PLAY BALL

(A Sermon Outline)

Text:  Romans 10:1-4

Introduction:  Paul used athletics a lot in his preaching.  He said, “I have fought a good fight”; “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness in high places”; “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Evidently God was pleased with this type of preaching in that He blessed Paul so greatly.  I am not a Jew as was Paul, I am an American.  I have chosen the American sport of baseball for our message today.

1.FIRST BASE: SALVATION
a. We all need it because we have all sinned.  (Romans 3:23)
b. We can not save ourselves.   (The text:  They were trying to establish their own righteousness.)
c. Only faith in Christ can save us.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

2. SECOND BASE: BAPTISM AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
a. Many have cut straight across the pitchers mound…they have run directly to Second Base and bypassed First Base.  (Judas was baptised and the treasurer of the first Church.)
b. Baptism and Church membership are important. (Matthew 3:13-16)  Jesus was baptised to fulfill all righteousness. We are to follow His example.
c. Being an active member of a local church is important.  (Ephesians 3:21)

3. THIRD BASE: CHRISTIAN SERVICE
a. We are commanded to serve.  (Romans 12:1-2)
b. We may serve by witnessing. (Matthew 28:19-2)
c. We may serve by tithing. (Matthew 23:23)
d. We may serve by praying, singing, teaching, etc.

4 HOME PLATE: HEAVEN
a. We get discouraged and are reminded of Christ to not let our hearts be troubled.  (John 14:1-3)
b. Note:  Tell of a godly person that you know who was near death and could only talk/think about heaven.
c. The Christian may fear dying, but he does not fear death.

Conclusion:  In 1924 New York met Washington in the World Series.  Both teams had won three games.  During the seventh game the score was zero to zero at the beginning of the ninth inning.  New York sent their first three men up to bat and all struck out.  Washington sent their first two men up to bat and both struck out.  The third man for Washington was a man named “Goslin.”  He let the ball speed by twice and on the third ball he hit it and it and it bounced about six inches below the top of the fence in center field and fell to the ground.  The fielder picked it up and threw it to the shortstop.  By this time, Goslin was on third base.  Goslin’s coach on third told him to make it to home plate and win the World Series.  Gosplin ran as fast as he could and sled into home plate.  The shortstop saw him running and quickly threw the ball to the catcher.  It seemed as if both Goslin and the ball made it to home plate at the same time.  The Umpire behind home plate called the other Umpires together to discuss the entire play.

These men in black finally reached a verdict.  They wrote it on a small piece of paper and handed it to the announcer.  He lifted the megaphone to his lips and read, “Ladies and gentlemen, Goslin is out because . . . he failed to touch first when he came around.”

It will be a sad day for many when they hear Christ say, “You are out because you failed to touch first, you never were saved, as you played the game of life.”