It’s hard to live anywhere in the Charlotte region and not be aware that the Carolina Panthers are enjoying a pretty unique season. As the last undefeated team in the National Football League this year, they’re only the 8th team to ever start a season 13-0, and that’s got a lot of people talking about how good they may or may not be and how their season could end.
But we’ll leave all that talk for the football analysts, because I think that there are much more valuable lessons that the church – and specifically, church leaders – can learn from the Panthers. Here they are, in no particular order.
Next Man Up
Back in training camp, on a hot day in Spartanburg, South Cackalacky, Kelvin Benjamin ran a route against air and slumped to the ground holding his knee, and just like that, the best wide receiver on the Panthers team was gone for the season.
For Panthers fans, the season seemed over before it had even begun. But the Panthers knew that “Next Man Up” was more powerful than “Best Man Down,” and so instead of dropping their heads, the other receivers raised their game.
[Tweet “As leaders, we’re called to equip believers to do the ministry, not to watch the ministry.”]Churches would do well to adopt a “next man up” mentality. As leaders, we’re called to equip believers to do the ministry, not to watch the ministry, and so it’s on us to make sure that there’s always a next man up in every ministry position. If we don’t, then we’ll find members sitting down when they should be stepping up.
Culture matters
One of the players who was the next man up is wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. Ginn is an interesting case study about the power of organizational culture, because the only team he has ever really thrived on is the Carolina Panthers. In fact, he’s played his best football in black and blue, because he just “fits” on this team.
No one would ever argue that Ginn is a better receiver than Steve Smith, but Smith was traded for one reason: organizational culture matters more than individual talent.
[Tweet “Organizational culture matters more than individual talent.”]Once we understand that, we’ll spend less time chasing talent and more time creating culture.
Celebrate the wins
There are 200 days between the first day of training camp and the last play of the Super Bowl. It’s a long, grueling season with ups and downs at every turn, and success isn’t quite as common as the New England Patriots have made it look over the last 15 years.
In fact, since 1990, the most wins any team has averaged in a season is just under 10 (and that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers). How rare is this 13-0 start by the Panthers? 0.59%!
That’s all the more reason why wins need to be celebrated, especially when they come in bunches like they are for the undefeated Cats. So they dance, and jump, give tons of footballs away, and take selfies on the sidelines (when the games are out of reach). In short, they’ve learned that we celebrate what we appreciate. They appreciate the wins, the fans, and each other, and it shows.
Let’s learn to celebrate again in our churches! Let’s rediscover the power of parties! The prodigal son’s father could have scolded his son’s failure, but instead he celebrated his return! Start celebrating people and the change that God’s grace is bringing to their lives and you’ll rediscover the joy that is so often lost on the long journey of ministry.
There will always be critics
Know this: no matter how good it is, someone will always look for the bad. Not everyone loves a party, and so there will always be critics. The Panthers have had their fair share of them this season. From a mother thinking Cam Newton’s dancing was worse than half-naked women to other players and even referees, there have been plenty of people who have criticized the celebrations. Add to that all of the “they’re the worst 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, 10-0, etc. team” posts that happen every week, and the criticism can seem unending!
[Tweet “Success is celebrated by some and hated by others, and we need to stop being offended by that.”]Church leaders and church members alike need to get this: success is celebrated by some and hated by others, and we need to stop being offended by that. If we don’t, we’ll find ourselves preaching mad, leading with a chip on our shoulder, and creating a culture that is nothing like the church Jesus loves. Never let what a critic says about you be louder than what God says to you.
Instead, just do what the Panthers do…
Keep Pounding
No two words sum up the Carolina Panthers team and culture more, and they came from a speech delivered by one of the greatest players in Panthers history on the night before one of the greatest games in Panthers history.
Sam Mills – middle linebacker-turned-coach – stood in front of the team and delivered these words:
“When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do — quit or keep pounding. I’m a fighter. I kept pounding. You’re fighters, too. Keep pounding!”
Keep pounding is about endurance, yes, but it’s about something a lot bigger than that: it’s about perspective, and when you’ve got the right perspective, it’s easier to move in the right direction.
The Panthers get it. Hopefully, the church will, too.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
