Two Sunday's ago in Sunday School, we began discussing the Book of James. As our teacher deconstructed the first chapter, I couldn't help but draw parallels to my team. I came up with two questions that I want to explore with you.
Why is it essential to have a clear understanding of your faith?
Why is it important to have a clear understanding of your faith?
How will building your volleyball program on a strong foundation of Christian principles provide long-term success for your athletes?
A clear understanding of your faith provides a solid foundation for your beliefs and actions. This understanding guides your decision-making and enables you to live a life consistent with your values and principles.
When you build your volleyball program on a foundation of Christian principles, you inadvertently provide athletes with a framework for personal growth, leadership, and character development. These principles give athletes a sense of purpose beyond the game, which will contribute to their success on and off the court.
James 1:6 states, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." This emphasizes the importance of having faith and asking for guidance without doubt and also teaches obedience, surrender, and trust. When athletes develop and embrace these qualities, they become better teammates who trust and rely on one another, communicate effectively, and work together toward a shared purpose.
The second verse that stood out was James 1: 23-24. It states, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and forgets what he was like."
This passage implies the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness in character development. Just as a person who looks in a mirror and forgets what they saw is not truly aware of themselves, an athlete or coach who listens to feedback but doesn’t put it into practice is not committed to growth or character development. The ability to reflect on one's performance and apply feedback is central to on-court success and personal growth.
What’s your take on these ideas? Do you have examples of how you approach faith-based program development? How do you impart Christian truth to your athletes?
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