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Coaching is leadership, and leadership is influence.  Therefore, coaching is influence.  Our players will be influenced by many things throughout their lives, so it is vital that we make a positive impact on them while we have the opportunity.  Billy Graham once said, "One coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime."  Knowing the influence we possess as coaches, we need to ask ourselves regularly how we are impacting the lives of our players.  We can simply yell, scream, and tell them what to do, or we can just sit back and let them figure it out on their own.  Either way, the players we coach will be influenced by our leadership.  We can win every game on our schedule and tell our players they are successful, or we can lose every game and make them feel worthless.  How we lead our players is crucial because they will remember our influence for the rest of their lives.  But if coaches are supposed to lead and players are supposed to follow, who is leading the coaches?

Matthew 16:24-27 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?  Or what shall a man give in return for his life?  For the Son of Man is going to come with this angels in the glory of the Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.""

The greatest coach of all-time was Jesus Christ, and his example is the one we as coaches should let influence our lives.  If we can deny ourselves daily of our pride, selfishness, greed, and worldly ambition, then Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him.  Matthew makes it clear that following Jesus is no easy task.  It is not a life that will necessarily lead to health or wealth.  It is not a life that will necessarily lead to comfort.  Jesus does promise, however, that it will be worth it.  Sometimes as coaches we believe we can figure it all out on our own.  We think that winning will come if only we work harder, watch one more game film, make one more phone call, or practice a little bit longer.  We are driven by the lie that says we can achieve success on our own power and strength.  The truth is that we can only be satisfied if we deny our self, take up our cross and follow Jesus.  Our players are hungry for leadership, so let's make sure we are feeding them influence from the greatest leader of all-time, Jesus!

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The Victory Is His

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 reads, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name." (ESV)

Dictionary.com defines "Victory" as, 

vic·to·ry [vik-tuh-ree, vik-tree]

1. a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.

2. an engagement ending in such triumph.

3. the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest.

Although we often associate the term 'victory' with the sports arena, the true victory was won at the cross of Jesus Christ.  I have been assessing myself as a coach and asking myself the question, "why do you coach?"  Obviously there is a passion and desire to win championships, develop the skills of my players, and to reach the highest level of success that is possible.  But if the wins, success, and reputation among my peers is the only place I'm finding victory, then I have truly lost.  When I break it down to the fundamentals, there really are only three reasons I coach and they are the only things that will make an impact for eternity.

1. Discipleship within a basketball program is key.  I want to disciple my players to the best of my ability to ensure that they are growing in their walks with Jesus and that they are winning off the court as well as on the court.  It is also very important that I am being a disciple to the coaching staff around me.  One area that is often forgotten though, is the fact that I need to be discipled as well.  If no one is coaching the coaches, then we are in trouble. (Matthew 28:19)

2. Proclaiming the gospel to the nations is essential.  Throughout the season it is vital to not only be visible in the community, but also to have a presence in the world.  As coaches, we ought to make it a priority to get our teams overseas to the mission field where the gospel is scarce.  If we aren't telling non-believers about Jesus, then we are failing in our call as coaches and as human beings. (Matthew 5:16)

3. Glorifying Jesus Christ in all we do is the umbrella over it all.  We were put here on this earth by a marvelous Creator and he deserves all the praise we have to offer.  God the Father sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sin, rise up from the grave, and give us victory.  He gave us victory because he won the battle over sin.  He gave us victory because he sits triumphantly at the right hand of God the Father.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

It was the ultimate sacrifice and according to the Bible and the definition given to us by Dictionary.com, we really do have victory in Jesus!  We can worship Jesus by the way we coach, the way we live, and by the legacy we leave.  Next time you think about victory and winning a championship, check your intentions and make sure that you are doing everything for the glory of God!

