Montana FCA Coaches Devotionals

Collegiate Game Day Devotional Week 8

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 11:56:03 GMT

T he Word at Work

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NIV)

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.”

The Middle of the Grind

Week 8 is where college football gets real. The season is more than halfway done, conference play is in full swing, and every game carries weight for rankings, bowl eligibility, or just pride. Meanwhile the transfer portal chatter never stops, recruiting calls pile up, and the media and the fan base have an opinion on everything you do. You are coaching games, managing rosters, recruiting the next class, and answering for all of it.

In the middle of that noise, Paul offers a different measure of success. He thanks God that the Thessalonians received his message “not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God.” And he says that word is “at work in you who believe.”

You Are Not the Source

Every coach wants to be the difference-maker. But Paul never claims the credit. He planted, and God’s word did the work.

That is freeing for a college coach. You can’t force a nineteen-year-old to grow up, to forgive, or to believe. You can’t engineer a changed heart with a motivational speech or a perfect scheme. What you can do is be faithful with the word: live it, speak it when the moment comes, and trust God to do what only He can do.

Your players are at a pivotal stage. Many of them are far from home, making their own decisions for the first time, and carrying pressure about playing time, NIL, school, and their futures. They are listening for something steadier than a locker-room speech. They need to see a coach whose life is anchored in something deeper than the scoreboard.

Faithful When It Costs Something

In verse 14, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they suffered for their faith, just as the churches in Judea did. Following Christ has always carried a cost.

In coaching, that cost can look like:

Refusing to cut corners in recruiting when others do.
Holding a star player accountable when it could hurt your season.
Treating a walk-on or a player in the portal with the same dignity as a captain.
Choosing honesty with the media, with your staff, and with players’ families when spin would be easier.
Protecting time with your own family in a profession that will take every hour you give it.

Standing firm may cost you something this season. Paul’s encouragement is that it is worth it.

A note on verses 15-16: These verses describe a specific historical conflict in Paul’s day. Paul was himself a Jew who loved his people, and he is not condemning an ethnic group. The takeaway for us is how seriously God treats the mission of getting His word to people, and how costly faithfulness can be.

Receive Before You Give

The Thessalonians received the word before it worked through them. In a season this demanding, it is easy to hand out truth to players and staff while your own time in Scripture gets squeezed out by film, recruiting, and travel.

Your players can tell the difference between a coach who recites and a coach who is being changed. Guard the quiet moments: a few minutes in the Word before the staff meeting, a prayer on the flight home, an honest conversation with another believer who knows what this life is like.

Reflection Questions

When was the last time you received God’s word for yourself, not for a team talk or a devotion you had to lead?
Where are you trying to be the source of change in a player’s life instead of trusting God to work?
What is one area where faithfulness is costing you something right now? How can you stay steady?
Which player or staff member needs to see your faith lived out in the pressure of this week?
What would change in your program if the word of God were “at work” in your coaching, not just your talking?

Challenge for the Week

Set aside ten minutes before your first meeting each day this week to read Scripture for yourself, with no agenda for your team. Then share one thing God showed you with a player or fellow coach before Saturday.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your word, which is alive and at work. Forgive me for the times I have tried to be the source of change instead of trusting you. Give me courage to stay faithful when it costs me, in recruiting, in competition, and at home. Help me receive your word before I give it, and let my coaching point these young men to Jesus. Amen.

Game Day Devotional Week 9

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:56:59 GMT

Finish with Fruit

The Weight of Week 9

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NIV)

By Week 9, the newness is long gone. The August energy has been replaced by bruises, film sessions, and a stack of Sunday-night to-do lists. Your starters are banged up, your Friday nights are spoken for, and your family has gotten used to sharing you with a team. Whether you’re fighting for a playoff seed or finishing a season that didn’t go the way you hoped, you’re probably running on fumes.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in the same spot: faithful, weary, and under pressure. He doesn’t deny the struggle. He names it. Then he gives them a reason for thanksgiving: the word of God they received is “at work” in them. The power was never in Paul’s voice or in their strength. It was in the word itself, and it keeps working when we’re too tired to.

Faithfulness Over Results

Coaches live in a profession that measures us in wins and losses, but God measures differently. He asks whether you are faithful in the work in front of you.

Paul and the Thessalonians faced real opposition for staying faithful, and verse 14 says they endured it just as the churches in Judea did. They weren’t measured by comfort or applause. They were measured by whether they held on to the word.

Think about what “doing good” looks like in Week 9:

Staying late to talk with the sophomore who is thinking about quitting.
Treating the third-string kid with the same dignity as your quarterback.
Keeping your composure with the officials when the call goes against you.
Preparing your seniors for a game that might be their last and for a life that is coming fast.

Most of what you plant this week won’t show up on Friday night. A player may come back to see you in ten years and tell you what you said in the locker room after a loss. That’s the word at work, on God’s timeline.

A note on verses 15-16: These verses describe a specific historical conflict in Paul’s day. Paul was himself a Jew who loved his people, and he is not condemning an ethnic group. The takeaway for us is how seriously God treats the mission of getting his word to people, and how costly faithfulness can be.

Your Seniors Are Watching How You Finish

Some of your players are playing their final regular-season games, and some may be playing their last games ever. They will forget the final score of a lot of these games. They will not forget how their coach carried himself at the end: whether he stayed steady, whether he thanked them, whether he still believed in them when it wasn’t easy.

How you finish teaches them how to finish: a job, a marriage, a hard season of life. You are modeling perseverance whether you mean to or not. And like the Thessalonians, who received the word “not as a human word” but as God’s, your players will remember most what points beyond you to Him.

Don’t Forget Your Own Soul

Weary coaches often pour out everything for their teams and keep nothing for themselves. The Thessalonians received the word before it ever worked through them. Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places to pray, even when crowds were waiting. If you’re running on empty, rest isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. A few minutes in Scripture, a walk without your phone, an honest conversation with your wife or a fellow coach: these keep you able to keep giving.

Reflection Questions

Where are you feeling the most weary right now: physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
When was the last time you received God’s word for yourself, not for a team talk?
Who is one player or assistant coach who needs encouragement from you this week?
If this were your last week with these seniors, what would you want them to hear from you?
What “good” are you tempted to stop doing because you can’t see the results yet?

