Servanthood is not usually the first thing we think about when we think about basketball. We tend to focus on the big moments, the game-winning shots, highlight reels, or the players whose names everyone remembers. But if we really watch the game closely, we begin to notice something else. The game is sustained by people who are willing to serve. The ones who set the screen so someone else can score. The ones who make the extra pass. The ones who fight for the rebound or dive for the loose ball. The ones who make their teammates better.

That is the kind of spirit we have been leaning into with our Full Court Faith series. Our worship series has had me reflecting a lot on my time as a student at Butler University. I loved being part of that community. There was a shared sense that we all belonged to something bigger than ourselves. I was fortunate to be there during those unforgettable Cinderella years when Brad Stevens was coaching and Butler made those incredible runs to the national championship games. 

As a student, I went to every home basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The photo above was taken during one of those nationally televised moments. It is not my most flattering photo, and I may have been just a little excited. And by "a little," I mean there is clear evidence that I lost all composure! However, what has stayed with me all these years later is not just the excitement or even the wins. It is the way that team played. No one tried to do everything on their own. Each player embraced their role. They trusted one another. They did the work that often went unnoticed so that the whole team could succeed.

That is what servanthood looks like!

When Jesus tells his disciples that whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all, he is redefining what matters most. In a world that celebrates being seen, Jesus calls us to serve. In a culture that rewards standing out, Jesus calls us to lift others up. Servanthood is about choosing to show up, to support, to give, and to care, even when no one is keeping score.

As a church, that is who we are called to be. Each of us has something to offer. Each of us has a role to play. And when we live that way, something powerful happens, not just in worship, but in the way we care for one another and our community. So as we continue in this Full Court Faith journey, I invite you to lean into that kind of faith. Not a faith that is about standing out, but a faith that is about showing up.

Keep the Faith@First,
Pastor Brittney