Football AND Basketball

As sports fans, we are used to hearing about Alabama and Auburn football much more than either school's basketball program. However, Alabama and Auburn are proving that they aren't just football schools, but football AND basketball schools. They've moved away from being so one-sided as they once were.

In recent years, Alabama and Auburn have found success in college basketball as Alabama's head coach, Nate Oates, and Auburn's head coach, Bruce Pearl, have built strong programs.

On Saturday, in the first AP No. 1. vs. No.2 matchup in SEC history, the number 1 ranked team in the country, Auburn, took down the number 2 ranked team, Alabama, 94-85.

It’s a great rivalry in football and basketball. Both teams are expected to make some noise during March Madness and may even see each other in the Final Four.

Also, this weekend, the NBA took its yearly pause for the All-Star festivities. This break allows everyone to evaluate the season and the state of the sport. Beyond the criticisms of the All-Star game, one of the more prominent concerns and narratives about basketball is the overemphasis on the 3-point shot and its negative effect.

Due to analytics and the shooting abilities of today's NBA stars, teams across the league continue to take more and more threes. As a result, teams are overlooking the mid-range game and instead focusing on threes. However, many basketball fans desire a more balanced approach, with players shooting threes AND 15-footers.

In college athletics, it can be challenging for schools to emphasize football AND basketball at a high level. Likewise, in the NBA, it has proven difficult to emphasize shooting from all areas of the court, not just the 3-point line.

However, in both situations, it is very beneficial for them to embrace the "AND" approach instead of the "OR" approach.

As we parallel this to our lives and journey with Jesus, I want to encourage us to embrace the "AND" approach regarding the truth of God's Word and the full Gospel. Specifically, it can be challenging to emphasize the importance of grace AND works as followers of Jesus, but we must focus on both. We have to be careful not to get lopsided toward one or the other.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

In Galatians 2:21 (NLT), Paul says, "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."

In Romans 6:1-2 (NLT), Paul also writes, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"

If we emphasize faith/grace at the expense of obedience/good works, it gives us the license to continue sinning. Instead, we want to pursue holiness and experience transformation while resting in God's grace.

We also want to avoid works-based faith that leads to legalism and self-driven effort. Our good deeds don't save us, but they do reveal that our faith in Jesus is genuine, and we live out our faith by the good works we do.

As followers of Jesus, we must emphasize our faith in God's grace AND willingly put our faith in action.

James 2:14-17 (NLT) asks, "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, 'Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."

Today, let's not just "shoot threes" or only be a "football program," so to speak, but ask God to help us embrace the "AND" approach as we emphasize our faith and our actions.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You would strengthen my faith and dependence on You as I trust in the grace and finished work of Christ. Please help me emphasize the importance of doing good works that honor and glorify You as I live out my faith. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.