Get Your Head in the Game / 1 Peter 4:7-11

Well, I appreciated Chris’s introduction. I like “just Rick.” That is who I am—it is just Rick. It is really good to be here with you. Some of you don’t know me because I am not up here very often. I am on the teaching team, but I don’t preach that much in these services. I am involved in teaching Academy on Monday nights, and I teach in Residency as well, which meets Monday through Friday mornings. Both of those ministries are really focused on the Bible, helping us get to know our Bibles and get grounded in the Word. That is what I love to do. So it is a real privilege to be here with you tonight to look into the Word.

I haven’t always been a teacher. You will have to take this by faith, but in high school, I played a lot of sports, and one of the games I played was football. I remember playing football was such a fun thing for me. My coach asked me to be one of his starting running backs. Back in those days, we had two running backs on our team. There was me—I was the shorter, strong, fast guy—and then there was the fullback. I was about half his size. His job as a fullback was to hit the line, use brute force, impose his will on the defense, and give us one or two yards when we needed it. When we needed just a yard or two for a first down or a touchdown, they didn’t even think about giving the ball to me; they gave it to him. But the other thing he would do was hit the line in front of me as a lead blocker. They would give me the ball, and he would work with the linemen to open up a hole so I could scat through and pick up big yardage.

The interesting thing was that our high school head coach was a former running back for the University of Missouri. He had played my exact position, and he knew it well. That was a huge privilege and help to me because he knew how to coach me to play the position effectively. But the downside was that because he had played that position, he had exceptionally high expectations of me.

I can remember two or three games in high school when I showed up and my head just wasn’t in it. Have you ever played sports and had a night where you show up and it just doesn’t feel right? The lights are on, you are out on the field going through the motions, but your heart and mind are somewhere else. During those two or three games, partway through the first half, my coach came over to me on the sideline while I was sitting there, completely checked out. He grabbed my helmet by the face mask and pulled it right up to his face. He didn’t do it to hurt me—he was a good man—but he wanted to get my undivided attention. And he got it.

He pulled me right to his face and said, “Taylor, the clock is ticking. I need you to get your head in this game right here, right now. I need you to run with your heart. None of this pussyfooting around. I need you to run with your heart and give me everything you’ve got on every single play. Taylor, the rest of this team is counting on you to use your God-given abilities to do your part. They are doing their part; you need to do yours. We are not here just to play a game; we are here to win. Now get back in there.”

We had that conversation two or three times, and that was all it took. That coach was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you listened. And if you didn’t, he had a hold of your face mask.

When I look at our passage tonight in 1 Peter chapter 4, I think of my coach. In many ways, the Apostle Peter is serving as our coach for the church of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NASB)

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober [spirit] for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, [is to do so] as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves [is to do] [so] as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Clock Is Ticking

In verse 7, Peter speaks to the church as a coach pulling us aside to get our attention and say, “Wake up!” He starts off with an urgent reality.

1 Peter 4:7 (NASB)

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober [spirit] for the purpose of prayer.

Peter begins by saying, “The end of all things is near.” Now, we can easily get bogged down asking, “Does that mean the Lord was supposed to return immediately? Why hasn’t He returned yet if the end was near back then?” But that is missing the point. My coach had the right idea: the clock is ticking. We are closer right now to the end of all things than we have ever been.

Too often, we live our daily lives just like I was playing in that football game—going through the motions and acting as if we have all the time in the world. My coach pulled me aside to remind me that eventually the clock hits zero and the game is over. Peter is giving the church that exact wake-up call. The clock is ticking. There will come a time when history reaches its culmination, the clock runs out, and what is done is done.

Notice how Peter concludes this thought down in verse 11: “Amen.” It is a definitive close. These five verses function as a sideline huddle where Coach Peter grabs our face mask and says, “I need your attention. Wake up. The clock is ticking.”

