As another football season gets underway, and millions of fans around the nation are excited about the season ahead, at least one lesson from football seems appropriate—I better get this out of the way now since in just a couple of weeks my team, the Kentucky Wildcats, will likely have me longing for basketball season.

What makes a great football team? Talent? Physical prowess? Coaching? Practice? Game time intangibles?

Sure, all those play a significant role, but one facet of great teams that often gets overlooked are the meetings. During the week, teams converge together for film sessions and analysis. Great teams won’t simply watch film, but the coaches engage everyone in an interactive process of encouragement, accountability, and vision renewal. As film is reviewed, players aren’t simply passive recipients of coaches’ praise and criticism, but they also provide encouragement and accountability for their teammates as well. No matter the outcome of last week’s game, vision is renewed and mutually recommitted to. Apart from these meetings, the team would ultimately end up in disarray.

The same is true for the church. The game of life is played seven days each week, but we come together at least once each week for an interactive process of encouragement, accountability, and vision renewal. Sunday worship is not meant to be a passive event, but rather, an opportunity to passionately participate in the life of the church. Corporate worship is an opportunity for refreshment, assessment, and realignment. Without this time, our churches will waste away from lack of direction or spiritual famine.

This week, we are considering Hebrews 10:24-25.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Three vital aspects of passionately participating in Sunday worship:

1. Encouragement – Our meeting together must include actively encouraging one another. Many football teams recognize success through stickers that go on the helmet for certain accomplishments. Now, I’m not suggesting we use stickers like we did back in our childhood Sunday Schools. But I am saying, we need to know what we are aiming for and celebrate those things. Primarily, we are aiming to develop “love and good works,” so as we see those in the lives of our brothers and sisters, we should praise them. For, as is often said, we will become what we celebrate.

2. Accountability – On the flip side of encouragement is accountability. When love and good works are absent or lacking in our lives, we need others to point this out, remind us of the grace of the gospel, and challenge us to pursue them once again for the fame of Jesus. We must know each other well, and boldly love one another in this way. In addition, both accountability and encouragement will likely include praying with and for each other.

3. Vision Renewal – Lastly, we are to renew our vision of “the Day drawing near.” The Day is the coming of Jesus. So as we gather, not only our leaders, but also each one of us should be engaged in pointing each other back to Him. He is our strength, His Word is our guide, and His fame is our goal. We must intentionally keep these things in front of one another through our conversations.

In conclusion, my church’s member covenant—our commitment to one another—begins with a significant truth: “I need the church, and the church needs me.” May we remember that truth, and let it drive us to passionately participate in our worship gatherings through encouragement, accountability, and vision renewal.