Back To The Basics


NOTE: This is my first letter to Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship (FCCF) as their pastor. I officially became their pastor last January 1, 2014. Other than my usual blog posts about faith, political and social issues, I will be posting here my weekly letters to FFCF.
American football coach Vince Lombardi (Image credit)

When his Green Bay Packers team lost dismally, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi could not stomach it. “[They] lost to an inferior squad. It was bad enough to lose . . . but to lose to that team was absolutely inexcusable.” (Source: Insight for Living) So, immediately the next day, he called the team for a practice. Being “a fanatic about fundamentals,” Lombardi stood before his team, held a football up and declared, “Gentlemen, this is a football!” (Ibid) 

 My favorite author Charles Swindoll wrote, “How basic can you get? He’s got guys sitting there who have been playing on gridirons for 15 to 20 years . . . who know offensive and defensive plays better than they know their kids’ names . . . and he introduces them to a football! That’s like saying, ‘Maestro, this is a baton.’ Or, ‘Librarian, this is a book.’ Or, ‘Marine, this is a rifle.’ … Talk about the obvious! … [Lombardi] believed that excellence could be best achieved by perfecting the basics of the sport. … His strategy? Know your position. Learn how to do it right. Then do it with all your might!” (Ibid) 
Lombardi with the Green Bay Packers (Image credit)

I am no Lombardi. But I believe our fundamentals as a church are clearly spelled out in the Great Commandment and in the Great Commission.  The Great Commandment is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV) The Great Commission is “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (28:19-20) Simply put: Love God. Love people. Make disciples. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. But, we must. Fail in the basics and we fail big time. Focus on the basics and we succeed the way God wants us to succeed. 
The church building of FCCF

May I be candid with you? I come to Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship not as an expert. I don’t have a lot of rabbits to pull out of my hat. I’m not even a magician. All I know is that those are the basics we need to perfect as a church in order to be the church that God called us to be. I can’t do it on my own. I need your help. We need to work together.

 Brethren, let’s go back to the basics.

Comments

  1. Anonymous5:44 AM

    I'd like to attend there one day. :)

    ReplyDelete

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