The Art of the Handoff

How many of us watched the Super Bowl last week? I love football, but I have to admit that I was too busy talking to my friends to pay attention. But most of my life I have loved football. Or as my latino friends call it, futbol americano. When I played in high school we were mostly a “running offense”, which means we didn’t pass the ball a lot. We mostly did handoffs. So what is a hand off? A handoff is an exchange made by handing the ball to a teammate. This is usually low risk if done properly. You are literally, as a quarterback, getting the ball handed to you and you hand it to someone else to run with it. The responsibility to score points or win the game is being transferred from one player, to the next, to the next. Now while the last player to get the ball, the running back, is trying to score there are various obstacles in his way. Some are designed to help him, but are not as fast as he is. Others have the intent of taking the dude out. And I don’t mean for coffee.

As I thought about the importance of ministry to and with the next generation, this image came to mind. We are not just kids, youth and young adult leaders. We are players and coaches who are giving the opportunity to run this race of faith to each other. Let me show you. A child comes into the nursery for the first time. What are you going to do with this precious gift you have been given? Does that baby cease being your responsibility when you hand them off to the preschool ministry? And then to the youth department? What is your plan for them when they graduate from high school? Is that completely on the youth pastor? Youth pastor, do you still want to see young adults and adults finish this race with call The Way? Of course you do. You wouldn’t be in ministry if you didn’t genuinely love God and people. Before we were called to ministry, we were called to make disciples. Jesus in Matthew 28 is not making this call and promise to only pastors and people in volunteer ministry. This call is going out to all of us as sons and daughters of God!

Let’s talk about some guys that did this very well. Now, I want you to try and think about this from more than just a leadership perspective. Try to look at it from a father or mother perspective. If you have your Bible, we are going to be pulling from the stories of Elijah and Elisha from 1 and 2 Kings.

1 Kings 19:19–21 NLT

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

Elijah is super interesting. Yes, he called down fire from heaven and out ran a chariot. Yes he stopped the rain and released it. But did you know that he also had a bunch of disciples? They are “the sons of the prophets” and they show up a few times. Elijah was intentional about train and discipling young people to become prophets. Basically to hear the voice of God for themselves and others. Kids sounds like someone who loves and believes in the next generation. Maybe even a father to the fatherless. Eventually Elijah starts to spiral. We know the story well. He calls down fire from Heaven to prove the one true God, kills about 400 false prophets and then confronts Jezebel the queen. She pushes back, he freaks and runs. I think we’ve all been there. At the hight of our greatest victory we only see defeat. He asked God to die and God tells him that he needs to go anoint 2 new kings and a new prophet, Elisha. So he does! And he begins to train, equip and father Elisha.

When Elijah is ready to hand off his mantel to Elisha, he doesn’t just throw it on him and say “good luck with that.” I think sometimes, without realizing it, this is the message we send kids and students when they transition to the next ministry. “My love has an age limit.” We would never say that. That might not even be the way we feel, but that is the message we send.

Let’s fast-forward to the actual handoff.

2 Kings 2:8–14 NLT

Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

We all have those young people that follow us around like a lost puppy. Anywhere we go, they are right there. Always, there. Like a toddler. Always......there...... These are the most irritating, frustrating and fertile soil you have ever known. No matter what Elijah did, Elisha was going with him. Like Sam and Frodo. “I’m going on alone Sam!” “Of course you are. And I’m coming with you!” These are the kids, the students that we should be pouring into, discipling, reproducing our selves. Elijah couldn’t shake Elisha. Elisha knew he was leaving, but refused to let him go alone. Then, as Elijah is taken up to heaven, his cloak falls to Elisha. Just like so many years ago when Elisha was plowing the field. Once again the mantle has fallen to him.

Elisha went one to do twice the miracles that Elijah did. In fact, he did something Elijah could never do. Elisha raised a dead man to life, with his own bones! He wasn’t even alive and he gave life! That is amazing!

I believe through the lives of Elijah and Elisha we can learn the art of the handoff.

Pray

Ask God, “Who is coming after me and how can I prepare them?”

Call

When God reveals to you who to call, call them out. Don’t wait for them. Elisha’s BBQ

Live

Live life with them. Show them who you are and who they are. Let them know you as more than a pastor or leader. Let them know you as a child of God. Show them the realities and let them ask questions. And ask them questions.

Release

Give them ministry. Let them lead and fail. One of the greatest discipleship tools I have found is wrapped up in 3 words, “I trust you.”

What God is building through this room is astounding! Why should it leave or die with you? Or with the kids and students you have now? We have the greatest opportunity to be ahead of the curve in every way. Someone once trusted us with the ball. Now we need to hand it off.

Let’s go back to football for a minute. When the center hikes the ball to the quarterback, the safety and security of the ball is still his responsibility. It’s different, but his job goes from protecting the ball in his hand to keeping obstacles out of the way. The quarterback doesn’t throw his hands up and say “It’s your problem now” when he hands the ball to the running back. And when the running back scores, the whole team wins. Elisha did double the signs and wonders of Elijah, but neither is less important to the story . There would be no Elisha without Elijah. We hear more about Elijah in scripture, but Elisha was a type of Christ. We are in a unique position to shape those who shape the future. Let’s show them what humility, unity and the power of God looks like!