The Church Is a Team

Football season is here again. This weekend, stadiums will roar, fans will gather, and teams will take the field with energy and anticipation. I’ll admit, I’m excited for it. There’s something about the kickoff of a new season that stirs passion, loyalty, and hope.

But as much as I enjoy football, it reminds me of something even greater. The church is a team too, not in the sense of touchdowns and trophies, but in the sense of unity, shared purpose, and working together toward a mission far bigger than ourselves.

The apostle Paul loved this kind of imagery. He compared the Christian life to a race, to training, to striving side by side for the gospel. Football might fire us up for a season, but fellowship in the church shapes us for eternity.

Every Role Matters

On a football team, not everyone is the quarterback. Some block. Some catch. Some run. And some rarely make the highlight reel but still determine the outcome.

The church works the same way. Paul reminds us:

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many… The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’” 1 Corinthians 12:14, 21 ESV

You may not preach sermons or lead singing, but your role matters. Prayer warriors matter. Encouragers matter. Those who serve quietly behind the scenes matter. When one part is missing, the whole team feels it.

We Play for the Same Goal

Football teams may argue in the locker room, but when the whistle blows, they know their mission: win the game.

The church has a bigger mission: making disciples and glorifying Christ. When we let personal preferences, traditions, or grudges distract us, we lose sight of the goal.

Paul said,

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14 ESV

We are not competitors against each other. We are co-laborers pressing toward the same prize.

Training and Endurance

No team steps onto the field unprepared. They train. They practice. They discipline their bodies.

The same is true spiritually. “Train yourself for godliness,” Paul writes (1 Timothy 4:7 ESV). Fellowship isn’t just about showing up on Sunday. It is about training together in prayer, Scripture, and service so that we can endure when trials come.

When life gets hard, untrained faith will falter. But faith that has been exercised in fellowship will stand strong.

We Win Together, We Lose Together

One of the most powerful lessons from team sports is that no victory belongs to one player, and no loss is carried alone.

The church is no different. Paul wrote:

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” 1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV

Fellowship means we bear one another’s burdens. We celebrate one another’s joys. We refuse to let anyone walk alone.

So Let Me Ask You (as I ask myself):

• Are you going it alone, or are you all-in with the team God has placed you in?

• Are you faithfully using your gifts for the mission, or sitting on the sidelines?

• Are you training your faith in discipline, or coasting until “game day” comes?

• Are you carrying someone’s burdens and letting others carry yours?

• Are you keeping your eyes on the mission of Christ, or distracted by lesser goals?

The Church Needs More Than Fans

Every stadium is full of fans who cheer, but only a few take the field. The church doesn’t just need spectators. It needs teammates.

This year, as football kicks off, let’s recommit to the fellowship God designed. Not just watching, but playing. Not just showing up, but serving. Not just attending, but belonging.

Because eternity is at stake. And we are not in this alone.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim

P.S. This week, step onto the field. Find one way to serve, encourage, or train alongside your church family. The team needs you.