"Player Development" By Luke Heaton

After spending 12 years as the head basketball coach at the University of Michigan, John Beilein is heading to the NBA to be the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In recent years, Beilein’s success at Michigan resulted in his name being mentioned as a candidate to take over losing NBA franchises. He took over a struggling Michigan team in 2007 that was nine years removed from its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance. During the following 12 seasons, Beilein led the Wolverines to nine NCAA Tournament bids, two trips to the Final Four, two Big 10 regular season championships, and two Big 10 Tournament titles. Although the record-holder for most wins (278), Beilein’s most noteworthy aspect of his tenure at Michigan may be in achieving all of this success without any McDonald’s All-Americans. His ingredient for success, and most likely the reason for his call to the NBA, is his ability to develop players. "John is one of the most accomplished and innovative basketball minds and leaders in the entire game. He has a unique ability to create an outstanding culture that will promote the development of young players and provide a solid structure to the entire program; not to mention the fact that John Beilein wins everywhere he goes,” said Cleveland Cavaliers general manager, Koby Altman, in a statement released by the team. As followers of Jesus, we are called to demonstrate a similar player development mentality through evangelism that leads to discipleship. We are called to make disciples and help others develop as mature Christians. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives this final command to His disciples: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (NIV). The Greek word for a disciple maker, mäthatyüo, is someone who teaches and instructs. Are we acting in love toward others with a desire of teaching them what we have learned in our relationship with Christ? Are we showing others and explaining to them what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Just as John Beilein develops his players, today let’s choose to be mindful of the development of others in their meaningful pursuit of Jesus Christ. I’m Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you so much for Your sacrifice that allows me to have a renewed relationship with God. It is my prayer that You would help me live out Your instruction of making disciples. I pray that You would lead me in wisdom and confidence as I instruct and teach others about Your saving grace. Give me a desire to relationally equip people around me, turning them into disciple makers. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.