“ARE YOU ON THE TEAM?”


The second day at chapel, while tossing the soccer ball back and forth to us, Richard posed this question: “Are you on the team?” Because if you’re going to be “in the game,” you have to be “on the team!”


Richard described what it’s like to be on a team; things like cooperation, understanding the game, playing your position, listening to the coach, and so forth. Then he read a passage of Scripture, Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will say to them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

“...I never knew you...” A warning, from Jesus...

Richard reminded us from the previous day’s teaching that lots of churches are not “in the game” that God has for us to play. These churches only think locally, or maybe nationally, but they are not fully participating in the whole game that is God’s strategy for spreading the gospel.

Then he went on to say that Jesus is our coach! In this game of spreading the “good news” to all the earth, Jesus is the one who leads the team, calls the plays, corrects, encourages, mixes things up when necessary, keeps the bigger picture in mind as the game unfolds, etc. The question is: are we on the team, following Coach Jesus, and being a team player? It takes more than saying “Yes,” having good intentions, and kicking the ball around a bit. Richard pointed out that these verses from Matthew serve notice that not all churches and not all individuals are “on the team.” They might think they are, saying good things and even doing nice things, but no! They are not committed to the game--to God’s game. They are not full participants and, therefore, not submiting to the authority of His coach. Saying ‘Lord, Lord!” and doing a few religious things does not mean that people are “in the game” or “on the team.” And when the clock runs out and the game is finally over, instead of celebrating with the team, Coach Jesus will say to them: “Who are you? You’re not winners with my team. Get out of here!”

Ouch! That’s pretty harsh.

What happened? What might a player do to remove themself from the game and to disqualify themself from the team that Jesus is coaching?

1. A person might say, “I’ll follow what the coach says if I like the play.” But what if Jesus calls another play? A hard play? A play they don’t like? This is where many of us who claim to follow Jesus fail to follow through. As long as the game and the plays are going our way, to our satisfaction, for our benefit, we’re committed. But when things get tough or frustrating, when it’s not easy or fun anymore, or when there’s struggle and conflict involved, many of us back off, let down, make excuses, criticize the game and the coach, even leave the field and the game. Or we start a new game, one where we call the shots, make up the rules, manipulate the outcome, do what’s more fun and personally appealing to us, and since it has the appearance of being the same game as the one we left, we foolishly believe we’re in the competition. Again, Matthew 7:23 spells it out plainly. Jesus says: “I never knew you. Away from me!”

2. Another attitude that shows a person is not on the team is when they ask: “What am I getting out of this?” Richard said this is especially true of American Christians, because we tend to make everything related to faith “all about ME!” You know what I’m talkin’ about! You hear it all the time: “I’m not being fed.” “I want something more spiritual.” “It didn’t inspire me.” “It’s not my kind of music-message-style-worship space-presentation (fill in the blank...)” “The service is too early-too late-too long-too boring (fill in the blank...)”. “That meeting-program-event-activity-service (fill in the blank...) isn’t convenient for me.” Underlying all of this self-centeredness are a number of assumptions: a sense of pride (“I do the right things and don’t do the wrong things”), which breeds a sense of entitlement (“I deserve certain “perks” because I’m a good Christian-good church member-committed-faithful”), a sense of self assurance (“I’ve got things organized, have the anwers, and know what’s best”), and even a sense of control--to the point where people say: “I’m not getting much here, so I’m leaving!”

Clearly, these attitudes demonstrate that a person is not on the team, because the only consideration the person has is for themself, not for the good of the team. And they certainly are not taking direction from their coach, Jesus. The Message puts it this way: “All you did was use me to make yourself important.” (Matt. 7:23) Certainly not something a team player wants to hear--and would never even consider!


3. One more attitude that shows a person is not on the team is this: “I’m in the game--as long as it doesn’t cost me anything!” There is a quick, pointed response to a person who takes this position. It comes in the words of Coach Jesus himself:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34)

If you are going to be a player on the team that Jesus is coaching, you must be willing to give up everything for the good of the team. Your life is not your own anymore, and it never will be again. "You were bought with a price” (I Corinthians 6:20)--by the Coach Himself! You owe Him your total allegiance and commitment, and must be willing to do whatever He says and go wherever He commands, despite your personal preferences, concerns, apprehensions, doubts, desires, etc. Jesus expects your full cooperation and willingness to respond to His direction. You must submit to Him completely. This is the only way you can be on His team.


Many Christians make excuses for their poor performance in the game and try to justify their attitudes and actions: “I said the ‘sinner’s prayer! I ‘went forward’ and gave my life to Jesus! We’re saved by faith and not by works, so I’m good to go!”

But again, from The Message, Jesus says this: “Knowing the correct password...isn’t going to get you anywhere with me.” (Matt. 7:21)

The words of Jesus ring out: “I never knew you. Away from me!” It is “not he who says...but he who DOES the will of my Father!”

This question, “Are you on the team?”, was as difficult for me to hear as the one the day before. It made me think long and hard about whether or not I’m a good team member and following through with the plays Coach Jesus has for me to execute in the global game of spreading the gospel. I know that in my heart of hearts I want to be a vital member of the team! I try to follow what the coach is telling me, even when it stretches me beyond what I think I can do, or what I think is fair, or when the plays don’t seem to fit the game that I’ve been trained for up until now.


This last point is, I believe, the situation most of us are facing today. It is extremely difficult for us who have been team members for many years to stay the course and obey our coach when the game plan switches, especially the way it is being formulated today. Our team seemed to be doing so well before, in the past! Every player knew their part, what to do, where to go, how the plays worked. Doggone it, why is Jesus switching it up now? We were comfortable with the game before! Everything made sense to us. Everyone knew the code words, the game book, the runs and the passes and the customary ways to move the ball around the field. The new plays that Coach Jesus is calling, in order to spread the gospel these days, make us uncomfortable. They don’t make sense now. The language, the instructions, and the methods seem strange, ineffective, even wrong!

I like the old ways of playing the game! I like the old words and phrases and plans and actions! I want to do everything so it’s comfortable and meaningful to me again! The way the game is supposed to be played. Let’s just do what we’ve always done harder-stronger-louder-flashier..that’s all we need to do! Let’s just tweak those good old plays that we already know, just a bit...they’ll work just fine!

But Coach Jesus says “NO!” The GAME is the same, but now the PLAYS must be adapted in order to be effective in the world today. “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Will we trust our coach, submit to Him and to His will, His way, His game plan? Will we discipline ourselves to learn the new game scenario, the new, more effective and relevant strategies for playing the game, and train ourselves so we can be competitive members on God’s team today? Better equipped to be His witnesses in all the world and to effectively spread His “good news” to every corner of the playing field that is our world?

Next week: “Are You In Shape?”