saying…” “34. When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

The difference between this story and other confrontations of Jesus and the Scribes, can be found in the nature of the question asked. This Scribe did not ask a rhetorical question. This Scribe asked a question that was often discussed and debated among the religious leaders. He wasn’t trying to find out which parts of the Jewish Law were expendable. He was asking Jesus to help him manage and interpret the Law.

In the Old Testament, we discover there are 613 commandments—248 positive commands and 365 negative commands, usually stated as “Thou shalt not…” The Scribe was asking about an interpretive principle. What is the one commandment which explains all 613 commandments? Jesus didn’t give him one commandment. Jesus gave him two commandments, Deuteronomy 6: 5 and Leviticus 19: 18.

These two commandments serve as a kind of summary for the entire Old Testament. In a very specific way, these two commands summarize the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. The first four of the Ten Commandments deal with a person’s love and relationship with God. The second six of the Ten Commandments deal with a person’s love and relationship with other people. Just as the Ten Commandments teach us to love God and love others, so the entire Old Testament teaches us to love God and love others. Now Jesus says these are the two basic skills required of all Christians.

II. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.

This is the second of the greatest commandments Jesus gave us. There is a very good reason why it is second. It is not enough for us simply to love other people. Our love for others must be rooted in something greater than ourselves and greater than other people. We must love others as an expression of our love for God.

There are a lot of good humanitarians who do good deeds for the people of the world. A couple of years ago, there were some American multi-millionaires who made headlines by donating millions of dollars to the United Nations to address hunger, clean water and HIV issues around the world. These are the kinds of love expressions Christians ought to perform in the world. However, Christians are supposed to do this kind of work as a response to God’s love for us.

I would also add that any Christian humanitarian work is incomplete if it is not also accompanied by the spiritual work of sharing the Gospel with the same people we are serving. The difference between the way Christians love the world and non-Christians love the world is the way we serve both physical and spiritual needs. Christians should never offer physical salvation without spiritual salvation.

III. Love God with All Your Heart.

The Greek word for “heart” is the word kardia. It is the root of our English words cardiac. The ancient world used the concept of “heart” in the same way we use it today. It is a symbolic way of expressing the center of our emotional lives. A very practical way to think of the heart is to think of a person’s desires and passions. What are you passionate about? What is the most intense desire of your heart?

In Luke 15, Jesus told a parable about a man who had two sons. The younger son left home and squandered his inheritance among the Gentiles. The older son stayed home and remained faithful to his father. Since the older son stayed home, he thought he deserved a greater reward from his father. But when the younger son returned home, we saw the older son at his very worst. He refused to celebrate when his younger brother came home. He refused to accept his own brother as a part of his own family. Yes, the older brother stayed home. However, his heart and desires were not in the right place.

It is possible for us be just like the older brother in the parable. We can do the right things, with a heart that is not totally devoted to Jesus. Jesus wants your whole heart…All your desires and your greatest passion should be focused on Jesus.

IV. Love God with All Your Soul.

The Greek word for “soul” is the word psyche. It is identical to our English word psyche. In English, psyche defines a person’s internal life. The ancient world associated the psyche with the eternal aspect of life—the part of life that leaves the body at the point of death. The Hebrew people taught that the soul was what brought Adam and Eve to life when it was breathed into them by God himself. A body without a psyche is motionless, lifeless and dead. Therefore, we can say that to love God with all your soul is to love God with all the vitality, power and motivation of life. What brings vitality to your life? What is the single greatest motivator for you on a daily basis?

In the New Testament we meet a man by the name of Paul. In the Book of Acts, Paul was a tireless missionary and evangelist. He preached the Gospel in the most dangerous, pagan lands. He later wrote almost half of the books of our New Testament. In one of Paul’s writings, he described for us his greatest motivation. “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain (Philippians 1: 21).” The greatest motivator for Paul was his love for Jesus Christ.

V. Love God with All Your Mind.

This is the only category Jesus added to the Old Testament commandment. The original quotation says to love God with your heart, soul and strength. Jesus added “mind.” It’s OK that this does not appear in the Old Testament Scripture. It was added by Jesus, not by a mere human. Since it was added, I think we should take it seriously…Even more seriously, since Jesus is the one who mentioned it.

Christian faith is not supposed to be without intellect. The early Christians used their minds to engage the culture around them. They read the great philosophers; they studied their culture; and they wrote on the same intellectual level as the world. Paul tells us in Romans 12: 1 – 2… “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and well pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”


VI. Love God with All Your Strength.

The Greek word for strength is a word which usually refers to a person’s physical capacity. It is the root word for the Greek word for “health.” In other words, love God with all your health. I think this is an obvious reference to the human body.

Some ancient religions did not think very highly about the human body. They were only concerned with the spiritual side of life. That is not the case with the Christian faith. Paul told us to present our “bodies” to God as living sacrifices in Romans 12. In 1 Thessalonians 4: 3 – 8, he tells us to get control of our bodies—including our sexual desires.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 3 – 8.

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Girls of grace is a 12 week program designed for 8th thru 12th grade girls for the purpose of learning what God says about purity through studying his word and engaging one another thru thoughtful discussion.

This ceremony marks the end of this study as we celebrate with them their decision to live a life of purity and deep committed discipleship. These girls have acknowledged The Lord Jesus as their savior and they understand how important it is to grow in their faith by staying connected with a body of believers. We celebrate with them along with their families today.

Girls..may the ring you're about to receive be a reminder of your commitment to God and your future husband. Remember that on your wedding night you will give this ring to your spouse as a sign of promises made and promises kept. May today be the start of the best days if your life.

Girls...do you commit to God, yourself, your family, your friends, your future mate and future children, to a life long journey with Jesus towards purity and to sexual abstinence from this day until the day you enter a biblical marriage relationship? (I do.)

Parents place ring on daughters finger.

Parents...do you honor and support your daughters commitment here today and promise to correct her when needed and lovingly guide her to become more like Jesus? (We do.)

Congregation...will you join these girls in a committing to a life long journey with Jesus towards purity and to supporting them with your thoughts and prayers? (We do.)

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VII. Conclusion.
If we are to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength, what is left out? Nothing! Jesus tells us the most important thing for a Christian to do is to love God with ALL we have. God loves ALL of you. God saves ALL of you. Anything less than your ALL is inadequate.