FUNDAMENTALLY, BIBLICAL FOOTBALL IS COMPETING
a) By the Power of God
b) According to the Word of God
c) For the Glory of God
IT IS WORKING WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART AS FOR THE LORD, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE (which is invisible – Colossians 3:23)
IT IS RUNNING TO WIN THE PRIZE, WHICH IS THE “CROWN OF LIFE” (which again is invisible – 1st Corinthians 9:24-25)
BUT HOW DOES ONE PRACTICALLY ACCOMPLISH THIS?
1) BY EMPHASIZING PEOPLE OVER PRODUCTIVITY
2) BY EMPHASIZING PROCESS OVER RESULTS (“results” are the bi-product of “process”)
3) BY PUTTING TO DEATH THE FLESH AND IT’S IDOLATROUS DESIRES
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WHY IS PUTTING TO DEATH THE FLESH AND IT’S IDOLATROUS DESIRES SO CRITICAL?
AND WHY CAN’T EVANGELICAL COACHES KEEP PROPER PERSPECTIVE WHILE IN THE PURSUIT OF WINNING GAMES?
BECAUSE PURSUING WINNING IS A VICIOUS TASKMASTER
BECAUSE PURSUING WINNING IS CONSUMPTIVE BY NATURE (time/energy/joy/peace)
BECAUSE PURSUING WINNING PLAYS ON THE FLESH (pride and arrogance)
BECAUSE PURSUING WINNING IS RAGING FIRE IN THE SOUL (not easily extinguished)
BECAUSE THE SCOREBOARD INVIGORATES AND SMOKES OUT THE FLESH
BECAUSE THE SCOREBOARD IS THE ENEMY OF THE SPIRIT
IT WANTS TO MASTER YOU AND DESTROY YOUR TESTIMONY (Matthew 6:24)
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Why is it so difficult for an evangelical coaching culture to legitimately express biblical principles and evidence the fruit of the spirit when winning is emphasized as “a goal”, let alone when is is emphasized as “the goal”
WHY?
BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY, CHRISTIANS WORSHIP WINNING (are more passionate about winning) MORE THAN THEY WORSHIP JESUS (and are passionate about Jesus)
WHICH IS CALLED IDOLATRY
AND WHICH IS A BAD DEAL
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FOR WINNING IS BY NATURE A CARNEVOUR
IT WANTS TO EAT YOUR LIFE AND YOUR TESTIMONY ALIVE
CONSEQUENTLY, THE IDOLATROUS PURSUIT OF WINNING MUST BE PUT UNDER THE CROSS AND FEET OF JESUS AND KEPT THERE BY FORCE
KILL IT, OR IT WILL KILL YOU
BOTTOM LINE
Winning by nature wants to master coaches and players and be on the throne. For the pursuit of winning will not share it’s glory with another
However, Jesus wants to be on the throne, also. and Jesus will not share his glory with another, either
AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN KEEP THE BALANCE AND PURSUE WINNING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPETE BY THE POWER OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD WHILE WHILE SERVING TWO MASTERS
GOOD LUCK
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GENERAL NOTES ON BIBLICAL FOOTBALL
BIBLICAL FOOTBALL is competing
a) by the power of god
b) according to the word of god
c) for the glory of god
FOUNDATIONS OF BIBLICAL FOOTBALL – JESUS CHRIST
I Cor 10:31 – whatever you do, do it all for the glory of god
Col 3:17 – and whatever you do, whether in word of dee, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to god the father through him
Col 3:23-24 – whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working
for the lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the lord as a reward. it is the lord christ you are serving
Col 1:28-29 – we proclaim him…struggling with all his energy, which so
powerfully works in me
Eccles 9:10 – whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might
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THE FOUR CORNERS OF BIBLICAL FOOTBALL
1) belief vs unbelief
2) unity vs disunity (protect intimacy and comraderie)
3) submission to authority vs unsubmission (order vs disorder)
4) selflessness vs selfishness (holiness vs unholiness)
THE FIVE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES IN BUILDING A PROGRAM
1) team over individual
2) long term over short term
3) inside person over the outside person (invisible over visible)
4) the weak over the strong (young over the old; protect the weak/young)
5) inter-dependence over independence
WHY DON’T MORE PEOPLE CONSIDER COMPETING BIBLICALLY
1) ignorance (don’t know why or how do it)
2) unbelief (that it will “work”)
3) fear (of what people will say, or of failure)
additionally we attempt to encourage athletic programs in
1) building the concept of “TEAM”