Challenge for the Week

Write a short, handwritten note to one senior (or one player who doesn’t get much recognition) telling him specifically what you’ve seen in him this season. Give it to him before Friday.

Prayer

Lord, you see how tired I am. Thank you for trusting me with these young men. Thank you that your word is alive and at work, even when I’m worn down. Give me strength to keep doing good when I can’t see the fruit of it. Help me love my players well, win or lose, and finish this stretch with integrity, joy, and faith in you. Renew me where I’m worn down, and let the way I coach point my players to you. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NIV)

“ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.”

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 7

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:16:38 GMT

Grounded in the Grind

The Middle of the Season

By week 7, the excitement of fall camp is gone and the end of the season is still out of sight. Your players are banged up. You’re running on short sleep, game-planning at midnight, and recruiting calls keep stacking up. Your record may be better or worse than you hoped, but either way the grind is real.

Paul wrote Colossians from a prison cell. He wasn’t pacing a sideline. He was chained, and he still opened his letter with thanksgiving.

Faith, Love, and Hope (vv. 3-5)

Paul thanks God for three things he’s heard about the Colossians: their faith in Christ, their love for all God’s people, and the hope stored up for them in heaven. He doesn’t mention their résumé, their numbers, or their influence.

It’s worth asking what people would say about your program if they could only name three things. Wins and losses might make the list, but would faith, love, and hope? Paul measures a healthy church by who they trust, how they treat people, and what they’re anchored to. A healthy program can be measured the same way.

Your hope also determines how you handle Saturday. If your hope lives in the scoreboard, you’ll be inflated after a win and crushed after a loss. If it’s “stored up in heaven,” as Paul puts it, you can coach with intensity and still be steady, because the outcome of a game isn’t holding up your identity.

Fruit That Keeps Growing (vv. 6-7)

Paul says the gospel is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, and that it did the same in Colossae from the day they truly understood God’s grace. Then he credits Epaphras, a faithful servant who taught them and was there for them.

Epaphras isn’t famous. He’s the position coach, the strength staff member, the guy who does the daily work that never makes the highlight reel. Growth in a young man’s life rarely comes from one big speech. It comes from faithful people showing up in week 7 the same way they did in week 1.

You may be Epaphras to a player this season. The 19-year-old in your meeting room may not remember your game plan in ten years, but he will remember whether you were faithful with him.

Praying for More Than Wins (vv. 9-11)

Paul says he hasn’t stopped praying for them, and look at what he asks for. He doesn’t ask for success, comfort, or an easier schedule. He asks that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, that they live in a way that honors the Lord and pleases him, that they bear fruit in every good work, and that they be strengthened with God’s glorious power so they can endure and be patient, with joy.

Notice that endurance and patience come from being strengthened by God’s power. Paul doesn’t tell them to dig deeper or try harder. In a profession built on self-reliance, that’s a different source of strength. You can’t generate enough energy by yourself to carry a staff and a roster through November. God offers the power, and the joy that goes with it, and week 7 is a good time to ask for it.

Rescued and Brought In (vv. 12-13)

Paul closes this section by reminding them they’ve been qualified to share in an inheritance, rescued from the dominion of darkness, and brought into the kingdom of God’s Son. You didn’t earn your place in that family, and a losing streak can’t revoke it. That frees you to coach hard without carrying the fear that everything depends on you.

Reflection Questions

If someone described your program using only faith, love, and hope, what would they say? Where do you want to grow?
Who is your Epaphras, the person faithfully investing in you? Who are you faithfully investing in right now?
Paul prays for endurance and patience with joy. Where have you lost joy in the grind, and what would it look like to ask God to restore it?
Where are you looking to the scoreboard for what only God can give?

Prayer

Lord, thank you for this week and this season. We confess how often we measure ourselves by wins and losses. Fill us with the knowledge of your will, and give us your strength for the days when we’re tired. Help us to be faithful to our players, our staff, and our families, like Epaphras was faithful to the Colossians. Remind us that we’ve been rescued and brought into your Son’s kingdom, and let that shape how we coach this Saturday. Amen.

I can adjust the tone or length, or add a short “coach’s challenge” for the week if that would be useful.

Game Day Devotional Week 8

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:26:57 GMT

Finish with Fruit

Colossians 1:3-12

Prayer of Thanksgiving

³ We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all God's people. ⁵ When the true message, the Good News, first came to you, you heard about the hope it offers. So your faith and love are based on what you hope for, which is kept safe for you in heaven. ⁶ The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is. ⁷ You learned of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our ^[ ^a ^] behalf. ⁸ He has told us of the love that the Spirit has given you.

⁹ For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. ¹⁰ Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God. ^11-12 May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to ^[ ^b ^] the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light.

Dear ,

The final three weeks are different. The season is no longer ahead of you. The playoff picture is clear or it isn’t, bodies are worn down, and every game carries weight. This is where the grind turns into either a finish or a fade.

Paul wrote to a church that was still in the fight, and he started with thanks and prayer, not pressure.

1. Look back at the fruit.
The gospel “has been bearing fruit and growing” (v. 6). By now you’ve seen months of it: a player who changed, a team that learned to trust each other, a staff that stayed together. Name it. You can’t finish well if you only see what’s left to win.

2. Pray with urgency.
“We have not stopped praying for you” (v. 9). The last three weeks are when your players need it most: seniors facing their final games, underclassmen carrying the program next year. Ask God to fill them with wisdom and understanding, not just a good result.

3. Ask for strength you don’t have.
Paul prays for “great endurance and patience, with joy” (v. 11). Endurance is what finishing requires. Paul asks for it to come from God’s glorious might, not your own willpower. When the tank is low in November, you need a different source.

4. Give thanks before it ends.
Paul keeps thanking God throughout the passage (vv. 3, 12). Don’t wait for the final whistle to be grateful. Thank your staff, your players, and their families while there are still Fridays left.

Finish Strong

Week 1: Write down what God has grown in your team this season, and tell your staff.
Week 2: Pray Colossians 1:9-11 over each senior by name.
Week 3: Tell every senior what you saw in them, whatever the scoreboard says.

