“ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR POSITION?”


The fourth day at chapel, Richard began with a history lesson of the Church, and how “the game” was played way back at the beginning of the Christian faith. He cited Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth--clearly indicating that “the game” is to be played on the entire field. The gospel was to go to the whole world.

The Church stayed local though, right there in Jerusalem. Believers didn’t venture out with the “good news,” but stayed together in that familiar, intimate, comfortable place where all those big events of Christ’s final days took place, and near to the temple, the geographical center of their faith.

And what was the impetus that finally got the Church to move out? Persecution! Acts 8:1 describes how believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria when a great persecution broke out against the Church at Jerusalem. Richard compared this with the situation facing the Mexican Church today, with fewer Americans coming to Mexico now because of fear, border issues, violence, and drug and gang warfare. This might be the “hour” for the Mexican Church to step up and step into roles that they have relied on others for--in essence, to move out of their own familiar, comfortable “Jerusalem” locales and into “the game” that is about bringing the gospel to the whole world.

Richard also talked about another way of being in “the game” today: Think It - Ink It. The point being if something is good for me, then it might be for someone else too, so it’s important to share it through writing, blogging, texting, Twitter, Facebook, etc. It might contribute to God’s game plan and make a difference in the final outcome of the game because these are ways to impact more people in more ways than ever before with God’s game plan.

The fourth question that Richard posed was: “Are you playing your position?” He reminded us that there are different roles on a team and it is important for everyone to know where they are supposed to be playing in order for the team to function well and to be successful in the game.

One position is OFFENSE.


These players are on the attack! Going forward, pressing hard to make a goal. Romans 10:14-15 puts it well:

“How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

God sends some on offense, bringing “good news” to those who have never heard it, locally, nationally, and globally. These are people on the front lines of “the game,” who go out and do the immediate work of evangelists, actually speaking and living out the gospel in the midst of people who are not acquainted with it. This could happen in a series of steps too, over a period of time, as people feel the call, prepare and train for “offensive positions” for the game, and finally go out throughout the world to spread the good news of Christ’s salvation. Richard stressed that if offense is one’s calling--one’s position--in the game, it is important in marriage to choose a spouse who is looking in this same direction. Otherwise they will always hold you back from your calling--from playing your position on the team of Coach Jesus. Richard shared very personally about this from his own life experience.

Another position is DEFENSE.


These players do the sending! Assisting and making it possible for those going on offense to have the resources and everything they need to do their work throughout the world. People who play defense are not less important or any less involved in the game than those playing offense. Both are needed for “the game” to be played well, completely, correctly. They are in it together. It’s as if a person on defense is saying: “You be the beautiful feet that go; I will be the beautiful hands that send!”

One helpful way of playing defense is making money for the Kingdom. Some Christians are gifted with the ability to make money--lots of it--and when they dedicate themselves to advancing the Kingdom of God with their gifts--playing their position, as it were--they can have a tremendous impact on the playing field, on other players, and on the “the game.” Other crucial defensive players include administrators, logisticians, strategists, “cheerleaders,” and perhaps most important of all: pray-ers.

In the final analysis, it’s not a matter of how much I’ve got to give (from my wallet, my abilities, my gifts, etc.) but rather of how much the Lord has got of me! When He has captured my heart, I willingly put my hand into someone else’s and use all that I have to help them play their position in “the game.”

Of course, there are MIDFIELDERS too.


These people actually live out there where the action is, on the field where the evangelists, missionaries, and other people on offense are playing on the front lines of “the game,” sharing the gospel. However, their jobs are defensive, supportive, assisting, and making possible the plays that the offensive team are running.

How do we know what postion we are meant to play in “the game?” As we seek and pray and assess who we are, our interests, our gifts and abilities, etc. we can trust that “Coach Jesus” knows how we play best, and He will use others to confirm how God wants to use us in “the game.”

Finally, there are those who SIT ON THE FENCE.


These people don’t even have a position on the team because they are not players in “the game” at all. They’re just watching, waiting, talking about what’s going on, perhaps offering their critique as observers, but not realizing they are clueless about the actual dynamics and reality of “the game” because they aren’t part of the action. Revelation 3:16 might be directed at them: “Because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Christians who sit on the fence tend to think of their faith as a personal matter, about having correct belief and doctrine, yet ignoring or forgetting the important scriptural truth: “Faith without action is dead.” (James 2:26) Christians who are not on the team, who are out of shape, and who don’t know their position in “the game” are clueless that their relationship with God is tenuous at best--that “such regulations have an appearance of wisdom...but they lack any value” in being a player on God’s team and in “the game.” (Colossians 2:23 - modified) Those who are sitting on the fence need to wake up, shake off their lethargy, and jump into “the game!”

In the end, God calls all of us to the position we are going to play in His game. We can trust Him to show us, equip us, and place us where we will be most strategic in accomplishing His game plan. Again, it’s not a matter of how much I’ve got to give (from my wallet, my abilities, my gifts, etc.) but rather of how much the Lord has got of me!

Does God have a grip on you? Are you committed to His game, and to His team? Are you totally sold out to “Coach Jesus” and willing to go and do whatever He asks of you, for the good of the game and the team?

This is how our mission team was challenged throughout our week in Mexico.

I hope you’ve been challenged by my summaries too!

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

This is the game plan that Coach Jesus gave his disciples when He ascended to the Father 2000 years ago. It is the same one for us today. So let’s get in spiritual shape, commit to His team, take up our positions, and play “the game” that God has designed for us to win: taking the gospel of salvation to every tribe and tongue and race until the whole world hears. Amen.