There’s a drill in football called Pursuit Drill, where defenders line up in a particular formation called out by the coach. A running back takes off with the ball down either the left or right sideline. As this happens, each position is required to take a slightly different angle to pursue the ball carrier. “Pursuit! Pursuit! Pursuit!” coaches yell, hoping for the outcome defensive coordinators love to celebrate: lots of jerseys around the football.
Pursuit Drill requires each different position to give maximum effort towards the common mission of stopping the ball carrier and displays how unique individuals with a common cause and proper pursuit can accomplish a difficult task.
Great “Pursuit” players are also found in early church in Acts. They are unified by a common mission through Christ and willing to give all they have for the team.
“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)
What are you pursuing? Who are you pursuing it with? There are few things more important than knowing what you are pursuing and surrounding yourself with the right people to pursue it with.
In Christ we have one identity (Galatians 3:28), one mission (Matthew 28:18-20) and one prize (Philippians 3:14). Just like athletes all over the world forgo their name on the back of their jersey to bear their team’s name on front, we become a part of Team Jesus when we die to ourselves and choose to follow Him (Luke 9:23). With that, we ALL become one, and this new team we are on has been given the greatest mission in the world.
Imagine that moment before we’re sent out into the world, everyone all together and huddled up as one team, with one mission, focused on one prize. Your teammates want to know: Will you pursue Jesus alongside them with everything you have? Will you call them out when they don’t run all the way to the finish line because they got tired? Will you spur them on in God’s truth?
Hold your spiritual teammates to a higher standard for the greater good of the team. The Great Commission is the mission of our lives and we can’t fulfill our roles in it without each other’s help. Challenge and encourage one another. We have done this our whole lives as athletes and this is much more important. The glory of God among our neighbors and the nations is at stake, and Christ Jesus is worth it all.
“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)
We’ve played with a whatever it takes mentality and we’re willing to give all we have to help our team win. Jesus is our greatest prize! Pursue Him with everything, give Him everything and lean on those around you. We need each other, all together.
This quarter, we’re exploring what it means to Pursue Team. This month, our focus is on how to Commit to the Team. Join us as we journey through this exploration and prepare to Pursue Mission next month.
One way to actively Pursue Team is through joining an FCA Huddle. The Huddle is one of FCA’s greatest teams. It is an important resource to help coaches and athletes grow in the essentials of their faith and become fully devoted followers of Christ. As a coach or athlete connects to an FCA Huddle, they will surround themselves with teammates who point to Jesus. Bring a friend and find a Huddle near you!
Want to learn more about pursuing team and surrounding yourself with the right spiritual teammates? Head to FCA in Action and read our September Pursue articles:
Anchor Article: What It’s Worth: Commit to the Team
Article One: A Kingdom Call: Focused on the Mission
Article Two: Breaking Barriers: The Same Under Christ
*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR that explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.
About the Author:
Swayze Waters is the FCA Southeast Central International Coordinator and serves 265 staff throughout the four-state region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama and a growing number of International Sports Partners in East Africa. Swayze graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2009, where he also kicked and punted for the Blazers. You can connect with him at swaters@fca.org.
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