Back to basics

In July 1961, Vince Lombardi, head coach of the Green Bay Packers, established the foundation for what would later become a legendary chapter in American football history. His approach to the first day of training camp was unconventional, particularly after what had occurred during the previous season when the Packers suffered a crushing defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lombardi wanted to teach a lesson, so he held up a football during their first meeting and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football!” This statement has become popular in football history. It went back to basics and focused on the fundamental aspects of the game, the core elements and the foundation of football excellence.

As pastors, what can we learn from the Lombardi approach? We always seek new resources and methods to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But perhaps we should pay more attention to the importance of fundamental principles: prayer, Bible study, and meditation on the Word of God, the fundamentals of discipleship. Focusing on these core elements can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Worship and the Word

I recently talked to a person living in a very secular city. The church he attends had only 40 members. But during the past two years, it grew to more than 150 members. I asked him, “What are you doing differently?” He said, “We have a pastor that preaches the Bible, and people are attracted to the Word of God.” It was as simple as that. Paul admonishes, “Preach the word . . . whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome” (2 Tim. 4:2, AMP).

Prayer and priorities

Renowned prayer warrior E.M. Bounds says, “The key of all missionary success is prayer.”¹ No church can begin to accomplish what God is calling them to do without a power center of prayer.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33, KJV). When we make prayer a priority, we make God a priority. We demonstrate our commitment to Him and open ourselves up to His love and grace.

Meditating and memorizing

Meditation is not an activity; it is the response of a grateful heart to a gracious God. Like prayer, meditation is a spiritual discipline lost in Christianity. Sometimes we are preoccupied with getting things done while the most important thing—establishing and maintaining a closer relationship with Jesus—remains undone.

In the book of Psalms, the difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the righteous meditate on God, His words, and His works.

Bible memorization gives the energy to meditation. Many psalms encourage meditation on

God: “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6, KJV).

God’s law: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2, NKJV).

God’s work: “I will meditate also upon all thy work, and muse on thy doings” (Psalm 77:12 ASV).

God’s Word: “I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99, KJV).

A framework

Nothing can inspire the soul more than reading the Bible and meditating on its revelation of God. Ellen G. White observes, “There should be much prayer, much meditation, for this is highly necessary for the success and prosperity of the work.”² And a life without prayer is not a spiritual life because it is through prayer that we connect with the Holy Spirit.

As pastors, we are called to hold up our Bibles and say to our congregations, “Let’s go back to basics.”