Everyone that knows me knows I am a huge football fan. I love the Texas Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys! Always have! Always will! With the Super Bowl just around the corner, I am doing a teaching series called Game Changers. So, I thought I would share a few thoughts from Sunday's message.

Game Changers are Life events that make us or break us. The first game changer - Our Coaches: Those who lead us.

Why is a good coach so important? Because a coach is one person who is on your side. One person that's pulling for you. You will face a lot of critics in your lifetime; they will pick you apart; they will disect every aspect of your game; Critics want you to fail. Coaches - they want you to win. They're for you! Jesus was the greatest "coach" ever (Romans 8:31: If God is for us, who can be against us?").

Why is it important to have a good coach (mentor, leader, discipler, etc.)?

#1: A good coach recognizes and challenges the undiscovered potential of their players and invests valuable time to develop it.

A good coach is an encourager. A coaches encouragement does two things for his players: It builds courage and it builds confidence. We all need a dose of those!


#2: A good coach develops a gameplan that is executable and that gives his players the best chance to win.

Remember: It really is all about winning! (If you want to raise your kids to be spiritual warriors, you need to tell teach them this vital life principle).

Winning demands of you every day of your life: Spending time with the coach, studying the playbook, Learning the schemes of the other team and performing at a high level. NO ONE LIKES TO LOSE! EVERYONE LOVES TO WIN!!!!!!


#3: Key to being a successful: Execution. Nothing else matters if the players do not execute the game plan.

Watch Jim Mashall Video (Attached)

Jim didn't actually execute well, did he? He went the wrong way. Execution is critical. The critics never forgot that mistake and it will probably be the one thing that keeps him out of the Hall of Fame. But, no one really remembers that in the same game, Marshall caused the fumble that allowed the Vikings to score and win the game.

The coach knew Jim wasn't done. He left him in the game because he believed in him. The coaches are the game changers because when the critics are slamming you, breathing down your neck and picking you apart, the coaches are encouraging you, building courage and confidence in you and telling you to get back in the game.

Great coaches develop great players who play the game at the highest level possible. Some...even go to the Hall of Fame (Romans 14:10: we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.; Revelation 21).

Consider these:
Who's your coach? How are you playing the game (winning IS what it's all about)? Are you a coach or a critic? Who are you coaching?

Today's worship was unbelievable. God never ceases to amaze me! When we surrender to what He wants to do in our lives, His Spirit moves and we experience His presence; His Glory. Tonight, I'm just thinking about how defeated so many people feel right now. If you are one of thos people, remember these words:

1. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

2. It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)

3. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:35)

4. Yet in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

5. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

I hope the verses help.