Prayer

Father, thank You for this season and every person in it. Give us endurance and patience, with joy, for these final weeks. Fill us with Your strength where we’re empty, and help us finish with gratitude and fruit that outlasts the scoreboard. Amen.

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 6

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:19:06 GMT

Serving One Another

Football Coach Devotional: Serving One Another

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (NIV)

The Setup

Every coach knows the feeling. The playbook is installed, the talent is there, and the schedule looks promising. Then the locker room starts to crack. A receiver grumbles about touches. A lineman rolls his eyes at the quarterback. Assistants quietly lobby for their own side of the ball.

Paul was writing to a church in that exact situation. The Galatians had been set free in Christ, and now they were using that freedom to turn on each other. His warning is blunt: bite and devour each other, and you will be destroyed by each other.

Football teams rarely lose only to the opponent across the line. They lose to what happens inside the building.

Freedom Is Not the Same as Self-Interest

Paul says we were called to be free. For a coach, that is good news. You do not have to earn God’s approval with a winning record. Your identity is not your scoreboard, your contract, or your Friday night result.

But Paul immediately points out the trap: freedom can become an excuse to serve ourselves. In coaching, that can sound like:

“I’ve earned the right to do it my way.”
“My program, my rules, no one questions me.”
“I deserve credit for this.”

Paul offers a different picture: serve one another humbly in love. The word he uses for serve carries the idea of a slave’s work. It is the towel-and-basin posture Jesus modeled when He washed His disciples’ feet.

The Coach as Servant-Leader

The strongest teams are not built on fear or ego. They are built on a culture where players and staff know someone is for them.

Serving humbly looks like:

Staying after practice with the freshman who is struggling to learn the offense, not just the starter.
Giving credit away to your assistants, your trainers, and the equipment manager who washed the jerseys.
Listening first when a player is frustrated, before you correct.
Apologizing when you lose your temper at a player or an official.
Caring about the 4th-string kid as much as the All-Conference one.

Paul says the whole law is fulfilled in one command: love your neighbor as yourself. In a football program, your neighbor is the player who never sees the field on Friday night.

Watch Out for the Bite

Paul’s warning is vivid. Biting and devouring is what happens when competition turns into contempt. On a football team it can look like:

Players tearing down teammates on social media
Cliques between offense and defense, or upperclassmen and underclassmen
Staff members undermining each other behind closed doors
Coaches who belittle players to “toughen them up”

Competition itself is not the problem. Fellowship of Christian Athletes has always held that we compete with excellence and integrity, to the glory of God. The problem begins when we stop seeing teammates as brothers and start seeing them as rivals.

Reflection Questions

Where might I be using my authority or freedom to serve myself rather than my players?
Who on my team or staff feels overlooked right now? What would it look like to serve them this week?
Is there a “biting” culture in my locker room? What have I tolerated or modeled that feeds it?
Do my players know I love them before they know my expectations?

Game Plan for This Week

Serve someone unseen. Find one player or staff member who rarely gets attention and invest time in them.
Name the culture. Share Galatians 5:13-15 with your team or staff and talk about what it means to serve one another.
Make it right. If there is a relationship in your program that has been damaged, take the first step toward restoring it.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Forgive us for the times we use it to serve ourselves, our egos, or our records. Teach us to lead like Jesus, with humility and love. Help us build programs where every player and coach knows they are valued, and where we compete hard without tearing each other down. Let our teams reflect Your love on and off the field. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Coach’s Challenge: Win with love. Lead by serving.

Game Day Devotional Week 7

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:27:50 GMT

Serving One Another

Football Coach Devotional: Serving One Another

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

The Setup

Football teams rarely lose only to the opponent across the line. They lose to what happens inside the building.

Freedom Is Not the Same as Self-Interest

But Paul immediately points out the trap: freedom can become an excuse to serve ourselves. In coaching, that can sound like:

“I’ve earned the right to do it my way.”
“My program, my rules, no one questions me.”
“I deserve credit for this.”

The Coach as Servant-Leader

The strongest teams are not built on fear or ego. They are built on a culture where players and staff know someone is for them.

Serving humbly looks like:

Staying after practice with the freshman who is struggling to learn the offense, not just the starter.
Giving credit away to your assistants, your trainers, and the equipment manager who washed the jerseys.
Listening first when a player is frustrated, before you correct.
Apologizing when you lose your temper at a player or an official.
Caring about the 4th-string kid as much as the All-Conference one.

Paul says the whole law is fulfilled in one command: love your neighbor as yourself. In a football program, your neighbor is the player who never sees the field on Friday night.

Watch Out for the Bite

Paul’s warning is vivid. Biting and devouring is what happens when competition turns into contempt. On a football team it can look like:

Players tearing down teammates on social media
Cliques between offense and defense, or upperclassmen and underclassmen
Staff members undermining each other behind closed doors
Coaches who belittle players to “toughen them up”

Reflection Questions

Where might I be using my authority or freedom to serve myself rather than my players?
Who on my team or staff feels overlooked right now? What would it look like to serve them this week?
Is there a “biting” culture in my locker room? What have I tolerated or modeled that feeds it?
Do my players know I love them before they know my expectations?

Game Plan for This Week

Serve someone unseen. Find one player or staff member who rarely gets attention and invest time in them.
Name the culture. Share Galatians 5:13-15 with your team or staff and talk about what it means to serve one another.
Make it right. If there is a relationship in your program that has been damaged, take the first step toward restoring it.

Prayer

Coach’s Challenge: Win with love. Lead by serving.

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 5

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:54:57 GMT

A Worth Walk

Walking Worthy on the Long Road

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-4 (WEB)
"I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling."

The Miles Between Us

Every Montana coach knows the road. It might be four hours to an away game, a bus rolling past empty fields while the sun drops behind the mountains, or a frozen November practice where the wind off the plains makes the whistle feel like a joke. Distance and weather are part of what we do here.

Paul wrote this passage from a prison cell, with no fall Friday nights and no sidelines. Yet he begins with the word calling, and he asks us to walk in a way that fits it.

