Follow God's Lead

Great leaders follow God’s lead

Football Team

As a high school football coach, I often have to manage situations much bigger than football. I’m often thrown into situations that have nothing to do with football.

Have you ever felt like you’ve been thrown into a situation that you have no idea how to handle?

This was my first season as a head football coach. This was just last year. We practiced all spring and through the summer and I was extremely confident in our football team. I thought I was a great coach.

Our first game of the season was all the way in Manteca. We made the long drive out there and the entire time, I was so confident. I was hyped to get to show off my team and the work we put in.

We lost that game 0-70. It was 0-55 at halftime.

This threw me into a loop. I had no idea what I was doing. I felt lost, defeated, and left questioning my ability to lead others.

I left that game knowing changes had to be made. I prayed, I reached out to friends and to fellow coaches. I knew I couldn’t do this alone.

But in all, I had to step up as a leader. I had to change the culture of our team and change the direction we were going on as a team. After that loss, we went on to have a winning season at 6-4.

There are times in life where we are challenged to step up and lead.

You may not have to lead a football team, but maybe you’ve had to lead a group project at school, maybe your small group here at MSM or your family on vacation. There are moments in your lives where you are to step up and lead.

And there are good ways to lead, and bad ways to lead. But here’s what I know: God calls us to lead in a way that honors Him.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-9

The Bible talks a lot about how to follow God. How to follow Jesus. In the very first years of the church, it was scary to believe in Jesus. It was hard to follow God and lead.

But even in challenging times, God reminds us of who we are and the standards that are in front of us.

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-9. This is a letter that Paul is writing to a new church that is navigating tough times. It’s a reminder and direction for us to follow when we lead in challenging times.

New Living Translation (Chapter 1)

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Great leaders work faithfully, do loving things, and have enduring hope.

4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

Application

Long passage, I know, but here are some things I want to point out from it.

Even if we face tough times, when we suffer, we can find joy in God.

If we follow the example that Jesus teaches us, loving God and loving others, we will find joy even when times are tough.

We are to be goof examples of Jesus to all people. Sometimes, it’s our job to tell people about Jesus

There are moments in our lives when God asks us to share our faith. To talk about Jesus. I went to Folsom Middle School - I know there are moments where MSM or Lakeside get brought up, whether good or bad. In those moments, we can step up as leaders and talk about Jesus. Invite them to church.

Reapply

When I was figuring out how to lead after we lost 0-70, I remembered that in tough times, we can find joy. Losing 0-70 in your first fame is a tough moment.

In that moment, I chose to love God and love others. It would have been so easy to hate on my other coaches. To hate on my players. But instead, I chose a different route, and it worked.

When you face a tough moment, choose to love first. Know that God has called you to lead and to be an example for him.

Maybe you need to invite someone to MSM. The Woods is coming up - thats an awesome camp to invite someone to. Thats a way that God calls us to lead.

Maybe you need to stand up for someone at school.

Maybe you need to stop being a bully or making fun of people.

Be a leader that represents Jesus in all aspects of life.

God calls us to love others. As leaders, this is an important command. Great leaders follow God’s lead.