by Shannon Caughey

As a coach, you do things with a purpose. The drills you run during practices, how you structure offseason training, what you emphasize when speaking to athletes before a game or competition—you have a particular reason for the way you do all these things. Effective coaches are purposeful coaches. 

This is even more the case for coaches who trust and follow Christ. But we’re no longer going after just any purpose. When we respond in faith to Christ and all he’s done for us, Jesus transforms every dimension of our lives—including why and how we coach. Romans 12:1-2 addresses the purpose that now defines us: “¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. ² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

In this and the next couple of devotions, we’ll look at what this passage says about how following Christ transforms our coaching. Let’s start with three aspects of the transformed purpose we now pursue.

1. Our purpose is determined by the gospel.

When the Apostle Paul says “in view of the mercies of God,” he’s referring to all he’s been discussing in the first eleven chapters of Romans as he unpacked the gospel. Rather than giving us what we deserve for our sinful rebellion against him, God pours out his mercy upon us through Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus takes upon himself God’s wrath against sin so that we can be reconciled to God, experiencing the incredible reality of his love and grace. This transforms our lives and our purpose. Why and how we live and coach is shaped by what God through Christ has done for us.

2. Our purpose dictates all we do.

Here’s what the gospel compels us to do: “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Using the sacrificial imagery of the Old Testament, Paul is indicating that worshiping God is nothing less than offering ourselves entirely to him. Worship is not confined to what happens during a church service on Sundays. Worship involves living for the Lord every moment of every day, in every dimension of our lives, with all of who we are and what we do.

3. Our purpose is to declare God’s glory.

Paul says that when we respond to the gospel—God’s mercy through Christ—by offering ourselves completely to the Lord, “this is [our] true worship.” Worship is being devoted to God and to declaring his glory. As a coach, we declare God’s glory when we our relationships with athletes, fellow coaches, administrators, parents, and others are saturated with the love we received from Christ. We declare God’s glory when our character reflects the character of Christ. We declare God’s glory when our words are full of grace and truth. We declare God’s glory when our deepest desire is that those we influence as a coach will be transformed by the love and mercy of the Lord.

Coach, your faith in Christ transforms your purpose. How you coach is motivated by your gratitude for what Jesus has done in saving you. Everything you say and do as a coach is now about glorifying God. There is no greater purpose for your life and coaching.

For reflection: How does the current purpose you’re pursuing as a coach align with the purpose articulated in Romans 12:1? Repent of ways your purpose is out of alignment, and commit to the purpose of worshiping God through how and why you coach.