Take It to The Field

Ready:

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Set:

This was one of the many verses I decided to memorize as a young athlete. It is known as “The Great Commission.” 

Jesus is evident in what He expects of those who follow Him. First, they need to go and share about Him with others so that they will know and understand His life and story. Second, they are told to baptize those who accept the message of Jesus. And third, they are told to teach one another and encourage spiritual growth. This is accomplished by reading God’s Word, living in fellowship with one another and living in communion with God, as one. 

Are you compelled to go to your sports team and school to tell them about Jesus? I had a youth pastor friend who shared a message about how important it was to share Jesus with your friends. He bought a bunch of goldfish and put them in a fish tank in front of the room. He said, “Your friends need Jesus; we have to live with urgency!” Then, he began to net out the fish and throw them on the floor! The kids started getting up and saving the fish and throwing them in the fish tank again. Let’s just say time is precious when you are saving goldfish!

That story is quite comical, but the truth is there should be a sense of urgency for us to share Jesus with our friends and teammates. If we truly believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), why wouldn’t we actively look for opportunities to share Him with others who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus? At practice, in the locker room and when we sit next to somebody on the bus, we all have opportunities to share about Jesus. 

Go:

• Have you found it challenging to share your faith with your teammates? Why or why not?
• How can you live with more urgency to share Jesus?

Weekly Challenges:

Record a 30-60 second video talking about what God is doing in your life and share it on social media. If you don’t have social media, share it with someone in person.

Reading Plan: 

Day 8 - Matthew 19-21

Day 9 - Matthew 22-23

Day 10 - Matthew 24-25

Day 11 - Matthew 26-28

Day 12 - Ephesians 1-3

Day 13 - Ephesians 4-6

Day 14 - Philippians 1-2