This month our series is entitled: Game Time
Our series has to do with the purpose that God has attached to every one of our lives and the existence of Grace Church. To be successful, individuals and organizations need to understand their purpose for existence and how they are going to define and achieve success.
Critical to success is the ability to assess where you currently are and to strategically plan for where you want to be.

The phrase Game Time is used this month to highlight the fact that Christians are engaged in a spiritual contest.
Matthew 28:18-20
- Our coach is Jesus and He clearly stated our purpose which is to be a disciple who makes disciples.
- His strategy is simple, we are to model our character and priorities after Him.
- The contest is indeed real, as we go against the world, our flesh, and God's enemy, the Devil.

To be successful, each of us are to be making progress spiritually and to be contributing to the church...because we are His team!

The idea of The Game is simple.
Grace Church began using the idea of a baseball diamond nearly two decades ago. The symbol, with clearly seen bases and basepaths communicates the importance of making progress and measuring one's Christlikeness.
Here at Grace Church we've tried to present an understandable picture of who Jesus is and how our relationship with Him should impact our lives and influence others.

We've identified four core character qualities that summarize the life of Jesus and the early church, and fulfill both the Great Commandment and Commission.
These qualities are the foundation on which all of one's Christian faith should be established.
1. Loving - God and people wholeheartedly
2. Learning - About Him and His will for your life
3. Living - Purposefully and passionately according to a Kingdom agenda
4. Leading - Others to do likewise

Using the baseball diamond symbol, we'll learn how these four character qualities can be progressively developed in each of our lives. The development of these qualities takes time and each person will progress at their own pace. The end result is men and women who are much more than casual church attenders but committed spiritual disciple makers.

First: From the Dugout to First Base - Quality of Loving

The Dugout represents the world. Those in the dugout are near the game, observe the game, hear the results of the game, and critique the game...but they are not in the game.
Colossians 1:21 and Romans 1 describe the people in the Dugout.
Even during man's willful rebellion and sinfulness, God desires a relationship and is constantly seeking to draw the lost to Him and into the Game!
First Base represents the place where a person has been forgiven and has become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12

There are two definite markers as we think about this section of the diamond.
1. The point of Conviction (Home Plate)
2. The point of Conversion (First Base)

Second: From First Base to Second Base - Quality of Learning

A relationship with Jesus is defined by His words to His original disciples.
Matthew 9:9
This can be described as following Jesus and making Him our priority, our teacher, and our role model.
This pathway is not about stuffing our head with more facts and casually attending church once a week. It is a commitment of lifetime learning and being transformed to be more like the one you follow.
Progress towards Second Base is evidenced by a willingness to take ownership for your own spiritual growth and a growing desire to minister to others in your church and in your community.

Third: From Second Base to Third Base - Quality of Living

After Jesus' disciples had matured in their faith, He challenged them to minister...to use their lives to make a spiritual difference in the lives of others.
Matthew 4:19-20
Here are some of the ways this quality is evidenced in your life:
- You prioritize God's will over your own whims.
- You look at every aspect of life and think of how you can minister to others.
- You develop your God-given S.H.A.P.E. in order to be more effective.
- You embrace God's principles of Stewardship, Selflessness, and Sacrifice.
- You challenge new believers and stagnant church attenders to Game Time.
- You intentionally begin sharing Jesus with unbelievers.

A person who is truly at Third Base has become a spiritual guide for someone else.

Fourth: From Third Base to the Dugout - Quality of Leading

As the followers of Jesus grew in their faith, developed these core qualities, and understood the base paths of Mission, Maturity, and Ministry, He sent them on the base path of Multiplication.
The Lord used them to grow, train, and release maturing disciples to reach the surrounding regions. His strategy was simple - go to those who need forgiveness and a new life. And they built relationships, shared the Gospel, helped them grow, involved them in ministry, and walked with them until they were established.

Over the next four weeks we'll go a little deeper on each of these points and you will be challenged:
- To KNOW Jesus as your Lord and Savior
- To GROW in your knowledge of Him
- To SHOW your commitment to the Lord by ministering in your church and community
- To GO and tell others what He has done