This chapter deals with the gospel "Good News" of Jesus Christ. Through it, we understand that we are loved, forgiven, and raised to a new life. But Jim explains that this is incomplete. We must understand life in the Kingdom of God! In basketball, we learn fundamentals and teach them to our players. But the game of basketball isn't basketball, until we have a GAME!!! That is the great adventure!

1. Jim defines the kingdom of GOD as an interactive life with GOD. On page 37 he states: Jesus is essentially saying, "change the way you have been thinking - a life of intimacy and interaction with GOD is now in your midst". I don't know about you, but that empowers me, and I want it! Is this concept new to you? Do you understand that this offers His wisdom and power for you while you are coaching in His kingdom?
2. At camp, I used to sing that song, "Heaven is a wonderful place. Filled with glory and grace. I wanna see my savior's face , yes heaven is a wonderful place.". All that implies that I will see Jesus in heaven, after I die and go there. And I believe i will....but i don't recall singing a song about the PRESENT aspect of the kingdom, so when Jim presented this to me, it was totally new. trying to run the queendom of Jane by His kingdom principles is very challenging....in sports, especially many Kingdom principles are not valued by the world....thus, i pray, "thy Kingdom come...." what principles in sport do you find to be against the grain for His teachings?
3. Jim speaks for the kingdom of GOD having "authority and power (p. 43). That makes Him our head coach! Can you recall a time as a coach where you used your power/authority in a way that helped your players know how to succeed? How did it feel? Can you envision giving Him this authority /power in your life?
4. Pharisees, in the bible, kept their outer life, which people could see, clean, but their inner life was filthy. Read Matthew 23:25,26. Sadly, this described me for a number of years, as I tried on my own power to be who I was supposed to be. When I committed to work on aspects of my soul and try to become like Jesus, integrity, gentleness, respect, mercy, and love were actually more of a byproduct than something I tried to model. Pray that the Lord will guide you as you continue to learn about life as a Kingdom coach.
5. See p. 46, "the good news is that we are invited into this life with God. We enter the kingdom through ___________, ____________, ____________, and a ___________ to begin working on our hearts in order to become the kind of person God desires us to be.
6. The exercise on play was amazing....think about the differences between competition and play! Can you incorporate both of these in coaching?

The vision of heaven on earth is profound. the fact that we can get "heaven" into us now should really empower us as we coach. Perhaps the greatest thing to understand is that ALL of us are invited to have our hearts shaped by Jesus, regardless of our past. He will change us from the inside out!

Keep the Faith,

Jane