Be the Church

Lesson Two • Audience of One

Dr. Randy T. Johnson

Join The Team (JTT) is the opportunity of being part of something bigger than yourself. It is the calling of God to be involved with other believers in serving the Lord. Although it is a high calling, it is still a calling to all believers.

The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.

1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?

2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?

3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?

4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?

Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.

BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM

In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.

As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.

5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?

6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?

7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?

LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH

Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.

Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.

Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.

8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?

In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4

“For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29

9. What verses stand out to you? Why?

10. What principles can be learned from these verses?

There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!

Lesson Two • Audience of One

Dr. Randy T. Johnson

Join The Team (JTT) is the opportunity of being part of something bigger than yourself. It is the calling of God to be involved with other believers in serving the Lord. Although it is a high calling, it is still a calling to all believers.

The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.

1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?

2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?

3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?

4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?

Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.

BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM

In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.

As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.

5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?

6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?

7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?

LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH

Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.

Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.

Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.

8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?

In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4

“For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29

9. What verses stand out to you? Why?

10. What principles can be learned from these verses?

There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!