John Wooden is considered by many to be the best basketball coach of all-time. ESPN dubbed him Coach of the 20th Century. He is one of only a few in the Basketball Hall of Fame who appears both as player and coach. Coach Wooden was a three-time All- American at Purdue University and College Player of the Year in 1932. As UCLA’s head coach for 27 years, his teams set many records that may never be broken:
- 10 National Championships in 12 years
- 7 consecutive NCAA Championships
- 88 consecutive victories
- 4 undefeated seasons
- 8 undefeated conference seasons
His overall coaching record totaled 667 wins and 161 losses, a whopping 81% winning percentage. Coach is known for his love for basketball and it has played a big part in his life. But basketball is not the most important thing to him. Life is. And just like basketball, life needs a good head coach. Coach Wooden would like to introduce you to his Coach, Jesus Christ. That Coach truly has a tremendous game plan for all of us.
“I’ve trusted Christ, and I’ve tried to live as He would have me live. I’ve studied His Word, and I’ve prayed a great deal. I have faith that He will do what He’s promised.”
-Coach John Wooden
Quarter 1: This is The Gameplan
Coach Wooden always had a plan for how he was going to practice and play to win every game. One of his favorite sayings was, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” First, he would look at his team and evaluate each member. Next, he would consider the opposing team with their strengths and weaknesses. Then, after looking at all the aspects of the game, he would come up with a precise game plan.
God has done a very similar thing. He has looked closely at each of us and all we face in life. And He came up with a plan. He wants us on His team, to follow His game plan, and to succeed by knowing, loving, and enjoying Him forever.
The greatest command is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. ~Mark 12:29-30
This is eternal life: that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent. ~John 17:3
These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe … so that you … may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all of His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. ~Deuteronomy 6:1-2
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest. ~John 10:10
TIMEOUT:
God is personally and deeply concerned about you. Is your life truly satisfying? Are you convinced you have eternal life? If not, you need another game plan.
Quarter 2: Can’t Do It Alone
Basketball is a team game, but many players try to win games all on their own. Their pride and selfish ambition hurt them and their team. They don’t really become better players and their teams don’t advance. Players have to be taught how to play the game the right way and follow the coach’s game plan.
It’s the same way with life. We try to play life independently, setting our own definitions for the right way to play and win life. By going to church or doing good things, such as making more good plays than bad, we hope to reach God. But good efforts do not fully measure up with God’s plan. Only God has a winning strategy to overcome our weaknesses and limitations. And the big problem we face is our sin (active rebellion or passive indifference to Him).
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ~Romans 3:23
Your sins have separated you from God. ~Isaiah 59:2
The wages of sin is death. ~Romans 6:23
TIMEOUT:
You may think you’re winning, but God’s scoreboard may say otherwise. And to lose the game of life means spiritual death—separation from God and everything that is good. How does your personal scoreboard look to you?
HALF-TIME: Time for Adjustments?
The score at half-time doesn’t always show who will win the game. When you are losing at half-time, you have two choices: give up or listen to the Coach. Will you adjust your play? Will you submit to the Lord and follow His game plan? What will you choose?
Quarter 3: The Substitute
During any game, things can go wrong. A player may be shooting, passing or defending poorly. The team on the court might not be working together as a unit. Foul trouble or fatigue may occur. When things like this go wrong the coach needs to bring in a substitute to help. He brings in the right substitute at the right time.
God did the exact same thing for us. We were losing, and God sent His Son Jesus Christ, the perfect substitute, to take our place. Through His death on the Cross, Jesus became our substitute, and through His resurrection He won the victory for all mankind.
This is what love is all about: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the perfect sacrifice (substitute) for our sins. ~I John 4:10
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ~II Corinthians 5:21
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, … to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. ~Galatians 4:4-5
TIMEOUT:
God cared about us and our situation so much He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place so that we could win in life now and eternally. What a great substitution!
Quarter 4: Crunch Time
A good coach has a game plan that goes all the way to the final second, through the very last shot. Good players will follow that plan all the way through, trusting the head coach completely and following his plan even when things seem impossible or don’t even make sense.
As Coach Wooden says, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” You can’t save yourself, but you can trust the One who can.
To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God. ~John 1:12
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2: 8-9
If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.‘ ~Romans 10: 9-11
TIMEOUT:
Do you completely trust God’s game plan? Have you decided to follow His plan, believing in what Jesus did on the cross for you?
Game Over: The Final Score
There it is. The game will end. A winner will be declared. The plain fact is we are going to lose in the game of life if we don’t trust God as our Head Coach and follow His game plan. It’s also true that victory is already won by our Substitute, Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~II Corinthians 15:57
Want assurance of final victory from the Greatest Head Coach? Here is a simple prayer of response to Him:
“God, I truly admit I have done wrong things and cannot win at life by myself. I surrender my game plan for life and want yours. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust in Him alone as my Savior and Lord. Come in to my life today and take control. I want you to be my Head Coach all the way. Thank you for all you have done for me. In the Name of the One who could not be beaten, Jesus. Amen!”
TIMEOUT:
If you are trusting God and His game plan, you are assured of heaven and ultimate victory. This is because of what God has already done for you through His Son Jesus.
Welcome to the Team!
