“When Heroes Let Us Down”

“Shoeless” Joe Jackson played in the majors from Lifetime.356 average

“Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Chicago “Black Sox” Scandal “Shoeless” Joe Jackson allegedly received $5,000 to help players from the White Sox throw the 1919 World Series.

“Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Legend has it that a little boy uttered the words, “Say it ain’t so, Joe” as JAckson exited the courthouse following his trial. Those words express the dismay we all feel when one of our heroes lets us down.

“When Heroes Let Us Down” “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Joe Paterno Joe Paterno Penn State Football Coach from 1966 – wins (most ever)

“When Heroes Let Us Down” “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Joe Paterno “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Paterno was fired by Penn State Trustees in November, after the arrest of an assistant coach on his staff on child sexual abuse charges.

“When Heroes Let Us Down” “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” Joe Paterno “Say It Ain’t So, Joe” How much Joe Paterno knew of the abusive behavior of his assistant coach remains to be seen.

Ted HAggard Pastor of 14,000 member church and president of 30 Million member National Assoc. Of Evangelicals

Ted HAggard Was forced to resign from his church and N.A.E. as a result of a scandal involving a male masseuse

2 Sam. 1:17-19 “Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow… “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!”

what is your response to these downfalls? ANGer? Disappointment? Cynicism?

David’s DownFall 2 Sam. 11:1 “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

David’s DownFall 2 Sam. 11:2 “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”

David’s DownFall 2 Sam. 11:3-4 “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her…”

David’s DownFall 2 Sam. 11:5 “And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.’” David committed adultery. Bathsheba became pregnant. Rather than confess and repent, He tried to cover-up his sin.

David’s DownFall David brought Uriah back from the front and encouraged him to go home and sleep with his wife, Bathsheba, so he would think the child was his. Uriah could not do so in good conscience while his fellow soldiers remained in the field.

David’s DownFall David’s cover-up turned deadly as he sent Uriah back to the front carrying instructions to the commander of the army to place Uriah directly in front of the enemy. When word came back to David that Uriah was Killed in battle, David took Bathsheba as his wife.

God Speaks 2 Sam. 12: 7-9 “…Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?’”

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 1. Pray for them - responsibility - repentance - restoration

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 2 Sam. 12:13 “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’”

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 2. Resist the urge to “Pile On” “All have sinned and fall short…” Rom. 3:23

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 3. Avoid putting leaders on pedestals. We all have “feet of clay” (Daniel 2:31-33)

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? Prov. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 4. Do not use Leader’s sin as a license for your own. Learn from their mistakes - Don’t repeat them.

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? 5. REMEMBER THAT JESUS WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? Heb. 13:5 “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

What is the Christian Response to heroes who let us down? Heb. 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hope for All David repented of his sin (read Psalm 51) and received God’s discipline. God showed David grace & eventually restored him.

Hope for All In Acts, Paul refers to David as “A Man After God’s Own Heart,” and reminds his listeners that Jesus’ lineage goes through David’s family.

Hope for All None of us are beyond the reach of God’s Grace! Receive It Today! Pray for God’s forgiveness in Christ!