Your Calling Is Bigger Than Your Record

It's easy to measure a season by the scoreboard, the playoff seed, or the whispers in the stands. But you were called to something bigger than a win column. You were called to shape fifteen-, sixteen-, and seventeen-year-olds, some of whom have no one else telling them they matter. Many of your players will forget the scores. They won't forget how you treated them on the worst night of their season.

Paul says to walk "worthily" of that. He doesn't say perfectly, only in a way that fits.

The Four Marks of the Walk

Paul names the character that fits the calling:

Humility. The best coaches stay teachable. You can admit when the game plan failed, thank the assistant who saw it coming, and apologize to a player when you were wrong.

Patience. The sophomore who still can't hold his assignment, the lineman who is a step slow, the quarterback who forgets the call under pressure: these are the places patience gets tested, and where it counts most.

Bearing with one another in love. Coaching staffs in small towns can be tiny. You may share a sideline with a volunteer, a teacher, a dad, or a rival-turned-friend. Love here means putting up with the quirks, the disagreements over play-calling, and the long hours together.

Eagerness for unity. Notice the word eager. Unity doesn't happen by accident. It takes the same effort you put into film study. The Spirit has already given the unity, and your job is to keep it, guarding the peace of your locker room, your staff, and your community.

One Body on a Football Field

In small-town USA, a football program is rarely just a team. It's the school, the diner, the church pews, and the whole town in the stands. Paul says there is one body. You belong to something larger than your roster, shared with your players, your coaches, the families who drive hours to cheer, and the God who called you into this work.

On the hardest days, when the season is slipping or a parent is angry or you're running on empty, remember you don't carry this alone. You are one part of a body held together by the Spirit.

Reflect

Which of the four marks (humility, patience, love, eagerness for unity) is hardest for you in-season?
Is there a coach, parent, or player you need to extend patience or make peace with this week?
If your players described how you walk, would it match the calling you've been given?

Pray

Lord, thank You for calling me to coach. Help me walk in a way that fits that calling, with humility when I'm wrong, patience when I'm tested, and love toward those I work beside. Make me eager to protect the unity You've given our team and our community. When the miles are long and the weather is cold, remind me I'm part of something bigger than a season. Amen.

Game Day Week 6

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:58:59 GMT

A Worthy Walk

Walking Worthy on the Long Road

The Miles Between Us

Paul wrote this passage from a prison cell, with no fall Friday nights and no sidelines. Yet he begins with the word calling, and he asks us to walk in a way that fits it.

Your Calling Is Bigger Than Your Record

Paul says to walk "worthily" of that. He doesn't say perfectly, only in a way that fits.

The Four Marks of the Walk

Paul names the character that fits the calling:

Humility. The best coaches stay teachable. You can admit when the game plan failed, thank the assistant who saw it coming, and apologize to a player when you were wrong.

One Body on a Montana Field

In small-town Montana, a football program is rarely just a team. It's the school, the diner, the church pews, and the whole town in the stands. Paul says there is one body. You belong to something larger than your roster, shared with your players, your coaches, the families who drive hours to cheer, and the God who called you into this work.

On the hardest days, when the season is slipping or a parent is angry or you're running on empty, remember you don't carry this alone. You are one part of a body held together by the Spirit.

Reflect

Which of the four marks (humility, patience, love, eagerness for unity) is hardest for you in-season?
Is there a coach, parent, or player you need to extend patience or make peace with this week?
If your players described how you walk, would it match the calling you've been given?

Pray

Collegiate Game Day Week 4

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:24:34 GMT

Collegiate Game Day Devotional

Salt, Light, and College Game Day
A Devotional for Football Coaches — Matthew 5:13-16

Game Day hits a quarter mark for the season, in the northern regions of our wonderful country you can feel it. You know it. The sun drops behind the mountains a little earlier each week, your breath starts showing up under the stadium lights, and that first real bite of fall air hits your lungs as you walk out of the locker room tunnel. Somewhere behind you, pads are popping in warmups. Somewhere in the stands, a crowd wrapped in blankets and stocking caps is hollering for kids they love. It's a good kind of cold — the kind that wakes you up and reminds you that something worth showing up for is about to happen.

Jesus said this to his followers:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16, NIV)

Coach, this is your assignment too.

You are salt.
Salt preserves. It keeps things from rotting. On a team, that's you — the standard-bearer who won't let sloppy effort, dishonesty, or excuses become normal, even when it would be easier to look away. Salt also brings out flavor; it makes what's already good even better. Your encouragement, your correction, your presence on the sideline — it draws the best out of eighteen-year-old kids who don't yet know what they're capable of. But salt only works if it stays salty. A coach who's gone lukewarm on integrity, who's stopped caring about the kid and only cares about the win, isn't preserving anything. He's just going through the motions under those lights.

You are light.
You can't hide what you are — not for long. Your players see you in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss just as clearly as they see you hoisting a trophy. They see you when a call goes against you, when a kid mouths off, when you're exhausted after a long week and still show up to breakdown film at 6 a.m. That's the lamp on the stand. Nobody's watching the version of you that you plan for; they're watching the one that shows up when it's cold and dark and nobody would notice if you cut a corner.

Think about that Friday night crowd again — parents, grandparents, a whole town wrapped in coats, gathered around a lit field in the middle of the dark. That's not a bad picture of what your life is meant to be for these kids: a source of warmth and light in a world that can feel cold, drawing people toward something good.

A few questions to carry onto the field this week:

Where have I gone "unsalty" lately — cutting corners, tolerating something I shouldn't, coasting instead of pouring in?
What are my players actually seeing when they watch me, not just when I'm coaching them up, but when I don't know they're watching?
Am I coaching in a way that points toward something bigger than the scoreboard — so that when people see the "good works," they give glory to God, not to me?

A prayer for the sideline:

Lord, thank You for this game, this team, and these cold Montana nights that make me feel alive. Make me salt that hasn't lost its flavor — a coach who preserves what's good and isn't afraid to stand for what's right. Make me light that isn't hidden — someone whose life points these young men toward You, win or lose. Let my example outlast this season. Amen.

