What Can the Church Learn From the NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft kicked off last night and continues into this weekend. I absolutely love football. I am a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan. And, yes, I do own a cheese head, which I will proudly wear when they win the Super Bowl again this year.

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Seriously though, I absolutely love the NFL draft. A ton of work goes into it. NFL teams spend thousands of hours scouting, testing, and analyzing game film of potential young stars to help their team. They have entire staff departments dedicated to nothing other than finding amazing young talent.

The reason the NFL draft is so exciting for me as a fan is because the draft makes or break your team. If your team consistently picks well, your team can be set up for years (see the Patriots, Steelers and Packers). If the team misses on picks, however, your team can be set back for years (see Oakland Raiders). The top teams build through the draft.

I think we could learn a thing or two from the Draft.

Like NFL teams, the Church is also in constant need of young talent. Good pastors will make or break your team. Like John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” So what are we doing to scout young kids with potential and train them up to becoming the future MVPs of the church?

Are you drafting young preachers?

Maybe it is time that you implemented a “draft” process in your church. This is important in all areas of ministry, but here are a few ideas focused on preaching:

• Scout young talent and draft them to your team. Develop an eye for spotting potential.
• Teach them your playbook – your style and theology of preaching.
• Practice. Give them low-risk opportunities to preach.
• Watch game tape. Record their sermons and talk about the good and bad.
• Make cuts if necessary. If a prospect isn’t cutting it – their spiritual gift is not preaching/teaching – cut them from the preaching team and direct them to a better suited ministry.
• Once they are ready, put them to the starting rotation. Put them in a regular preaching schedule.

Maybe this was a stretch of an the analogy, but hopefully you get the point. Are you scouting young talent? Are you raising up young talent and coaching them to become the next generation of preachers?

There is a reason that the NFL invests millions of dollars into finding young talent. Eventually, their once-great players get old and move on. Likewise, one day your season of ministry will also end. There has to be a steady stream of young talent raised up ready to step in at a moments notice.

The NFL didn’t pioneer this idea. Jesus did, and the disciples and Paul copied him.

Paul wrote letters to coach his preacher-in-training, Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy to train up other young preachers.

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
– 2 Timothy 2:2, ESV

Take what you have heard and entrust it to faithful men to teach the same. Who are you drafting this year?

Tell us, how did you learn to preach? Did you have a coach?

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