Get Your Head in the Game

Because the clock is ticking, Peter gives us our first assignment in verse 7: “Therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”

Both of these phrases—being of sound judgment and being sober—are mental terms. They deal with the mind. Just like my coach told me, “Taylor, get your head in the game,” Peter is telling us to get our thinking straight.

“Sound judgment” means having a right mind—seeing life clearly from God’s perspective and understanding how He designed life to be lived. We are bombarded with countless cultural messages every single day about what life is supposedly about. Peter says we need a clear, sound mind that sees through the noise to God’s design. “Being sober” means having an uncluttered, undistracted mind. On those football nights, my problem was that my mind was cloudy and distracted by everything else. Peter is saying: clear your head, get focused, and get your mind in the game.

How do we develop a mind that sees life clearly from God’s perspective in such a busy, hectic world?

Paul told the Romans not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Paul also told Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

God’s Word shows us the path He designed, alerts us when we stray from it, teaches us how to get back on track, and trains us to stay there consistently. The psalmist understood this when he wrote about hiding God’s Word in his heart so he wouldn’t sin against Him.

Psalms 119:11 (NASB)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

If we think we can get our heads in the game without being anchored in the Scriptures, we are completely mistaken. It is pure folly. We must be in this Book so our minds can be transformed by God’s truth.

And why does Peter tell us to have sound judgment and clear minds? He says it is “for the purpose of prayer.”

Why do you need a clear mind to pray? Because when our minds are distracted and conformed to the world, we forget to pray altogether. We get so caught up in our daily routine that we don’t even think about God. Even when hard times come, He often becomes our last resort instead of our first thought. But when our minds are grounded in God’s perspective, we remember Him, we come to Him, and we pray with the right motives.

James, a close friend and fellow leader with Peter, addressed this very issue.

James 4:2-3 (NASB)

You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.

James wrote that you do not have because you do not ask, and when you do ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives. Being in the Word helps us remember to pray, teaches us what to pray for, and purifies our motives.

When we go through difficult trials—just like Peter’s original audience was experiencing—our natural, distracted reaction is to pray, “God, take this hardship away!” But when our minds are transformed by Scripture, our prayers shift. We stop praying, “God, give me a lighter load,” and we start praying, “God, give me a stronger back.” God is not committed to making our lives easy; He is committed to making us stronger, deeper people who reflect His character. Having our heads in the game changes how we pray.

Run with Your Heart

The second instruction my coach gave me on the sideline was: “Run with your heart. Give me everything you’ve got.” He would tell me in practice, “You’re going to get hit, and you’re going to get knocked down, but I want those legs churning until the whistle blows. I want every single inch you can fight for.”

That is precisely what Peter calls us to do in verses 8 and 9.

1 Peter 4:8-9 (NASB)

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

Peter writes, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another.” That word “fervent” is an athletic term. It describes an athlete straining, stretching, and giving every ounce of energy without letting up. It is the spiritual equivalent of keeping your legs churning through contact to gain every possible inch.

Peter says that is how we are called to love. The word he uses is agape—sacrificial, unconditional love that gives to others without demanding anything in return, seeking only their highest good. That kind of love is fundamentally a matter of the heart. When our hearts are captured by the love of Jesus Christ, that love overflows into fervent action.

Peter adds that “love covers a multitude of sins.” This does not mean love ignores sin, sweeps it under the rug, or provides atonement. Peter and James share a tremendous amount of common themes throughout their letters.

James 5:19-20 (NASB)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James closes his letter by explaining that when we pursue someone wandering into sin and bring them back, we save their soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. When we love people fervently and sacrificially within the body of Christ, our love protects them, strengthens them, and draws them away from pursuing destructive paths. Love has the power to keep people from choosing evil over good.