Game Day Week 5

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:08:40 GMT

Game Day Week 5

Salt, Light, and Friday Nights
A Devotional for Football Coaches — Matthew 5:13-16

There's a particular kind of cold that settles into a Montana evening in September You know it. The sun drops behind the mountains a little earlier each week, your breath starts showing up under the stadium lights, and that first real bite of fall air hits your lungs as you walk out of the locker room tunnel. Somewhere behind you, pads are popping in warmups. Somewhere in the stands, a crowd wrapped in blankets and stocking caps is hollering for kids they love. It's a good kind of cold — the kind that wakes you up and reminds you that something worth showing up for is about to happen.

Jesus said this to his followers:

Coach, this is your assignment too.

You are salt.
Salt preserves. It keeps things from rotting. On a team, that's you — the standard-bearer who won't let sloppy effort, dishonesty, or excuses become normal, even when it would be easier to look away. Salt also brings out flavor; it makes what's already good even better. Your encouragement, your correction, your presence on the sideline — it draws the best out of 15 to 18-year-old kids who don't yet know what they're capable of. But salt only works if it stays salty. A coach who's gone lukewarm on integrity, who's stopped caring about the kid and only cares about the win, isn't preserving anything. He's just going through the motions under those lights.

A few questions to carry onto the field this week:

Where have I gone "unsalty" lately — cutting corners, tolerating something I shouldn't, coasting instead of pouring in?
What are my players actually seeing when they watch me, not just when I'm coaching them up, but when I don't know they're watching?
Am I coaching in a way that points toward something bigger than the scoreboard — so that when people see the "good works," they give glory to God, not to me?

A prayer for the sideline:

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Salt & Light — Friday Night

That crisp Montana fall air hitting your lungs under the lights? Good reminder of what we're called to be. Jesus said: "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt 5:13-16).

Salt that's lost its flavor is worthless. Light hidden under a bowl helps no one. Our guys aren't just watching us coach — they're watching who we are when it's cold, when we're tired, when no one's clapping. That's the real testimony.

Lord, make us salt that still tastes like something, and light that isn't hidden. Let our example outlast the season. Amen.

Game Day Week 4

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:33:12 GMT

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

A Team Devotional — John 13:31-35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." — John 13:34-35

Where We Are

We're a quarter of the way through the season. The excitement of Week 1 has worn off. Guys know their roles now — and know each other's frustrations. This is exactly when love gets tested: not when hope is undefeated, but after a tough loss, a benching, a season that isn't going like we drew it up.

The Setting

Jesus gives this command at the Last Supper — after washing His disciples' feet, right after Judas walks out to betray Him, right before Peter denies Him three times. He commands love in the mess, not after everyone's earned it.

Three Things This Means for Us

1. We don't quit on each other over a bad record. Jesus loved the ten who stayed — and still loved Judas. We don't sub out love for a teammate because he had a bad game.

2. Love, not the scoreboard, is our real mark. People won't remember every score. They'll remember how this team treated each other when it got hard.

3. Love serves before it's talented. Jesus got on His knees. Love here looks like the starter picking up the backup, the senior mentoring the freshman, showing up for a bad day like you'd show up for a big win.

The Challenge

We can't control every bounce the rest of this season. We can control how we treat each other. Quarter two starts now — not just of the season, but of how we love.

Reflection

Who have you drifted from since Week 1? What's one step to close that gap this week?
Who needs you to love them first — before they've earned it?
What would it mean for people outside this program to say, "I don't know their record, but I know how they treat each other"?

 Prayer

Lord, teach us to love each other the way You loved Your disciples — in the mess, unearned, even when the season isn't going how we hoped. Let this team be known for how we love, not just how we compete. Amen.

Game Day Week 3

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:04:35 GMT

Advance into the Storm

Advance Into the Storm

In a storm, cattle scatter. Bison advance.

Every coach faces storms — adversity, loss, conflict, failure, things beyond our control. In those moments we're forced to ask: Who am I? What do I believe? Why do I coach?

When the storm comes, your WHY is your anchor.

We're not just building football players. We're shaping character, discipline, courage, resilience, leadership. But we can't lead players through adversity if we're unsure of our own purpose.

A team's response to a storm mirrors the conviction of its leaders.

So know your WHY. Know your people. Know who you fight for.

Cattle run from the storm. Bison turn into it.

Don't scatter. Stand together. Trust your purpose. Lead with conviction.

Advance.

Scripture

Faith and Wisdom

My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing!

Overview of James 1:1-5

This passage offers insights into the nature of trials and faith.

Author — James identifies himself as a servant of God and Jesus Christ, writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.
Joy in Trials — Believers are encouraged to count it all joy when facing various trials, as these tests produce perseverance.
Wisdom from God — Those lacking wisdom are urged to ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.
Blessing of Perseverance — The passage states that blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, as they will receive the crown of life promised by God.
Faith and Doubt — It warns against doubting when asking for wisdom, as a doubter is like a wave of the sea, unstable and driven by the wind

"Tonight, encourage your players to play fearlessly—trusting the skill God has given them and the training you've provided. Coach with joy, and let your players compete with the same freedom, regardless of outcome. Despite the tragedies our country and communities face, we're grateful for the privilege of lacing up our cleats and playing this great game of football."

GAME DAY DEVO WEEK 2

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:22:36 GMT

Cultivating Culture

Week Two Game Day Devotional:

Game Day Thought

Practice is where culture gets planted. Game day is where it gets seen.

Everything you've built over the last two weeks — how your guys respond to adversity, how they treat each other, whether they play for themselves or for the man next to them — gets tested today in front of people who aren't in your building on Tuesday. You don't get to explain your culture today. You only get to watch it show up. Jesus said it plainly: a tree doesn't produce fruit under pressure that it wasn't already growing. If it's a good tree, good fruit comes out even when the officials miss a call, even when a drive stalls, even when the other sideline is chirping. If the roots aren't there, today will find that out too.

Scripture

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20

For the Coach — Right Before Kickoff

You've said your piece all week. Today isn't for more instruction — it's for trust. Trust the roots you've watered. Trust the fruit will show up, because it's already growing in them.

