The First Fifteen Plays

   Under Bill Walsh and George Seifert (former head coaches) of the San Francisco 49er's, and quarterbacks Joe Montana and eventually Steve Young, the 49er's would script the first fifteen plays of their offense. This insured that regardless of where the team was on the field, they had a customized, defined purpose and plan for success to begin each game. Under this offensive system, the 49ers went on to win 4 Super Bowls.

  On the desktop of my office computer used to sit a file entitled 'Sunday Game Plan'. The Sunday Game Plan was written, largely in part, because there were a number of things that I needed to perform in sequence each Sunday morning upon my arrival in preparation for worship. (1) Login and print message copies (2) Upload the message Powerpoint to the church server (3) Unlock the building (4) Drink glass of orange juice... (8) Spend time in prayer and reflection for the service and message... On and on it went. Over the years our volunteer base and deacon ministries have grown to a point that I no longer need the 'Sunday Game Plan'. But I still have my game plan etched in my mind. 

   Having the game plan has allowed me to be more organized mentally, physically, and spiritually to worship and serve my church but also provided a greater opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move in my life and service to the church.

   This past Sunday's worship service was by far the best time of worship I believe I have ever had to be a part of. As I looked back Sunday night I wondered what it was that helped jump the service into a higher level - what I came up with was the whole idea of 'expectancy'. Though I had just spoken about 'expectancy' it seemed that had already been occurring across the congregation. The level of expectancy of the Holy Spirit's presence and transforming our lives on Sunday was what I would call 'thick' and 'static'. 

   Let me encourage you to do a few things on Saturday sometime in preparation for corporate worship:

1. Take a Mental Inventory: Review your week; struggles, temptations, the busyness, devotion times, confession of any sin. As best as possible, just clear your mind of the week's junk and keep the good stuff (what the Lord told you in His Word...)
2. Get Ready for Church: I know it's Saturday, but if Sunday mornings are hectic with the kids baths, clothes... shift that to Saturday. If need be, go as far as to set out clothes, prepare Sunday's dinner in the crock pot. I know, I know ladies... you won't know what mood you'll be in so this doesn't make sense to you. However, your male children and husband are easy!
3. Pray: Sometime Saturday begin praying that the Lord speaks to you. Pray for the message that it is communicated clearly. Pray that the Holy Spirit empowers all of the volunteers on the worship team as they lead as well as those who are serving in the children's ministry that make the parent's worship experience even that more meaningful and that the children's ministry volunteers are blessed for their faithfulness!

There's a lot we could cover here but honestly here's the deal: Preparation leads to Expectation and Expectation leads to a powerful Manifestation!

See you on Sunday, expecting our Great God to knock our socks off again!

Pastor Paul