2) developing chemistry/synergy within the team
3) creating “vision” for expansion of the Kingdom of God
4) developing discipleship and evangelism paradigms through sport
5) furthering the “life education” of their athletes by teaching
individuals how to become better husbands, fathers, friends and workers
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THE TRUTHS OF BIBLICAL FOOTBALL
1) LOVE IS THE CORNERSTONE – love god. love each other
2) POWER IS MANIFESTED WHEN INDIVIDUALS DIE TO THEMSELVES FOR TEAMS’S SAKE
* unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit
3) THE TEAM OVER THE INDIVIDUAL – “when you choose to become part of a
team, you cease to exist as an individual” (john wooden)
4) HUMILITY IS THE MARK OF GREATNESS
a) be teachable
b) anyone who thinks he is something when he is nothing is deceived
5) SERVANT LEADERSHIP
a) jesus came to serve, not to be served
b) prioritize developing Servant Warriors
c) Leaders lead the way by going first, and going further (max sacrifice)
6) PURSUING “WINNING” AS A GOAL, THOUGH NOT SINFUL, IS DANGEROUS MOTIVATION
a) winning, by nature, tends to glorify “self” and not God (idolatry)
b) winning, by it’s intoxication, produces a climate of “ends justifying
the means”, whereby God-seeking coaches often compromise their verbal
committment to prioritize family and player relationships
7) PURSUING “WINNING” AS A GOAL INHIBITS PERFORMANCE
a) the pursuit of winning produces anxiety, tension and fear of failure
that hinders relaxation and thus diminishes maximal performance
b) winning as a motivation hampers performance when winning a game or a
winning season is no longer a probability or possibility
8) THE GOAL IS TO GLORIFY GOD BY EXCELLENCE, NOT WINNING
a) winning is the secondary goal. glorifying god is the primary goal
b) use Football as a vehicle of kingdom expansion and life education
c) excellence is “being the best you can be” (faithfulness to god)
d) winning games is a bi-product of the pursuit of excellence for Jesus
e) bring glory to god by running the race in such a way to win the prize
f) aim for perfection
g) process vs results
h) goal is the road, not the end of the road
9) EMPHASIZE PEOPLE NOT PRODUCTIVITY
a) emphasizing productivity often squashes people and limits performance
b) emphasizing people builds people up and enhances performance
10) THE POWER OF THE “PUT-UP” GAME
a) put-ups keep teams positive and hopeful
b) put-ups free us from the negative power of momentum shifts
c) put-ups make teams momentum proof and circumstance proof
11) THE OPPONENT IS OUR FRIEND
a) “Double Win” encourages opponents and brings out the best in both teams
b) goal is BLESS our opponents (and everyone we encounter) to god’s glory
c) our enemy is Satan; not the opponent (Ephesians 6:12)
12) WE COMPETE AGAINST OURSELVES
a) comparing ourrselves to others inhibits our performance
b) pursue closing the “potential/performance gap
c) people come to beat us; we come to “be” us
13) WE ONLY ASK FOR ONE SIMPLE THING – EVERY LAST DROP OF YOUR BLOOD
maximal effort in all things, at all times
14) COMPLETE SUMISSION TO COACHING AUTHORITY
players obey coaches
a) with immediacy
b) with great effort
c) with smiles on their faces
OR
players obey coaches
a) what they say
b) when they say it
c) the way they say it
d) with great effort
e) with smiles on their faces
15) SPEAK IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITIES NOT “RIGHTS”
when you choose to become part of a team, you forfeit rights and gain
responsibilities
16) PROMOTE ATTITUDES NOT RULES
a) we are looking for “changed hearts”, not blind obedience
b) win your players hearts, and they will follow wherever you lead them
c) happy players play better
17) THE LONG TERM OVER THE SHORT TERM
a) every moment is an opportunity for “Life Education”
b) our desire si that players become great husbands, fathers, friends,
leaders and employers/employees
18) START FAST, FINISH STRONG
it’s not how you start, but how you finish, that matters
19) LOVE IS THE CORNERSTONE
we conquer with/by loving god, and loving others
20) be a BLESSING to the
a) opponent
b) fans
c) referees
d) hotel workers
f) restaurant workers
21) issue of COMPETENCE – be competent BOTH
a) spiritually, and
b) in regards to your play and practice
Scotty Kessler Resource Library 