Watch for it in the moments that don't show up on the stat sheet: who picks a teammate up after a drop, who sprints to the ball on defense in the fourth quarter, who stays composed after a bad call. That's your culture talking. Let it play.

And watch yourself too — your response to adversity on the sideline is fruit your team is watching in real time.

For Your Team — A Pregame Word

Consider passing this along in the locker room or on the bus:

"Today isn't about proving something new. It's about showing what's already true about this team. Good fruit doesn't panic when the pressure's on — it just does what it's been growing to do. Play like the tree you've been building in practice. Let your fruit talk today."

A Question to Carry Into the Game

When adversity hits today — and it will — what fruit do you want your team, and you, to produce?

Pregame Prayer

Lord, we don't play today to become something — we play to reveal what You've already been growing in us. Steady our nerves, sharpen our focus, and let whatever fruit comes out of this team today be good: composed under pressure, unified in adversity, playing for each other. Protect every player on both sidelines from injury. Whatever the scoreboard says, let this team's fruit point to something bigger than the game. Amen.

Game Day Devo Week 1 Bear Fruit

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:20:51 GMT

Week One Devotional: Bear Fruit

Scripture

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." — John 15:8 (NIV)

Go Deeper

Before you ask your players to trust a process, ask yourself the same question: are you staying connected to the vine, or are you trying to produce fruit on your own strength?

A long season will test that. There will be officiating calls that make your blood boil, parents who question your play-calling, a locker room that doesn't click right away, a gut-punch loss you didn't see coming. None of that is new to coaching. What's new is Week One — a fresh chance to decide where your strength comes from before the season demands an answer.

Staying connected doesn't mean less intensity. It means your intensity is rooted in something that outlasts a scoreboard.

For Your Team

Consider opening this verse up with your players this week — not as a sermon, but as a framework for the season:

Fruit takes time. Nobody sees a harvest in Week One. The habits you build now — how you finish sprints, how you talk to teammates when you're gassed, how you respond to correction — are the roots. The fruit shows up later, maybe in November, maybe next year.
Fruit is evidence, not effort. A stressed-out branch doesn't force an apple into existence. Staying connected — showing up, doing the work, trusting the process, trusting each other — is what produces something real. Chasing the fruit itself (the stat line, the ranking, the scholarship) without staying rooted in the daily work is a fast way to burn out.
Fruit glorifies the vine, not the branch. The verse doesn't end at "bear much fruit" — it ends with "showing yourselves to be my disciples." Ask your guys: who gets the credit when this team does something special? A program that plays for something bigger than itself tends to play free.

A Question to Sit With

What's one root you need to strengthen this week — not a stat, not a scheme, but a daily habit or connection — so that the fruit later in the season is real and not forced?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for another season and another team to lead. Help me stay connected to You before I try to produce anything on my own strength. Give me patience for the process, humility in the wins, and steadiness in the losses. Let whatever fruit comes from this season — on the field and in these young men's lives — point back to You. Amen.

Reflecting and Applying Our Journey Through the Pyramid of Success

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:45:00 GMT

As we conclude our journey through John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, this week is dedicated to reflection and application. It's a time to consider how each principle we've explored can be lived out in alignment with our Christian faith, especially within the context of coaching. Let's take this opportunity to look back on what we've learned and set intentions for how we will carry these lessons forward.

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden's approach to success was not just about winning games but about building character and leading a life of purpose. As we reflect on his teachings, let's consider how each principle—from Industriousness to Faith and Sincerity—can guide us not only in our coaching but in our personal growth and spiritual journey.

God's Reflection:

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'" (Matthew 25:21, CSB)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, CSB)

These scriptures remind us of the rewards that come from faithful service and the strength we find in God's presence, encouraging us to lead with courage and conviction.

Application:

As we reflect on our journey through the Pyramid of Success, let's identify the principles that have challenged us the most and consider why. How can we address these challenges moving forward? Let's set concrete goals for integrating these values into our coaching, ensuring that our actions reflect our faith and the lessons we've learned.

Reflection Questions:

Which of Wooden's principles have I found most challenging to integrate into my coaching? Why?
How will I commit to applying these principles and my faith in my future coaching endeavors?

Closing:

As we close this chapter, let's carry forward the wisdom and insights we've gained, committed to applying John Wooden's principles and our Christian faith in all aspects of our coaching and lives. Here's to a future of continued growth, leadership, and success, both on and off the field.

Living with Faith and Sincerity

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:45:00 GMT

As we continue our journey, this week we focus on the virtues of Faith and Sincerity. These principles are not only at the heart of John Wooden's philosophy but also deeply entrenched in Christian values. They guide us to live and lead with authenticity, reflecting our true beliefs and convictions in every action.

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden believed in the power of sincerity in one's beliefs and actions, anchored by a deep-seated faith. He taught that our approach to life, as well as coaching, should be underpinned by these values, ensuring that our external actions reflect our internal convictions.

God's Reflection:

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, CSB)
"For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." (2 Corinthians 1:12, CSB)

These scriptures remind us of the importance of living out our faith with sincerity, trusting in God's plan even when the path is not visible, and conducting ourselves with integrity and authenticity.

Application:

Let’s consider how our faith informs our sincerity and authenticity in our roles. How can we ensure that our coaching practice is a true reflection of our beliefs and values? In what ways can we more fully integrate our faith into our interactions and decisions, to serve as a model of genuine leadership?

Reflection Questions:

How does my faith inform my sincerity and authenticity as a coach?
In what ways can I more fully integrate my faith into my coaching practice?

As we reflect on these questions, let's challenge ourselves to live and lead with unwavering faith and sincerity, demonstrating the profound impact of authentic leadership on those we guide and influence.

Closing:

May the virtues of Faith and Sincerity illuminate our path, inspiring us to lead with conviction and authenticity. Here's to a week of deep reflection and meaningful integration of these principles into our coaching and our lives.

Embracing Resourcefulness, Fight, and Patience

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:30:01 GMT

Week 10! We've explored various virtues that contribute to both personal growth and team success. This week, we’re spotlighting Resourcefulness, Fight, and Patience—qualities that not only propel us toward success but also resonate deeply with the Christian journey of navigating faith through trials.

