What the Church Can Learn from the Spurs

I admit that I am a Spurs fan.  I know that some of you are not - I still love you and especially pray for you.  But allow me to share something I have been thinking about since the NBA Finals in a post today about five things that the church can learn from the five time champs.

1. Team work always trumps individual effort.  The Spurs beat the team of the "best player on the planet" by not having a single super star.  They played as a team.  We need to remember that in the church in a day of "superstars" and "celebrities" even in the church.

2. Selflessness always defeats selfishness.  The Spurs won by individuals giving up things for the sake of the team - the extra pass to the man who had the better shot.  The church functions best when it serves, when individuals give of themselves for the betterment of the whole.  In a spiritual sense, who do you need to pass the ball to?

3. We work best together when we get over ourselves.  Spurs' coach Greg Popovich said that one secret to the team's success is that they are a group of guys who have "gotten over themselves."  We only function as the body of Christ when we "get over ourselves."  If you have no idea what that means, then it is something that urgently needs to happen in you.  Have a little talk with Jesus.

4. Diversity can bring strength.  The Spurs are a diverse group from different backgrounds, ethnicities, languages and nations, yet they have found a way to use their differences as strengths not dividers. The church in heaven is made up of those from every tribe and every tongue and every nation.  The church on earth today needs to know that we do not all have to look alike, talk alike or think alike to be like the church in heaven.  That will bring strength.

5. The accomplishments of youth are celebrated.  When it was announced that Kawhi Leonard, one of the youngest players on the team, had won the Most Valuable Player award and not one of the veteran stars, the older, more accomplished players did not just politely applaud, they became like little boys in their affirmation.  Slapping, laughing, shoving, head rubbing and shouting their approval on their young team mate.  If we are to have a future, we must encourage and celebrate the accomplishments of those younger, even if it means we older ones don't get something we have "earned."

Someday all that the Spurs have done, as enjoyable as it is now, will pass away.  What we do as a church lasts for eternity.  Let's play as a team.  Let's get everyone in the game.  Let's follow our coach.

for the journey...

Tim