Dear Christian friends:

Tomorrow evening some of our members will go to Dodger Stadium to see the Dodgers play the Houston Astros. Tomorrow evening is the Annual Lutheran Family Night at Dodger Stadium.

Many of you enjoy to watch a good baseball game. Do you know that a church is like a baseball team? A baseball team that wins the Pennant and the World Series must have three things: motivation, talent and harmony. In our text St. Paul says that a successful church must also have these three things. So this morning I want to preach to you about


Like any good team that wins, our church must have a good team spirit or motivation.

Usually the Dodgers win the Pennant or are close to winning it. Now they are fighting with Houston and Atlanta for second place. Why do the Dodgers consistently win? One reason: they usually have good spirit or motivation. They want fame and glory. They want to earn extra money in the playoffs and in the World Series.

Also a winning church needs good spirit or motivation. What is the motivation for us who are members of our church? In our text St. Paul tells us what our motivation should be. It is not the same motivation as the Dodgers. It is much better and stronger motivation. Paul writes, "Because God touches us with mercy, I urge you, brothers and sisters, give yourselves as living offerings to God." (verse 1) God's great love and mercy which He has showed to us in Jesus Christ is the motivation for us us Christians. In Jesus God promises that He will never abandon us. In Jesus God forgives our sins. In Jesus God promises us eternal life. In Jesus we receive God's power to heal. In Jesus we receive mercy for others by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus we shall conquer death and arise from death with new and glorious bodies. In Jesus we receive God's love. In Jesus we learn how to harmonize our life with God's will. God's great love and mercy which He has showed to us in Jesus is our strong motivation.

If we remember this, we will have good team spirit and eagerly work together here at Pilgrim Lutheran Church for the Deaf. But if we forget that, then we will have no good spirit here, and not have a winning team.

A good team that wins also needs talents. The Dodgers win because they have many talented players on their team. If they do not have talented athletes, they can't win.

Our church also must have talented members so we can do the Lord's work and win for Jesus. Do we have talented members here at Pilgrim Lutheran Church? Yes, we have many and various talented members here at Pilgrim. I myself have seen some of your talents and abilities. Some of you are leaders; some are good followers; some of you have ability and talents for teaching; some of you have talents for signing hymns very beautifully; some of you have good jobs and money; some of you are able to encourage the weak and the discouraged; some of you have ability to lead others to Jesus. Maybe some of you are hiding your talents or feel too shy to offer your talents for the Lord's use. Perhaps some of you think that you are too old and can't do any thing for the Lord anymore.

In our text St. Paul says that God gives different and various talents to His people. Not all can preach; not all can teach; but some can. Not all can lead, but some can. We should find the talent that God has given us, each one, and then use that talent in cooperation with the other members. Don't expect me, your pastor, to have all the talents that our church here needs. I do not have all the talents nor the time to do everything here that needs to be done. God has given me one or two talents. That's all! He has given you, the members, all the other talents that Pilgrim Lutheran Church needs. Listen now to what St. Paul writes about our talents: "Now one body has many parts and each part has a different work. The picture is the same with the church. We are many different persons, but we all join together as one body in Christ. Therefore we must use our different talents according to the grace God has given us. If God gives us the talent to preach His message, then we preach as our faith leads us. If God gives you the talent to serve others, then serve them well. If you are a teacher, then do a good job of teaching. If you have the talent to encourage others, then do that with understanding. If God has given you money, then you should show mercy and share with others in need. If God has made you a leader, then work hard and be responsible. If God gives you the gift to show mercy, then you should give comfort to those in trouble." (verses 4-8) Our church has plenty of talents which God has given to us. We need to become aware or our talents, develop them more and then use them in the church. Then our church will be like a winning team.

The third thing that a winning team needs is harmony. The Dodgers cannot win if they have strife on the team. A few years ago Steve Garvey and Don Sutton were quarreling and striving. Manager Tommy Lasorda worried about that. He knew his team could not win if the players were jealous and quarreling too much.

It is the same here in our church. We the members must use our talents in harmony and cooperation. Then we will be a successful and winning church. If we are proud and jealous of one another we will fail. We must not feel proud or better than other members, but be humble and praise and thank God for the talent He has given us. Paul writes in our text, "Don't copy the world, but become a new person, as God changes your mind and heart. Then you will understand what God wants, and you will know that God's plan is good and perfect; that pleases Him. Now God has touched me with His love and I say to you all: Don't think proud ideas about yourself or your importance. Be honest as you evaluate your ability and faith which God has given you." (verses 2-3)

God, give us spirit, talents and harmony that we can be a winning team for You.

Amen.