Then Peter gives a very practical expression of this heart of love in verse 9: “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

Why would Peter highlight hospitality? In the first century, Christians were facing severe persecution throughout the Roman Empire, especially closer to Rome. Many were fleeing their homes with nothing, migrating east into Asia Minor. There were no modern hotels or easy places to stay. Culturally and biblically, believers were expected to open their homes, provide a bed, and feed traveling brothers and sisters in Christ.

I imagine that after a while, with knock after knock on the front door, some believers were growing weary. They were tempted to grumble. Peter tells them: keep loving. Keep your legs churning. Open your doors and show hospitality without complaining.

Do Your Part on the Team

The third thing my coach told me when he grabbed my face mask was: “Taylor, the team needs you. You have abilities, and you need to use them for the sake of the team. Everyone else is doing their part; you need to do yours.”

That is exactly what Coach Peter addresses in verses 10 and 11.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (NASB)

As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, [is to do so] as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves [is to do] [so] as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter says that every single believer has received a gift, and we are called to employ it in serving one another as faithful stewards of God’s multifaceted grace. Spiritual gifts come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties. But no matter what gift you have been given, it was not given for your own self-promotion or personal benefit. It was given to build up the team—to serve the body of Christ.

Peter divides these gifts into two broad categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts.

First, he says, “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God.” This includes preaching, teaching, encouraging, and counseling. When you use a verbal gift, you are called to speak God’s truth with reverence and humility, letting your voice be an instrument that communicates His heart to others.

Second, he says, “Whoever serves, is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies.” Most spiritual gifts are serving gifts—practical ways of helping, supporting, organizing, and meeting needs within the church family.

If you have ever run a long race, you know that the closer you get to the finish line, the less energy you have left. You start out strong, but as the miles add up, you become physically exhausted. Serving within the church can feel the exact same way. Have you ever grown weary in serving? You give and give, and sometimes you feel unappreciated, taken for granted, or completely drained. You think, I just don’t have anything left to give.

Peter’s answer is profound: serve “by the strength which God supplies.” When your own strength runs dry, you don’t have to quit. You come to God in prayer, and He supplies His supernatural power to keep you going. We need every member of the body actively contributing their God-given gifts so the church can function the way God designed it to work.

The End Game

Why does all of this matter? What is the ultimate goal?

My coach reminded me that we weren’t standing under those Friday night lights just to pass the time; we were there to win. Peter gives us the ultimate purpose at the end of verse 11: “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Bringing glory to God is the end game. It is not about building our own platform or making a name for ourselves; it is entirely about Him. To glorify God means to put Him on display so the world sees Him clearly for who He truly is. Our culture has so many distorted, broken ideas about God. But when the church gets its head in the game, when we run with hearts full of fervent love, and when we faithfully use our gifts to serve one another, the world catches a clear, compelling glimpse of the living God.

Around here, we often say, “Go be the church.” What does that actually mean? It means getting your head in the game through God’s Word and prayer. It means running with your heart in fervent, sacrificial love. It means stepping up to use your spiritual gifts to serve the body, relying on God’s strength when you feel weak.

Tonight, some of you may be like my teammates who were already giving their all on the field. You are in the Word, you are loving people well, and you are actively serving. If that is you, listen to Coach Peter’s encouragement: keep going. Don’t let up.

For others of us, tonight is a tug on the face mask. Coach Peter is pulling us close and saying: “The clock is ticking. Stop making excuses about what you will do ‘someday’ or ‘when things settle down.’ The clock is running right now. Get your head in the game. Love fervently. Use your gifts for the team.”

Let’s listen to the Coach, get back onto the field, and live for the glory of God.

Let’s pray together.

Father, thank You so much for this passage of Scripture. Thank You for Peter’s coaching—for challenging us, getting our attention, and reminding us of what matters most. Lord, I pray that we would be men and women who get our heads in the game, grounded in Your Word and faithful in prayer. Help us to run with hearts of fervent love and to faithfully use our gifts to serve one another. May our lives together show the world who You really are, drawing people to the truth and grace found only in Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.