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Encouraging Others

Nothing is more powerful than our words.  The words we say can impact someone's life in a great and mighty way.  As coaches, it is crucial for us to realize this and emphasize the importance of encouragement amongst our team.  Not only do we have to make sure our players are mindful of their words, but we have to be an example of this in our own lives.  Paul writes in his letter to the church at Ephesus about the importance of their speech.  "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29.  This is a powerful verse.  Author and leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries, C.J. Mahaney, describes this verse in further detail in his book, Humility: True Greatness.  Mahaney writes, "'Let no...but only...'  There's a certain kind of speech that's never to come from our mouths, and another kind that should be in everything we say."  I was taken back when I read that because it is true that God is very precise in telling us what kind of speech we need to have.  As a coach, I know that I am not always saying things to my players that is probably giving them grace or uplifting them.  I know we can't be perfect, but I want to strive to be that kind of coach.  In order to effectively communicate like this, we need to know each individual player on our team.  Talk to them, get to know them as a person, and figure out in what ways we can best communicate with them.  We need to be able to edify each player with appropriate and timely words.  And finally, the biggest area that I need work in and probably most coaches need work in is: How do I edify my players when I am trying to correct them?  Every area of correction needs to be directed to the gospel.  If we can't give our players hope in the gospel, then our correction is going to be wasted.  I have been really convicted of my words as a coach, and I know that I need this more than anybody.  I strongly encourage you to read Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney if you get the chance.  It is a great book and most of this has come from it.  Keep coaching "coram deo" and remember your purpose as a coach is to ultimately bring glory to God, not yourself.

Are You Unashamed?

 This week on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Denver Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, was the center of attention (again).   Broncos fans are crying out for Tebow to be their starting quarterback, although he is only worthy of the 3rd string spot on the depth chart.  I encourage you to watch the video that aired on OTL before reading the rest of this post.  Here is the link: OTL: Polarized QB (Tim Tebow)

Wow.  Quite a story, huh?  I want to start out by saying that I have the utmost respect for Tim Tebow.  Obviously I don't know the guy personally, but his willingness to stand up for the gospel is unreal.  He truly is unashamed.  "For I am unashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."" - Romans 1:16-17.  In the face of ridicule and adversity everyday, Tebow somehow manages to keep his powerful testimony.  How does he do it?  I mean, he has everything at his fingertips that the world says should make him satisfied.  Women, money, fame, all of it.  But amidst the scoffers and haters he still holds fast to his faith in Jesus Christ.  This is a pure example of bearing fruit and living out the life of a believer.  So many athletes talk a good talk and say that they love Jesus and want to serve Him, but how many are truly sincere?  Tim Tebow is one of a few athletes that I have seen who truly walk the walk of a follower of Jesus Christ and isn't afraid to proclaim His name.  Every young athlete out there should look up to Tebow and take a lesson from his walking testimony.  We as coaches need to take a page out of Tebow's book and live a life according to the gospel.  If your coaching buddies want to go out and get drunk, be unashamed of the gospel and say no.  "But coach, I need to go out drinking with other coaches so I can network and get a job."  No you don't.  "But coach, if talk about Jesus all the time with coaches who don't believe the same things I do I will get laughed at and lose my opportunity of coaching college basketball."   Maybe.  But in the big picture does it really matter?  The only thing that matters is eternity and in the big scheme of things following Jesus is the only thing that matters.  Your coaching career is not what matters.  The championships you win don't matter.  Being unashamed of the gospel is what matters.  Tim Tebow is unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and he has to take persecution on the biggest of all stages.  So coaches, man up, humble yourself, and follow Jesus Christ.  Live your life so God will say, "well done my good and faithful servant."  I feel burdened for men such as the the comedian in the video, John Oliver, who are destined for an eternity in Hell and don't even realize it.  Let's continue to pray for lost souls and keep bearing fruit everyday!  Live a life worthy of the gospel and proclaim the name of Jesus every chance you get.  I challenge you to coach with integrity and follow Jesus Christ.  Are you unashamed?

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." - 1 Peter 1:24-25