I was entering my 20th season serving as the chaplain for the University of Oklahoma softball team. We had just come off an unprecedented run of four consecutive national championships. But now, sitting across from a brand-new team — reshaped by a large graduating class and the transfer portal — the questions in the room were real and heavy: How do we follow the last four years? How do we live up to the names that came before us?
The graduating class had become household names in the softball world. Their accolades, influence and platforms were inspiring, but also intimidating for the players who followed.
As I listened to their questions, I brought my own to the Lord: How can I encourage these athletes who are striving to make names for themselves, but are so focused on the names that came before them?
In prayer and Scripture, God highlighted story after story — and a theme emerged. Many of the people who made a lasting impact in the Bible were never named. Their faith, not their fame, was what mattered. That season, our team studied the nameless men and women of Scripture. Their stories became anchors for us, reminding us that God sees and uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
During a time in our sports culture where the focus is so much on OUR Name, OUR Image, and OUR Likeness (NIL) what if we, as followers of Christ, are to put our focus on HIS Name, HIS Image and HIS Likeness? These nameless people in Scripture teach us that maybe, just maybe, it is not our name that is to be remembered, but the Name above all names - Jesus Christ.
Paul challenges us in Philippians 2:5-11:
“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
If you’ve ever felt overlooked, ordinary or wondered, “Does anyone see me? Does anyone even know my name?” — these lessons will encourage, challenge and remind you that God does, and that is enough.
Throughout Scripture — from the prophet Isaiah to the apostle Paul — we see a burden for two things: that the lost would be found and that the found would remain faithful. Coaches often remind their athletes, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.” The same is true in following Christ. Faithfulness requires both obedience when God says go — and humility in returning to Him in prayer and in His Word.
Get the book and dive into faithfulness behind the scenes with the Nameless teaching series, found on FCA Resources.
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