| Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. |
| —Hebrews 10:23 |
I’ve never played on a sports team, but I’ve watched enough basketball games on television to ponder what players do in a time-out huddle during those few minutes of “down” time. Sometimes, just the five players on the floor gather to share strategy. Other times, I see them reconnect on the sidelines with all the other members of the team whether or not they participate in the game.
Sometimes I see the coach scribbling directions for the next play on a hand-held white board. Sometimes he or she gets in the face of a player who seems to have disappointed the coach by the way the particular player is handling the game. Sometimes I watch as assistant coaches offer their “two cents” by chewing out a player or patting a player on the back.
Most often, at the end of the time-out, I see the players offer encouragement by putting their arms around each other and cheering each other on for the next round of difficult play. They connect on a deep level and remind each other that they are all in this together.
In my opinion, the local church should consider operating with a mindset similar to the mindset of sports team. As they meet for worship, members “huddle” every week. Some come to church needing exhortation or warning. Others need encouragement through the felt love of the Body of Christ. As a key part of Christ’s Body, they recognize that they all wear the garments of salvation and belong to the same family. Though each one may have different gifts, it is the same Spirit by which they live out their Christian faith.
The “coach” and other leaders must try to study the needs of the individuals within this local Body and provide for ways to exhort, encourage, and inspire a sense of belonging. In this way, all the “players” go away prepared to “play the game”—as Ambassadors for Christ and His Kingdom—with new vigor and with a clear understanding of their roles.
The harder the game, the more intense and important the huddle seems to be. As the days of our lives become more difficult, and as the time draws closer to Christ’s return, we should heed the words of the author of Hebrews, as recorded in Hebrews 10:23-25:
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
