What can you say; the Sooner’s are loaded once again this year. As I watch the game yesterday I was amazed at how year after year regardless of the challenges and obstacles, Bob Stoops finds a way to win. It does not matter if he loses a super star like Adrian Petterson or has to start a young guy like Sam Bradford, Stoops is committed to team work and winning.
The church could learn a lot about winning from the OU Sooners. Each week every church has a chance to win people to Jesus. Every church faces incredible obstacles, whether it is financial, lack of volunteers, or just plain old PR. Those things may help you win, but they are not required to win. We serve God and I think he has enough power to handle anything. So what is the problem, why do we not win more in the local church? Here are a few things that come to mind.
1. We do not believe God can do anything. Instead of looking to Him and believing that His power is enough, instead we look at the obstacles. Lack of funds, lack of people, or not the right location. If God is going to cause our church to win, it is going to be based on His power, not all the others stuff. When we focus on Him, He will lead us to the right resources. Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” The key is the power we allow to work in us.
2. We do not prepare like we should. Winning on the football field and winning in the church begins with preparation. Often times we wing it in church instead of sitting down and mapping out a plan and then executing that plan. Other times we just repeat the same stuff over and over instead of praying, creating, and dreaming big. Proverbs 21:5 says “Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” We must sit down and plan our services in order to win on Sunday’s.
3. We do not work together. When you are on a great football team, everybody knows their position and what is expected when the ball is snapped. The only time you have problems is when someone wants to do their own thing. In churches we allow opinion, preferences, and our own personal idea of what God wants to overtake the big picture. Every weekend we should focus on the big picture and then align everyone to work toward that objective. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 says “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” The key to winning is getting everybody to do their part as one body. One body with one focus; winning people to Jesus.
4. We do not like pain. Yes I said pain. One thing you will notice in football is that players want to play regardless of the pain involved. They are willing to sacrifice their body so that the team will win. Often times in church, we just are not willing to face a little pain in order to win the game. Instead of sacrificing our wallets or our comforts or our time, we look for the easiest route. Progress creates pain. It is a pain to create new stuff instead of just doing what you did last year. It is a pain to replace leaders who are not doing their job. It is a pain to ask people to give more dollars so the Kingdom can advance instead of their house, cars, or bellies. It is a pain to face criticism for doing something on the edge instead of playing it safe. It is a pain when people leave because you did not do it their way. Winning creates pain for those involved and especially for the leaders. Most people in church avoid pain. You cannot win without a little pain. I love what Paul tells his dear friends in Philippians. He says, 1:29 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” Pain is part of winning.
My prayer for these next few months is that the Sooner’s would go all the way to the national championship, but more than the Sooner’s I pray that they church would win like never before.
PS – Yesterday during the game, our Sooner’s had a new cheerleader. Look at this little angel.
Yesterday, my youngest daughter took here first bite. We all gathered around as a family and watched to see exactly what kind of face she would make, weather she would spit it right up or swallow it down, and finally to celebrate progress. Whether we realize it or not, first time situations are fun. God made us to experience newness every day. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Today are you experiencing new things for the first time? If not, why?