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden taught the value of being resourceful in overcoming obstacles, the importance of fighting through adversity with determination, and the virtue of patience in achieving our goals. These qualities are essential in developing not just a winning team but individuals of strong character and resilience.

God's Reflection:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7, CSB)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4, CSB)

These passages encourage me to face challenges with courage and perseverance, reminding us that trials refine our character and strengthen our faith.

Application:

Let’s reflect on how we've demonstrated resourcefulness in navigating coaching challenges and how patience has guided us through difficult times. How can we continue to fight through adversity, drawing inspiration from biblical examples of perseverance and faith?

Reflection Questions:

How have I demonstrated resourcefulness and patience in my coaching challenges?
What biblical examples of perseverance can inspire me to maintain faith during trials?

As we contemplate these questions, let's strive to embody these virtues in our coaching, our leadership, and our lives, understanding that true success comes from overcoming challenges with grace, determination, and faith.

Closing:

May the qualities of Resourcefulness, Fight, and Patience guide us as we move forward, inspired by Wooden's wisdom and the profound examples of faith and perseverance found in Scripture. Here's to growing stronger together, in character and in spirit.

Upholding Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:15:00 GMT

This week, we dive into the foundational virtues of Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability. These principles are central to Wooden's philosophy and are deeply rooted in biblical teachings that guide us toward truthful and ethical behavior. As we reflect on these values, let's consider how they shape our character and influence our actions both on and off the field.

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden placed great emphasis on living a life marked by honesty, conducting oneself with unwavering integrity, and being a reliable figure for others to depend on. These virtues are not merely ideals but practical standards that guide our decisions, our interactions, and ultimately, our legacy.

God's Reflection:

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." (Proverbs 11:3, CSB)
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10, CSB)

These scriptures remind me of the profound impact our commitment to truth and ethical behavior has on our trustworthiness and the trust others place in us.

Application:

Take a moment to reflect on how we embody honesty, integrity, and reliability in our coaching and daily lives. Are we setting an example that inspires trust and respect? How can we further instill these values in our athletes and colleagues, ensuring that our team not only succeeds in competition but excels in character?

Reflection Questions:

How do I ensure that honesty, integrity, and reliability are at the core of my coaching?
In what ways can I model these virtues to athletes and colleagues?

Closing :

May we each strive to embody honesty, integrity, and reliability, guided by Wooden's teachings and the timeless wisdom of Scripture. Let these virtues be the hallmark of our team, distinguishing us as individuals of character and conviction.

Nurturing Ambition and Adaptability in Our Journey

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:01 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom:

Wooden encouraged us to pursue our goals with a healthy ambition, to strive for excellence in all we do, while also remaining adaptable to the challenges and changes life throws our way. This balance between ambition and adaptability is key to not only achieving success but doing so in a way that honors our values and faith.

God's Reflection:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10, CSB)
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12, CSB)

I am reminded of the importance of humility in our ambitions and the strength found in flexibility, trusting in God’s plan through all of life’s ups and downs.

Application:

Let’s reflect on how our ambitions can be aligned with our faith and values, ensuring that our drive for success enhances, rather than compromises, our integrity and purpose. In embracing adaptability, consider how being open to change and willing to adjust our strategies can demonstrate our trust in God’s guidance and plan for us.

Reflection Questions:

How do my ambitions align with my faith and values?
What does adaptability look like in my coaching, and how can it serve as a testament to my trust in God’s plan?

As we ponder these questions, let’s commit to being examples of ambition and adaptability, grounded in our faith and open to the guidance and opportunities God provides.

Competitive Greatness

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:30:01 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden described Competitive Greatness as the ability to be your best when your best is required. It's about the enjoyment of a difficult challenge and the drive to meet it head-on with determination and effort. This excellence isn't just about the outcome but about the journey and the growth we experience along the way.

God's Reflection:

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, CSB)
"An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:5, CSB)

These passages remind us that our endeavors, including our athletic pursuits, should be conducted with integrity and a heart focused on glorifying God, adhering to the principles and discipline required to excel.

Application:

Let us each strive for competitive greatness by embracing challenges with enthusiasm and dedication, always aiming to give our best in every situation. This pursuit is not just about achieving victory but about honoring our commitment to excellence and the values we hold dear. As coaches and mentors, it's our responsibility to instill this value in our athletes, encouraging them to see their efforts as a reflection of their character and a form of worship.

Reflection Questions:

How does striving for competitive greatness reflect my commitment to excellence as a form of worship?
In what ways can I instill this value in my athletes?

As we ponder these questions, let's commit to embodying the essence of competitive greatness, not only in our athletic endeavors but in all aspects of our lives, as a true reflection of our dedication to growth, excellence, and faith.

Team Spirit, Poise, and Confidence

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:00:01 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom:

Wooden taught us that the success of the team comes before the individual. He believed in the collective spirit that unites us, the steadiness that allows us to face challenges with grace, and the confidence that propels us to achieve greatness. These principles are not just strategies for winning games but are essential for building a life of integrity and purpose.

God's Reflection:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3, CSB)
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36, CSB)

These scriptures remind us of the unwavering support we have in God, empowering us to face any challenge with confidence and poise, anchored in our faith.

Application :

Let's strive to foster a stronger sense of team spirit by supporting one another, celebrating our collective achievements, and working together towards our common goals. In moments of pressure, let us remember to maintain our poise, drawing on our faith and the calm assurance it brings. And let's cultivate confidence not just in our own abilities but in the strength we have through unity and belief in one another.

Reflection Questions:

How can I foster a stronger sense of team spirit grounded in faith?
What strategies can I employ to maintain poise and confidence in challenging situations?

As we reflect on these questions, let us commit to embodying these virtues, inspired by Wooden's wisdom and the teachings of Scripture, to build not only a successful team but a resilient and unified community.

Enhancing Performance through Intentness, Condition, and Skill

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden championed the power of focus, the importance of being in top physical and mental condition, and the relentless pursuit of skill development. Intentness keeps us steadfast on our goals, Condition prepares us to face challenges with resilience, and Skill ensures we are equipped to perform at our best. Together, these qualities form the foundation of not just a successful athlete, but a well-rounded individual.

