The Eagle Lake Church of Christers™

Okay, so if this congregation had a football team, I doubt that would be its name, but just go along with it. What does it take for an NFL team to be great, to win games and blow out opponents to become Super Bowl champions? Well, I guess the simple answer would be a good offense and a good defense. I realize that it takes a lot more than that, but ultimately that is what it comes down to---good solid team play on each side of the ball. So, we are rooting for the Eagle Lake C of C’ers™ to win it all, the big one. How are they going to get there; how are they going to make it through such a tough lineup? The same way any other team would: have a strong offense, moving the ball down the field, and a strong defense, shutting down the other team and not even letting them on their side of the field. Having the best coach in the league wouldn’t hurt either.

The Offense

Before they hit the field, they are going to need a game plan. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Mat. 28:18-20). The game plan is set, now comes spring training. If the team has not worked out, it will show. “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine....Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Tim. 4:13, 15). If they have done this and are ready to continue to become better individually and as a team, only then can they expect to win. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). After they know the plan and have trained hard, they will be ready to hit the field. “Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together” (Jn. 4:35-36). Now all they have to do is give all they have got, everything.

The Defense

As the old saying goes, “the best defense is a good offense,” and I believe this to be true. However, if we don’t have a defense at all, we are going to get creamed every time. If the Eagle Lake C of C’ers™ expect to make it all the way, they must make sure the other teams are not able to move the ball into their territory. “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:8-10). The defense needs the same type of training that the offense received, which is the need to always be ready for anything. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). They need to follow the coaches example just as the offense does to make sure that they stay on the right path. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mat. 7:14).

The Coach

Sometimes it is a good thing to have a fresh, young coach (i.e., the Denver Broncos), and sometimes it is not (i.e., Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Fortunately for Eagle Lake, they have the coach that has been in the game for the longest. “In the beginning God” (Gen. 1:1). Our coach has the best game plan out there. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16); there is none better. We have the only coach that is always right, and if we follow his instructions, then we will never go wrong, we will never lose, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). He has given us everything that we need to be a great team, all we have to do is use it, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

I don’t want to sound cocky, after all the season is not over, but I have a feeling that we having a winning team. Do we need to grow stronger? Yes. Can we still lose, if we give up on the coach? Yes. Will the other teams be pushovers? Not hardly. Can we make it? You betcha! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).