The Greatest Game Ever Played
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 Victory Fellowship
March 24, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Palm Sunday – Healing Service
I. Introduction: The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) is an American biographical sports film.
It was based on the early life of amateur golf champion Francis Ouimet and his surprise winning of the 1913 U.S. Open. The film was directed by Bill Paxton, and was his last film as a director. Shia LaBeouf plays the role of Ouimet. The film's screenplay was adapted by Mark Frost from his 2002 book, The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf. It was shot in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
a. Near the turn of the twentieth century, young Harry Vardon becomes a champion golfer but learns that his amazing skill is no match for the class boundaries that exclude him from "gentlemanly" English society. A dozen years later, a young American, Francis Ouimet, fights against the same prejudice, as well as his own father's disdain, for a chance to participate in the U.S. Open against his idol -- Harry Vardon. The struggles of both men for acceptance provides the background for an amazing contest of skills.
b. Prejudice and role reversal of expectations is the theme here. As it is with our passage from Solomon’s Ecclesiastes.
II. There is unfair imbalance in the world.
a. Solomon calls it an evil error.
i. The fool is appointed to great heights
ii. The rich remain in lowly positions
iii. I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.
III. Prejudice wants to keep you “in your place.”
a. It is evil and from the devil.
b. The devil wants us to believe that we are not good enough for God and that God just doesn’t want us.
c. The word of God says otherwise.
IV. Lent reminds us that Jesus paid the price for our sin.
a. God loves us and accepts us when we receive his son as our Savior.
b. By the wounds of Jesus, we are healed.
PRAYER & ANOINTING
SONG: That’ll Preach
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 (HCSB)
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler: The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.
