The Colorado Buffaloes led by Head Coach, Deion Sanders ("Coach Prime"), are the biggest story in college football after a 2-0 start! Sanders took over a team that was 1-11 last season but is quickly turning things around while also turning heads with wins already against TCU and Nebraska. Deion Sanders has always been a captivating personality and it’s fascinating to see his impact as a head coach. I've enjoyed watching this team so far and I'm officially a fan. Deion's son, Shedeur, is lighting it up as the starting quarterback, and becoming a Heisman Trophy candidate with his stellar play early in the season. Shedeur is surrounded by many talented players, thanks to Colorado revamping its roster with 51 players joining Coach Prime from the transfer portal. Deion has proven already that top players want to play for him and his style of coaching is working as he draws the attention of future recruits and transfers. He recently told the media about the recruiting calls he’s been getting: "We're receiving so many calls at this point right now that it's absurd. Just inquiring about what we do and how we do what we do, visitation, and desiring to come on an unofficial or official visit." Coach Prime is building a culture at Colorado that's different than other programs and there's an energy, enthusiasm, and excitement that's contagious. Players are attracted to what Deion and Colorado have to offer. Colorado has created a buzz and fans and the media also want to be around their program to see how they’re winning like this. Of course, they also have critics, but people are very curious to watch this team play and see what they’re all about. This past Saturday at noon EST, Colorado vs. Nebraska had 8.73 million viewers on Fox, which turned out to be a larger audience than the highly anticipated matchup between Alabama and Texas later that night. TheAthletic.com wrote about “The Prime Effect,” explaining, “While the media picked Colorado to finish 11th in the Pac-12 preseason poll and outsiders scoffed at his unorthodox methods, some of those same skeptics are doing a 180 to hop on the Buffaloes bandwagon. Season tickets sold out for the first time in 27 years within four months of his arrival…Game tickets are at a premium; the cheapest available for the Buffaloes’ home opener against Nebraska on Saturday was $350. And on Nike’s website, all the Deion-related Colorado items are sold out.” As we marvel over Colorado capturing the college football world’s attention, attracting so many people, and creating intrigue about how they’re doing it, I want to use this as a challenge to us as followers of Jesus. Are our lives “turning heads” and “drawing the attention” of those who don’t believe in Him? Are people “inquiring about what we do and how we do what we do” because we are “different” than the rest of the world? Are we showing the “skeptics” what we’re all about (what He's about) and helping them do a “180 to hop on the bandwagon” of following Jesus? Are others attracted to our energy, enthusiasm, and excitement about life and the God we serve? Are we offering people Jesus by contagiously displaying love, peace, and joy to them? Do others want to be around us and see how we’re “winning” by trying to understand how we remain so hopeful and faith-filled, regardless of our circumstances? 1 Peter 3:15 (AMP) encourages us with this: “But in your hearts set Christ apart as Lord. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance that is within you, yet with gentleness and respect.” When we follow Jesus, people will take notice because we stand out. We don’t puff ourselves up or draw attention to ourselves, but rather the light of Christ shines through us and people become aware and intrigued. As they start watching us, it allows us to point them to God, who they are ultimately being drawn to. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16 (AMP), “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Today, let’s be different and captivating by the way we talk and act so we turn heads toward Jesus when answering the inquires about “what we do and how we do what we do.” As Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to bring You glory and make Jesus known to others. I pray that my life would reflect You well and that the love, joy, and peace I have because of You would point people to You. Please keep me humble as I get out of the way and allow You to shine through me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. Can you think of a follower of Jesus who has had a great impact on you by the way he or she has lived? What was different about him or her? 2. What kinds of conversations have you had recently with nonbelievers who are inquiring about how and why you live your life differently?
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