Connecting Spiritual Dots – Part 2: Do What?!

I love coaching sports with young kids. On every team there are always a few competitive types who want to crush every opponent. Others are just happy to grow in skills or cheer on their teammates. One or two are just happy to wear their very own jersey. Whatever the case, most children are eager to play and generally willing to do whatever it takes to play hard and have fun whether we win or lose. I always remind them, “It might be us, it might be the other team, but someone will win. Winning isn’t everything, but you can’t win if you don’t practice hard, come prepared, and play the game.”

Fundamental skills like “pass, dribble, shoot” seem simple enough until kids have to put them together under the pressures of game day. The children I coach learn this firsthand and usually the hard way. When I give them drills to do at home they usually say, “Do what?! I come to practice and games, isn’t that enough?” When I tell them to show up on time or they’ll sit on the bench they say, “Do what?! My parents get me here, if I miss practice or come late that’s not my fault.” To be honest, disbelief about what it takes to be the best saddens me. Believing they are a great soccer or basketball player doesn’t come from suiting up or showing up, it comes from actually playing the game. Believing they can and should win every game doesn’t mean much in the end if they don’t put their beliefs in action at home, at practice, and in the game. As their coach, I’m the one responsible for helping them connect these dots.

What’s true in sports is true in lifelong discipleship. Belief alone won’t impact who you become unless you put your beliefs in action.

What’s true in sports is true in lifelong discipleship. Belief alone won’t impact who you become unless you put your beliefs in action. Making excuses for halfhearted commitment saddens our heavenly Father. Faith in Christ is free; following Jesus costs everything. There are fundamentals that, when consistently exhibited overt time, identify who is with God and who is against Him. This is not about perfect performance to earn favor; it’s about growing in godliness over the long haul. When I coach kids in soccer, I know that I can’t just tell them what to do; I need to show them how to put what they believe into practice. This is true in disciple-making as well. The same is true for you and those you serve.

I contend that kid-influencers can share the gospel clearly by setting an example that helps kids connect spiritual dots between what Christians believe and what followers of Jesus do. The Bible outlines some pretty surprising fundamentals of faith for disciples to live out. Instead of responding, “Do what?!,” they will start to say, “I’ll do whatever!” Here are five fundamentals with supporting Scripture passages that you and the kids you serve can put into practice for the sake of Christ.

• Love always. Jesus is crystal clear that love is central to all of life, now and forever. Disciples, when faced with the choice to show God’s love, are 100% committed to being like Christ in every situation and relationship. 1 John 3:23 says: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” Share this verse with kids and leaders regularly. Invite them to step up to always love people in everything they think, say, and do.

• Be honest.  A big part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus is being truthful about sins and shortcomings. Everyone fails, but everyone in Christ in forgiven. Choosing to be honest about this is an act of humility. James 5:16 says: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” There is power in opening up to others about what’s really going on inside. Kids need adults who will help them connect the spiritual dots between forgiveness of sin and accountability in community.

• Respect family. This can be hard for many kids, especially as they grow older and recognize their parents or guardians are far from perfect. And, even if we have great families, it’s natural to mature and distance ourselves from our primary care givers. Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” You can help kids in this faith fundamental by encouraging them to follow Christ first, but to also honor their moms and dads along the way. This can open a lot of doors to conversations about what it truly means to know, love, and serve Christ at home.

• Serve anyone. People thought Jesus was way off base when he said, “Love your enemies,” but He was serious about it. Christ came to break down dividing wall between people, even those we disagree with or have a hard time loving. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” It’s important to demonstrate to kids that everyone is worthy of God’s grace. It’s also important to help kids discern when to hold back from serving anyone because strangers can be dangerous. You have the opportunity to model what it means to put other people’s needs above your own in every situation. Connecting spiritual dots on this front is invaluable to the art of disciple-making.

• Represent God. “Do what?!” Are we really called to be imitators of God in our character and actions? Jesus told His followers to be perfect just like their heavenly Father just like was commanded in the Old Testament. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” As a kid-influencer, you can help connect spiritual dots for kids when they wonder how much like God they can really be in this world. Scripture indicates that disciples are working for the Lord, wearing the uniform of God’s Kingdom, and walking with Christ as if He was living life in their place. Kid-influencers can help kids understand the importance of being like Jesus day in and day out without hesitation or limitation.

Connecting spiritual dots is not easy work when it comes to discipleship. However, as a kid-influencer, you can take heart that you are further along on this journey than those you lead. You don’t need to be perfect to coach people God places in your path. You can share the gospel clearly with words, but you can also share the gospel clearly by setting an example in the fundamentals of what Christians believe and what followers of Jesus do.