June 30, 2008 - Buying Into The Coach's Philosophy

As coaching changes have recently taken place in the NBA I have listened to commentators say the same thing about whether each coach will be successful or not. It is the same theory if talking about a brand new, untested coach like Vinnie Del Negro with the Bulls, or veteran coach Larry Brown of the Bobcats. With each one the “experts” say that he must get his players in the locker room to buy into his philosophy.

With Del Negro they cite the fact that he has “been there and done that” as an NBA player so the player might give him the respect he needs. With Brown the fact is that he has coached for numerous NBA, ABA, and college teams. He is the only man to win both an NCAA and NBA championship. Therefore the players should respect him.

I agree that the players must buy into the philosophy. (Of course that is if the coach has a good philosophy.) But I think many would think that it only matters that the players run the plays given to them.

The problem is that players can go through the motions yet still not be at their best. It is when they actually start agreeing with (believing in) the coach’s game plan that they will gel as a team and reach their maximum potential.

In our Christian lives I believe that many Believers are not victorious because they just run through the motions. They have heard God’s game plan and try to execute it; yet are frustrated and do not reach maximum potential. They get down the “thou shalts” and “thou shalt not’s” but are not completely buying into the plan.

You may be one of them that is struggling and saying to yourself, “I agree with God’s plan and yet I still struggle.” Please note that “agreeing that it is” God’s plan and fully “agreeing with” God’s plan are two different things. It comes down to “buying into” His coaching philosophy.

And let me tell you He’s “been there and done that” and He has the experience to be trusted as the Coach. Yet this will only happen if you allow His Playbook to transform you. In the Christian life it is so easy to listen to pastors on Sundays, read a Christian book, and maybe even listen to a message on the radio or a podcast. All good things but don’t let them be a substitute for God’s plan of transformation.

This comes from personal time in the Word where you: “study to show yourself approved”; “hide the Word in your heart”; “be renewed in the attitude of your mind.”

The literal definition of the word repentance is to “change one’s mind.” That simply means to not just go through the motions but to buy into (agree with) God’s philosophy.
[Side note: that is a good way to explain what it means to “walk by faith.” Faith means to believe in. The question then becomes “believe in what?” The answer is: God’s way or philosophy – found in His Playbook. A man of faith is one that has repented (changed his mind) to agree (or buy into) God’s plan.]

Read Psalm 119. Yeah it will take a few minutes but it a great reminder of the importance of God’s Word!