Parkway football talk

Who Are You When Nobody’s Watching?

Introduction:

My name is Scott Rowe. I am the pastor at Olive Branch Church of God in Rockford and also Mount Carmel Church of God in Celina.

I grew up in East Ohio and western pennsylvania. My years in middle and high school weren’t easy for me. My dad died when I was 16 and my brother turned to a life of drugs.

My family didn’t have much money when I was growing up so when my dad died at 16 I had to get a job. So I started working at wendy’s. I had to walk everywhere I went. So it was a 45 minute walk to work and another 45 minute walk home from work.

Shortly after my dad died, started attending a youth group at a church by myself. That’s where I heard about Jesus. That he went to the cross and died for my sins and three days later rose from the dead.

So I gave my life to Christ, asked him to forgive me for my sins and I started living my life for him.

I came to realize that I lost an earthly father so I can know a heavenly one who would never leave me.

That didn’t make everything easier but it gave me a purpose and an identity. There were days that i wanted to quit and give up. I didn’t have people cheering me on or patting me on my back.

But God continued to remind me of this Bible verse....

Colossians 3:23 says....

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

I want to talk to you for just a few minutes about something bigger than football.

Let me ask you a question:

Who are you when nobody’s watching?

Because everybody can work hard when the coach is standing there.

Everybody can hustle when somebody is keeping track.

Everybody can run hard when your teammates are watching.

Everybody can act right when your parents, teachers, and coaches, are in the room.

But character is who you are when nobody is watching.

And eventually, who you are when nobody is watching becomes who everybody sees.

Football has a way of revealing that.

Think about the work that goes into one Friday night.

People come into the stadium, sit in the stands, watch the game, and see the finished product.

They see the touchdowns.

They see the tackles.

They see the big plays.

They hear the band.

They see the scoreboard.

But they don't see everything that got you there.

They don't see every early morning.

They don't see every lift.

They don't see every sprint.

They don't see the practices when it's hot and you're exhausted.

They don't see the film you've watched.

They don't see the repetitions.

They don't see you doing something over and over again until you finally get it right.

Everybody sees Friday night. Very few people see what it took to get there.

And that's not just football.

That's life.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

Notice that word:

Whatever.

That means anything and everything you do in life.

That means school.

That means your job.

That means how you treat your parents.

That means how you treat your girlfriend.

That means what you do when nobody else would ever know.

God isn't only interested in the person everybody sees.

God cares about the man you're becoming.

And whether you realize it or not, that's happening right now.

Every decision is shaping you.

Every practice is shaping you.

Every time you choose discipline instead of taking the easy way out, you're becoming somebody.

You guys probably hear something like:

“You play how you practice.”

Why?

Because when pressure comes, you don't suddenly become disciplined.

You fall back on what you've trained yourself to do.

Life works the same way.

You don't magically become a man of character when you're 25 or 30.

You build that character now.

That's why the little decisions matter.

Here's something I want you to remember:

The things nobody applauds you for, prepare you for the moments everybody sees.

Nobody is cheering while you're lifting.

Nobody is filling the stands for practice.

Nobody gives you a trophy because you showed up when you didn't feel like showing up.

But those moments matter.

And some of the most important things you'll ever do in your life won't have anybody cheering for you.

Doing the right thing when your friends are doing the wrong thing.

Walking away when everybody else is joining in.

Telling the truth when lying would be easier.

Standing up for somebody who can't stand up for himself.

Those things probably won't get your name announced over a loudspeaker.

But those are the things that build a man.

And more importantly, the man you became during these years will go with you long after football is over.

So here's my challenge to you.

When you walk onto the field, give everything you've got.

When you're tired, give everything you've got.

When you're winning, give everything you've got.

When you're losing, give everything you've got.

When the coach is watching, give everything you've got.

And when nobody's watching, give everything you've got.

Not because football is the most important thing in life.

But because how you do the small things is shaping who you are becoming.

Colossians says:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

Guys, play hard.

Practice hard.

Love your teammates.

Respect your coaches.

Honor your family.

Stand up for what's right.

And above everything else, remember that your identity is bigger than the number on your jersey.

One day the jersey comes off.

One day the crowd goes home.

One day the season ends.

But the man you're becoming remains.

So become a man of character.

Become someone your teammates can trust.

Become someone who does what's right even when it isn't easy.

Become someone who gives his best even when nobody is applauding.

Because who you are when nobody's watching is who you really are.