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REFUEL 1

“[I pray that you] know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”—Ephesians 3:19

Love is an interesting word in English. We can just as quickly and easily say, “I love pizza” as we might say to a child, “I love you.” Love in the New Testament is an active commitment, care, and concern from God to us, from us toward God, and from us toward others, even our enemies. In this passage, Paul describes Christ Jesus’s love as surpassing knowledge. He’s praying that his readers will know a love that is beyond knowing and that, in the process of growing to know that love, they are filled with all the fullness of God. Just as we need to be fueled with nutrition, hydration, and warmth to survive, we need to be fueled by the fullness of God to be truly alive.

Key Scripture: Acts 2:42-46

Coaches inherently understand the importance of a team. Nothing spoils the effectiveness and competitive edge of a team quicker than the stereotypically self-centered “I.” In our passage, we see a radically others-centered corporate reality, one that beautifully represents Jesus’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Even though the word love is not literally present in this text, the concept virtually jumps off the page. Love is always the best antidote to the infection of selfishness and pride, for true love is always accompanied by her two favorite companions: joy and hope.

However, notice that the fuel for this environment is not a humanistic, superficial emotion but a robust Jesus-centered commitment to God and to others. The devotion (continual commitment) to the apostles’ teachings about Jesus, to being together, to eating together, and to praying together directly resulted in beautiful others-centered sacrifices of property and possessions. This commitment also led to the desire for more joyful fellowship to the point where they had to meet every day!

Coach, if you and your team are stuck in the negative feedback loop of conflict and selfishness, turn back to the fundamentals of loving God and loving people. Refuel by vertically reconnecting with God in Christ through the Spirit, and then watch how the horizontal relationships transform all around you. Where appropriate, encourage your staff and team leaders to do the same. Watch the joy and hope return, destroying selfishness and pride in the process.

• Does your coaching staff have a joyful and hopeful culture? Your team?
• What can you do to raise these levels in each environment?

Fuel up with Prayer

“Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” —Ephesians 6:18

Whether you stop at the gas station or plug into the outlet, you must refuel your car by connecting with a fuel source. The source of our fuel is the Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit. An essential part of our connection with Him is through prayer, and often we find it difficult to prioritize this essential element of our faith.

Fuel up with Scripture

“Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” —Colossians 3:16

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” —Luke 24:45

Alongside prayer, we also connect with God through His written Word. Scripture teaches us the truth about God, and it also guides us on how to relate to Him through worship and prayer. These are the fundamental disciplines of keeping our fellowship with God fresh and meaningful. Just as a basketball team falters when they neglect free-throw drills and dribble work, so we as believers falter when we neglect the basics of communing with our God.