F – Friends through Fellowship
I – Interest around Common Goals
R – Relationships that are built to last
E – Evangelize as God Opens the Door
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Chapter Leadership Training Introduction
This leadership training publication has been prepared for the purpose of helping church leaders to encourage, empower then engage Christian sportsmen in developing a viable men’s outreach to sportsmen. Relevant men’s ministry events and projects provide the basis for fellowship where growth occurs around common passions which then lead to long term friendships. Used as a personal or group devotional, chapter leaders have found the F.I.R.E. Publication to be very helpful in understanding the sportsmen’s central role in fulfilling the Great Commission. As sportsmen, we can unashamedly utilize our passions for hunting, fishing and target shooting to bring men, women, boys and girls to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Chasing after God’s Heart
CSF’s 2010 theme, Chasing after God’s Heart, builds on the intriguing metaphor incorporated into CSF referred to as Climbing Legacy Mountain… a discipling track to follow!
Chasing after God’s Heart
Chasing (deff:) Which of these definitions best describe your pursuit of God's heart?
To pursue for the purpose of harvesting game; to hunt
To track down and seize someone or something
To be very busy doing a lot of things, but achieving very little
To seek the favor or company of persistently
To try very hard to persuade someone to have a relationship with you
The eager pursuit of a pre-determined goal
When sportsmen are in the heat of the battle and know that the chase is on, we will pull out all stops to find our quarry whether its following schools of fish out on the high seas or tracking an animal through the snow. The excitement and immediate adrenaline rush while in pursuit can bring relief and even temporary happiness after we have caught what we were chasing. Under all circumstances, fair chase is paramount to the sport of hunting and fishing.
In contrast to what we have heard all of our lives, in some cases, “the end does justify the means!” A deep abiding faith in the promises of God can serve as the motivating force that causes a man to … press on toward the goal of the high calling found in Jesus Christ! Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. God’s Spirit broods over the face of the earth looking for a man whose heart is pure toward Him.
Faith develops purity which brings about passion to ignite a man’s spirit in Chasing after God’s Heart.
What does the familiar expression “Cut to the Chase” mean? … to focus on what is important; to abandon the preliminaries and deal with the major points. Or in the modern vernacular … to jettison the ambiguities! God is looking for a man whose heart is pure toward him.
If hunting or fishing is the ultimate ambition of my heart’s goal then the chase will most probably result in just another exercise in futility and the temporary thrill of the moment. But if my goal is set on utilizing my outdoors passion to better understand the One who spoke all of creation into existence then God will speak volumes into a man’s heart and soul. His Word brings encouragement … “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:8
When God brings the inevitable times of trial and testing into your life, then rest assured that He has your best interest at heart. God tests to strengthen you whereas you tempt God to resist Him. The difference between temptation and testing (even though the two words are sometimes used interchangeably) is motive. And God’s motive is always pure! But God’s desire is that our motive becomes pure!
When a man’s motive is pure then the chase is on … to honor God! Ask, seek and knock then you will find me says the Spirit of the LORD! Matt. 7:7
“I seek you with all of my heart … I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Ps 119:10a, 11
