Basics

I love the NCAA basketball tournament. To me, it is the best sporting event in the world. There are typically "Cinderella stories" and unexpected upsets. But if the tournament teaches us anything it is that you must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual. This is a great lesson for us in the church as well.

We often have dreams of "the big moment" where revival breaks out and dozens, if not hundreds, of people accept Christ and are swept into the kingdom. These visions are akin to the kid in the driveway shooting baskets, imagining that he's hitting the game-winning shot with time running out. But one thing is certain: that kid will never get to take that shot unless he masters the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and rebounding. You must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual.

We'd probably all love to have ten new families visiting our Worship Center every week. How are we doing now at following up on the one family that God occasionally sends our way? There's no sense in dreaming of ten until we follow up effectively on one. You must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual.

How well are you handling the basics? Jesus said that we'll get increasing responsibilities when we handle our current responsibilities well. "To him who is faithful in little things, I will give bigger things." Is it possible that God is not giving you a bigger increase in your ministry until you steward better what you've already have been given? You must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual.

In football, championship teams focus on "blocking and tackling." That is, they know they must take care of the fundamental aspects of the game before they get the right to make the big play. There's no sense really in drawing up the big play unless you can be relatively assured that your quarterback will have enough time to make a pass. Likewise, you can come up with the best sermon in the world, but if you don't have some of the basics handled, it won't matter. You must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual.

On the other hand, the team that consistently blocks well now has a foundation on which they can build. When the core is solid, you can take risks. If you do throw a long pass that's incomplete, it's not the end of the world. You can regroup and try again, because you've got a solid foundation. You must master the basics before you step out and do the unusual.