You can make this team

Mark 1:14-20

The year was 1978. It was Spring time, and the local high school baseball team had started practice with the hope of defending it's State 4a title. Scot my youngest son was trying out for this team. The coach was invited to our local Rotary Club to fill us in on what was happening. The coach went through the routine, and opened the floor for questions.

"What is your most difficult task?" someone asked. "Cutting some of the young men from the team." he replied. "You only have so many places, and twice as many trying out for the team as places available. The most difficult decision I have to make is when I have a young men with ability, but who started to school almost a year early. His body has not filled out, and will not fill out until the year after he graduates. He may offer some help in his senior year, but if I have a youngster who is bigger and stronger ... I'll usually go with the strength."

My ears perked up. He was describing my son. So on Thursday I took the afternoon off and went to the practice field. I didn't go in just parked at the gate to the field. I watched what happened. After the practice a group gathered around the coach, and with heads bowed, gloves thrown to the ground they went their different ways. My son was in the group and as he neared the car, I beeped and pointed toward the door. He got in and I drove around, and around. Together we discussed the event.

Together we interpreted what it meant. Together we cried. Oh, How he wanted to make that team. He did not!

So much of life is like this. You have meet someone's standard...

Qualified to get a job

Qualified to get into college

Qualified to get your licensees

Qualified to get the loan

Qualified, Qualified, Qualified.

There are many today trying to convince prospective Christians that they have to achieve certain levels of goodness in order to be acceptable to Christ. In fact the whole spiritual process exists to change the individual person. I would say to you this morning that Christ likes the real person that you are. He'll accept you as you are. You can make this team. God has always taken the lowest and made them the highest, the weakest made strongest. You only have to be willing to take the chance..

This morning I want to tell you ... the only requirement is to desire to join up..

Look at some of the people who have made the team. The team I am thinking about is the team of Jesus Christ's disciples. His initial team is a good indication that he accepts a variety of people.

THE HUMAN LIFE OF JESUS, John Erskine, pp.73-94

...One is told of this heterogeneous group.

1. Peter was a strong willed, impetuous, temperamental, visionary.

His Leadership came from the middle class of his day. Peter, Andrew, James and John had fishing businesses in the Sea of Galilee, working out of the port of Capernum. Undoubtedly, their business enterprise was successful. Especially is this true if the recent diggings at Capernum are correct.

Peter's home probably had about 10 rooms in it, was located two blocks from the sea, at a corner lot across the street from the church; where he and his families were leaders. This particular Synagogue was the most prominent one in the area. 

2. John was the loved disciple...literary Genius...Gospel of John

3. Andrew was the disciple who was a people person always bringing people to Jesus

4. James the brother of John...one of the sons of thunder, tough fisherman quick of temper, and a person who would do embarrassing things to get ahead.

5. Nathaniel (Bartholomew) the outspoken, honest disciple, who spoke his mind without thinking.

6. Thomas...who was born in show me state with Harry Truman, only believed when he himself experienced an event.

7. Philip was always bringing people to Jesus

8. Matthew the Tax Collector, worked for the hated Romans, probably wealthy, replaced Judas: was probably a thief before working with Jesus.

9. Simon the Zealot ..who hated the Romans and was committed to overthrowing them.

10. James, the brother of Jesus, who became the diplomat of the disciple band after the death of Jesus...(the warm hearted)

11.Judas the brother of James (warm hearted)

12.Judas Iscariot ...the treasurer of the group, sold his master for 30 pieces o silver.

Most scholars would add to this group at least four women.

Mary, and Martha the sisters of Lazarus. It was at their home that Jesus stayed outside of Jerusalem when he visited the city for the religious holidays.

Mary from Magdala...a prostitute... who tradition says was the woman caught in Adultery.

Mary the mother of Jesus.

Each of these women seemed to have a say in the decisions of the early church.

II. From this study we see that Jesus' disciple ban was heterogeneous group.

There was a variety of personalities,

There are many in the church today who labor under a false understanding that you have to reach a certain level of style, and goodness to be used by God. Consequently, many people feel that they don't have a chance. On top of that they watch the lives of those who have convinced themselves that they have reached a level of goodness that makes them acceptable, and know they have chinks in their armor, and declare that they will have none of it.

We are all sinners. We all have quirks in our personalities, and have secrets that makes us normal humans. My message to you today is ...You can still make the team. God wants you. Accepts you as the person you really are, and wants you to learn to love the real you.

He needs every one of us for his kingdom. There is a job out there needing you.