Another season of college basketball is underway, and as we look across the country, many notable coaches are now at different schools:
John Calipari moved on from Kentucky to Arkansas.
Dusty May made the jump from Florida Atlantic to Michigan.
Mark Pope took over Kentucky following two NCAA tournament appearances at BYU.
Eric Musselman left Arkansas for USC.
Andy Enfield went from USC to SMU.
When coaches switch teams and step into new situations, they set out to establish their culture. Each coach desires to build a winning culture with their core values, basketball philosophies, and the pillars they emphasize.
Coaches are hired based on the school's alignment with what he's known for, what he's all about, his style of play, and the identity of his previous teams.
Some coaches build a culture for star players preparing to leave early for the NBA. Other coaches build a culture around defense and teamwork or emphasize speed and scoring. Many coaches want to recruit players who value staying in college and desire to win an NCAA Championship.
Once coaches establish their rosters, they must teach their players what they consider most important, what they want to focus on in practice, and what the team must represent to experience winning. Sometimes, these are key traits such as selflessness, trustworthiness, excellence, or commitment.
Ultimately, the players must buy into the culture the coach is trying to create and believe that the way he wants the team to play and be off the court is best.
Often, it can be tricky when a new coach comes in with players who are used to playing for the last coach and must learn to adapt to the different values and areas of concentration the new coach emphasizes.
These coaches know what it takes to win, but the players must be willing to listen and embrace the culture and character that the coach is attempting to establish in and through his players.
It will be fun to see how these teams do this season and how far they make it in March! Will anyone knock off UConn and the amazing winning culture Dan Hurley has established?
When it comes to our lives, we have opportunities to "create a culture" on any teams we lead in our homes, churches, and neighborhoods.
How are we setting the tone? What values are we living by? What do we find most important and emphasize? What are we known for? What is our identity? How do we get others to buy into a "winning culture"?
As followers of Jesus, we look to Him as our example. We want our lives to look more and more like His, so we must consider what He is all about, the "culture" He desires to establish and understand what's most important in the kingdom of God.
Jesus valued love, sacrifice, humility, and serving, among other things. Usually, that goes against the "previous coach" or our former way of thinking and the influences of a losing culture.
Just like a new head coach comes in and tells his team what winners do and what it takes to experience winning, Jesus tells His disciples what it means to be blessed and what His new "culture" looks like.
Winning (being blessed) as followers of Jesus means being spiritually prosperous, peaceful, joyful, and content living the way He encourages us to. We must embrace different characteristics, mindsets, and attitudes to be truly blessed.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares what is known as "The Beatitudes" in Matthew 5:3-11 (ESV):
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (verse 3).
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (verse 4).
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (verse 5).
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (verse 6).
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (verse 7).
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (verse 8).
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (verse 9).
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (verse 10).
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account" (verse 11).
Through Jesus' teaching of the Beatitudes, we are led to a "winning culture." Today, let's value what Jesus does and align our understanding of what it means to be "blessed" with what He says.
Let's buy into the culture and character He is trying to create in us and through us and believe that the way He wants "the team to play and be off the court" is best.
I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to live a perfect life and provide the example of how to live the best way. Please help me embrace what it truly means to live a blessed life and understand the values I must emphasize most. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.