God's Reflection:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, CSB)
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, CSB)

These passages remind us of the commitment required to pursue our goals and the strength we find in faith to overcome obstacles.

Application:

Let us model intentness by setting clear, achievable goals for ourselves and our team, demonstrating the discipline required to pursue these objectives with unwavering focus. In terms of condition, prioritize both physical and mental well-being, ensuring we are prepared to meet the demands of our sport and life. And for skill, commit to continuous improvement, seeking every opportunity to learn and grow.

Reflection Questions:

How do I model intentness and condition to those I coach?
What steps am I taking to continuously improve my coaching skills?

As we ponder these questions, let's challenge ourselves to embody these virtues, setting a positive example for our athletes and all those we influence.

Friendship, Cooperation, and Loyalty

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom:

John Wooden placed immense value on mutual respect and camaraderie. He believed that true victory lies not just in the score at the end of the game but in the bonds we forge and the respect we earn. Friendship paves the way for genuine connections, Cooperation binds us towards our common goals, and Loyalty ensures we stand by each other, no matter the challenges.

God’s Reflection:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, CSB)
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:17, CSB)

These passages remind us of the strength found in unity and the importance of being there for one another, in good times and bad.

Application:

Let's embody these teachings in our daily practices and interactions. Show genuine care and support for your teammates. Be the friend who lifts others up, the team member who collaborates with enthusiasm, and the person who remains steadfast in loyalty. In doing so, we not only become better athletes but better individuals.

Reflection Questions:

How do I cultivate an environment of friendship and cooperation in my team?
In what ways do I demonstrate loyalty to my athletes and to God?

Together, we can build a team that not only aims for success in the game but also embodies the true essence of victory in life.

Let's Dive Into Industriousness and Enthusiasm!

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom

Wooden put Industriousness and Enthusiasm right at the start of his famous Pyramid. Why? Because he knew that to achieve anything great, you have to put in the work and love the grind. It's like he's speaking our language, right? This totally lines up with the Christian take on giving your all as if you're doing it for the Lord. It's not just about working hard; it's about loving the process and seeing the value in every step.

God's Foundation

Proverbs 13:4 (CSB): "The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied."
Romans 12:11 (CSB): "Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord."

These verses are like a one-two punch combo reminding us to keep pushing and keep our heart in it for what we do, all in service to glorify God. It's about making every day count and putting that heart and soul into our efforts.

Application

Now, how do we take this mix of Wooden's wisdom and our faith and make it play out in our daily grind? Whether it's coaching, teaching, or just being awesome human beings, it's about setting that example of going all-in and keeping the enthusiasm burning bright. It's what makes people sit up and take notice, and it's how we inspire those around us to aim higher.

Reflection Questions

How does my work ethic shine a light on my faith?
How can I crank up the enthusiasm to motivate and inspire everyone around me?

Why Wooden's Wisdom: To Talk About Faith

jdow@fca.org (Jenny Dow) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Wooden's Wisdom

If you are not familiar with John Wooden: He was an amazing coach who believed success isn't about the scoreboard but about knowing you've given your all to become the best you can be. He said, "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable." This idea in Wooden is formed by what we believe as Christians—using what God gave us to the fullest, and living in a way that makes Him proud.

God's Foundation

Colossians 3:23-24 (CSB): "Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
2 Timothy 1:7 (CSB): "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment."

These verses remind us that our hard work, dedication, and the way we lead our teams should all be for God's glory. It's about serving Him through our talents and passions, not just chasing after personal accolades.

Application

Let's think about how we can bring this mindset into our classrooms and teams. FCA aims to show us how sports and faith can mix to create something truly special. We're part of that blend—teaching and coaching with purpose, and inspiring our students and athletes to do the same.

Reflection Questions

How can Wooden's take on success motivate us to shine God's light through our talents?
How does our teaching and coaching reflect our faith in action?

Montana FCA Coaches Devotionals

Collegiate Game Day Devotional Week 8

The Middle of the Grind

You Are Not the Source

Faithful When It Costs Something

Receive Before You Give

Reflection Questions

Challenge for the Week

Prayer

Game Day Devotional Week 9

Finish with Fruit

The Weight of Week 9

Faithfulness Over Results

Your Seniors Are Watching How You Finish

Don’t Forget Your Own Soul

Reflection Questions

Challenge for the Week

Prayer

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 7

Grounded in the Grind

Game Day Devotional Week 8

Finish with Fruit

Father, thank You for this season and every person in it. Give us endurance and patience, with joy, for these final weeks. Fill us with Your strength where we’re empty, and help us finish with gratitude and fruit that outlasts the scoreboard. Amen.

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 6

Serving One Another

Football Coach Devotional: Serving One Another

The Setup

Freedom Is Not the Same as Self-Interest

The Coach as Servant-Leader

Watch Out for the Bite

Reflection Questions

Game Plan for This Week

Prayer

Game Day Devotional Week 7

Serving One Another

Football Coach Devotional: Serving One Another

The Setup

Freedom Is Not the Same as Self-Interest

The Coach as Servant-Leader

Watch Out for the Bite

Reflection Questions

Game Plan for This Week

Prayer

Collegiate Game Day Devo Week 5

A Worth Walk

Walking Worthy on the Long Road

The Miles Between Us

Your Calling Is Bigger Than Your Record

The Four Marks of the Walk

One Body on a Football Field

Reflect

Pray

Game Day Week 6

A Worthy Walk

Walking Worthy on the Long Road

The Miles Between Us

Your Calling Is Bigger Than Your Record

The Four Marks of the Walk

One Body on a Montana Field

Reflect

Pray

Collegiate Game Day Week 4

Collegiate Game Day Devotional

Game Day Week 5

Game Day Week 5

Game Day Week 4

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Game Day Week 3

Advance into the Storm

Overview of James 1:1-5

GAME DAY DEVO WEEK 2

Cultivating Culture

Week Two Game Day Devotional:

Game Day Thought

Scripture

True and False Prophets

For the Coach — Right Before Kickoff

For Your Team — A Pregame Word

A Question to Carry Into the Game

﻿ Pregame Prayer

Pregame Prayer