God Plays Golf!
#4- Mulligans & Handicaps
Romans 5:1, 6-11 – Victory Fellowship
September 8, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. Introduction: God Plays Golf
a. Who in the world is Mulligan? a Canadian golfer, David Mulligan, one time manager of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, who played at the Country Club of Montreal golf course, in Saint-Lambert near Montreal during the 1920s. One version has it that one day after hitting a poor tee shot, Mulligan re-teed and shot again. He called it a "correction shot," but his friends thought it more fitting to name the practice after him.
b. Two friends were playing golf one day. They decided that they would adhere strictly to the rules, i.e., no improving their lie, no taking mulligans. After a few holes, one guy's ball landed on a cart path. As he reached down to pick up his ball to get relief his friend said, "We agreed that we would not improve our lie." No matter how much the first fellow tried to explain that he was entitled to this relief, the second fellow would not allow it. So the man went to the cart to get a club. As he stood over the ball he took a few practice swings, each time scraping the club on the pavement, taking out big chunks of blacktop and sending out lots of sparks! Finally, after several practice swings he took his shot. The ball took off and landed on the green about 6 feet from the pin.
"Great shot!" his friend exclaimed. "What club did you use?" The man answered, "I used YOUR 7-iron!!!!!"
c. Golf handicap = Grace
i. A couple of buddies, decide to play together for the first time. Mac is an avid golfer and Jimmy is new to the game. On the way to the course, Mac asks "By the way, what's your handicap?" Jimmy replies, "I don't have one. It's more like a permanent disability"
ii. Humans have a disability that can be permanent – Sin
II. The Christian Life
a. The best Mulligan – accepting Jesus as Savior
b. The ultimate Handicap – His death on the Cross
III. Receiving God-Given Mulligans and Handicaps
a. Admit your need (vs 6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly
b. Turn your life around (repent) -vs. 1 in this chapter says… having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
c. Believe that Jesus died for YOU (vs 8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
d. Invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord& Savior (vs 9-10)
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
IV. Conclusion:
Today would have been my stepson Mike’s 44th birthday.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is a mulligan that is good for all eternity.
PRAYER
SONG: Flawless
Romans 5:1, 6-11: Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
