Let’s consider who has had the biggest influence on our athletic careers. Has there been more than one person who has made a significant impact on our abilities as athletes? First Corinthians 3:6 speaks about compounded influence.

In Paul’s first letter to his friends in Corinth, he used a familiar farming illustration. Let’s turn Paul’s farming comparison into a sports analogy.

Growing an athlete is like growing crops. There’s obvious collaboration among those who plant, cultivate, irrigate, and harvest. In the same way, growing a champion involves the compounding influences of parents, coaches, teammates, opponents, and so on.

The same pattern can be found in the building of one’s spiritual character. Parents, teachers, pastors, priests, and friends all walk beside us on the way to a rich life in Christ.

Today, let’s honor our eternal Architect and our mentors through a great performance and outstanding character.