As we wrap up our summer sports movie series, we unpack Hoosiers, a classic basketball movie somewhat inspired by a 1954 true story. This film was released in 1986, and stars Gene Hackman as Norman Dale, a former disgraced college basketball coach who becomes a high school basketball coach in the small town of Hickory, Indiana. Although the town loves basketball and the principal supports the new head coach, some people at the school and in the community are not very welcoming of him. However, Coach Dale knows what he's doing and has a plan for coaching his team. At the first practice, he sets the tone by saying, "I'm gonna set up practice a little differently. But, as you'll find out, everything has its reasons. Basketball is a voluntary activity. It's not a requirement. If you don't wanna be on the team, feel free to leave now." A few moments later, he kicks out a player for being disrespectful while he's talking, and another player named Whit Butcher also walks out. However, Whit quickly realizes his mistake (thanks to his dad's reprimanding) and returns to the team, saying, "Sorry, Coach, about walking out. I'd be obliged if I got myself another chance. Won't happen again. You're the boss." Coach Dale is determined to convince his players to play like a team, so he has a rule that they must pass the ball four times before shooting. During the first game, a player named Rade disobeys and keeps shooting whenever he wants to. Despite making the baskets, he's benched and left there even when another player fouls out. Although it doesn't make sense that he wouldn't put him back in, considering the team only has four players on the floor, Coach Dale appears to have his reasons for his discipline. After losing the first game, Coach Dale tells the players in the locker room, "All of you have the weekend. Think about whether or not you wanna be on this team or not...under the following condition…What I say when it comes to this basketball team is the law, absolutely and without discussion." The players don't understand or agree with everything Coach Dale is doing, yet they willingly decide to stay on the team and follow his ways. They put their faith in him, and the team eventually ends up clicking. Coach Dale proves he’s an outstanding coach and demonstrates how much he loves his players. The team ultimately goes on to win the state championship! It's a wonderful sports movie about teamwork and grace, but I want to unpack how the players choosing to submit to the authority of their coach relates to our choice to follow Jesus. God is loving and merciful while making it clear that He's in charge, great and powerful, and that what He says in His Word is the law. Psalm 19:7 (NIV) explains, "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." Psalm 147:5-6 (ESV) states, "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground." Coach Dale says, "Basketball is a voluntary activity." Similarly, God doesn't force us to obey Him. We can decide whether or not to be on His team and do what He says. The problem is many of us struggle with the challenge of allowing God to be the "boss" of our lives and trusting Him as our authority. We don't always want to "pass four times" and want to shoot whenever we want to. However, we must trust that Jesus' way is the best and that He loves us and empowers us to obey. Even when things don't make sense, we follow Him and believe He knows what He's doing. We don't do it out of obligation but out of love for Him and faith in His character. 1 John 5:3 (CSB) declares, "For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. And His commands are not a burden…" Just like the players in Hoosiers had "the weekend" to decide to willingly embrace Coach Dale's coaching style, we have to "count the cost" and determine whether or not we're going to surrender our lives to Jesus and let go of doing things our way and how we used to "play." Jesus says in Luke 14:33 (ESV), “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple." In Matthew 16:24 (ESV), Jesus tells us, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Today, just like the players in Hoosiers put their selfishness aside, following Coach Dale all the way to victory in the state championship, let's willingly give up whatever is necessary to follow and obey Jesus. We won't "hit every shot and make every right pass," but we rest in His grace as He shows us the way. God has already displayed His greatness and demonstrated His love for us, since "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). So, let's place our faith and trust in Him and experience eternal victory in Him. I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me so much and sending Jesus to die on my behalf. I pray that You help me understand what it means to surrender each day to You and Your ways. I desire to follow and obey Jesus in all areas of my life. I know Your Word is true, and Your commandments are right. Thank you for Your grace when I fall short. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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