In 1990, the Colorado Buffaloes football team was on the road to the national championship. Before half the season was over the Buffaloes had already defeated ranked teams Texas, Oklahoma, Washington, and tied #6 Tennessee. They also faced the toughest schedule in the nation. But even throughout all this success, Colorado coach Bill McCartney still had a huge RED problem. You see, his next game was against the highly ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. To make matters worse, going into the game Colorado had lost 23 straight times to Nebraska when playing at Nebraska's home field in Lincoln. What could he do to motivate his players?
McCartney knew that teams always play best when they have a sense of team, that selfless attitude that takes his players out of the mind set of playing for themselves and into the mind set of playing for the team. With this attitude, when the team gets glory. the player gets glory. Outstanding individual performance means little if the team does not perform well as a whole. Bill McCartney is also an outspoken Christian and he always sought to demonstrate the principles of Christianity to his team even while motivating them. So with that in mind he came up with a plan to motivate his players. In the last meeting before leaving for Lincoln, he called his players together and said this.
"At the end of the game each one of you is going to receive a $70 game ball with the score printed on the football. Before we leave tomorrow I want you to call up somebody close to you and tell them to watch you play. I want you to play your heart out, and play each and every down for that person. Tell them that you are dedicating your game to THEM."
Well, the plan worked. On a soggy, cold, rain swept Nebraska field, Colorado overcame a 12 point 4th quarter deficit to defeat the Cornhuskers 28-12. Coach McCartney to this day attributes the win to the selfless play of his team even when they were losing. It allowed them to muster up every bit of strength and courage to come back and win. Their strength came from an attitude of selflessness.
Being a Christian is all about being a team player and submitting to one another out of love. The attitude is, "Give the other person the glory," and "Let the other person go first." So today, your game plan is to pick someone else on the field and play each and every down for them. Play selflessly. Play without trash talk. Play with humility. Play with dignity. Play with class.
At the end of the game you'll want to be able to say, "I played a great game for You today, and I played with the heart of a champion."
READY:
"Make your own attitude that of Jesus Christ."
-Philippians 2:5
SET:
There are times in baseball when it seems like nothing goes right. You drop a fly ball, you strike out, you ground into a double play, your team gives up a bunch of runs. . . None of those are very encouraging, and people often get mad and throw fits when they happen. You see this in the pros all the time. Managers especially can throw some of the biggest fits if an umpire doesn't make the call that they want. You would think that adults would know better!
Athletes and coaches often think that winning is everything. Truthfully, though, it is not. A person's attitude—in both wins and losses—helps determine true winners and losers.
The Bible says that in order to please God, we need to love one another and work together with one purpose. It's says that we should not be selfish or to try to impress others, but instead, be humble and look out for our teams. God wants us to have the same attitude that Jesus Christ had.
In Philippians, the Bible tells us to think on good things, not bad. So next time, instead of throwing a tantrum on the field, think to yourself, "I did my best and, next time, I will do better." Having a Christ-like attitude will bring victory to your life even when you lose a game.
GO:
1. How do you react if you or your team messes up? Why?
2. How SHOULD you react? Why?
3. What does the Bible say about your attitude?
4. What have you learned about how your attitude affects your performance?
WORKOUT:
Ephesians 4:23-24
Philippians 2:1-5
Philippians 4:8
lord jesus, i rededciate my life to you from today. I live to serve u -n- u alone.
no matter wat ppl may say or do, i will always follow u. forgive me for walking away from you for these many years and now im truly back home.
I have lied to ppl, cheated, stole, cussed, disobeyed, so many sins u can name, even committed lust in my heart. I confess to you Lord that i am a disgraceful sinner and i am not worthy of your mercy or grace or forgiveness, i deserve hell.
I am not a good person and never will be or am i not perfect. Every day, i have evil thoughts but yet i try to live a preacher's life at such a young age. Its so hard to live a preacher's life, i feel like quittin sometimes but i know i can't cuz there is a generation of young people cryin out to god and im the one that can reach them. I'm only 15 Lord but yet u started ur work at 12 here on earth. Sometimes i wonder wat do ppl at school think abt me lord? my guesses are weird, strange, always to myself. but rlly tats not me, u knoe me lord. im waitin for my time to speak ur word so everyone will know who u are. Lord, protect my friends at school, most of them need you cuz time is runnin out for some of them, i feel it.
If anyone reads this, This is what Jesus is sayin to you, Quit livin such a sinful life, live for me and not the world. I love you. I died for you. I went to the cross so you could come to heaven and live there with me for eternity. Listen to my servant Matt, I have chosen him to preach to his generation to tell them my words that I speak through him. All the pain I endured for each and everyone of you and yet you still sin and still not listen to me. Some of you Christians say you will die for me, but how can you die for me if you can not live for me. Stay away from cursing, gossip, evil language, nasty thoughts. Be pure in heart. Be loving, caring, forgiving. And most of all, Honour me with not lip servivce but with heart sevice. I know if you are really worshippin me or not. I see all things in the dark and the light. My time to return is coming soon. Look around you. The signs are everywhere. To America, you have brought this recession upon yourselves cuase you have turned ur back on me, I have blessed you with so many blessings that you take them for granted and you have turned your back on me. Now i must take away those blessings one by one startin wit what you love the most. Money. Humble urself America and seek my face and repent and i will hear and heal ur lands. Love others like i have loved you. Do not discourage anyone.
Come bac to me. I am waiting.. while u still have time... the clock is ticking..
Hey people of Richmond County.
Make some noise. This is Matt aka The Rev.
July 12th at Abundant Life is Youth Night. Its on 139 School Street in Rockingham, NC. Im 15 yrs old and im goin to be preachin that night. Also i might try to do a freestyle rap. More info, you can call my pastor. His name is Pastor Joe Wilkes. His number is (843) 439-0677.
Startin next week on Thursday night is youth night at my church every thursday night and the times could be from 6:30p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hey people,
Just wanted to let yall know that im doin a concert in cheraw sc next sunday night for the teens at a church and im goin to be freestyling for them.
Here is one freestyle. Tell me your feedback.
Yo, the name is G-Rev, Check the deal.
I was passin thru Cypress Hill on my way home
jus lookin to relax and chill.
When i see this boy's face, i remember him well from old school days. me and him were like bredge and still.
I say Why you wrong, He says Whats the deal.
I say, Im saved now can't play down how blessed I feel.
He's like WHAT, you still rep for real. I say Bro
I flow better now, God done blessed my skill. Now I serve up was and refreshing hills. no joke let me tell ya Jesus is real.
Come to church, Sunday service ends at 12.
He pulls and says, One day I guess I will. But right now do, im tryna collect some bills
and snatch nice honeys and electra swills.
He told me how he met this girl, seen her at a club
from a distance cause she was dressed to kill.
Had on clothes but most of the flesh revealed. But bro couldn't say no to the sex appeal.
I was like, Whoaaa!, Sex ani't against his will, but God said the two must connect and build
Its called marriage. Thats where you get fulfilled.
but sex becomes much more than just a thrill.
besides, sleepin around can get ya killed.
He was like, I don't care man, the sex was ill.
Little did he know what he jus said was real.
Cause after a while he checked his health
and the doctor said his chances to a long life
was next to nill.
there's a lesson if u listened well and its this
TRUTH HURTS BUT DECEPTION KILLS.
DON'T BE DECEVIED.
