Every Christian reading this would agree that the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand. His wisdom, being the God of Creation, is far beyond our own understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). In this blog series, we will unpack some of the most difficult teachings from Jesus which come from Matthew 5-7 in the illustrious Sermon on the Mount. Each blog will touch on a different teaching from Jesus within His most famous sermon in an effort to help you apply His teachings to your life as a Christian working in the sport industry. In our ninth blog of the Sermon on the Mount series, we’ll help you better understand and apply Jesus’ teachings on worry, which are found in Matthew 6:25-34 Why Worry? It is no secret that humans tend to worry. According to an article in Forbes, anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting 42.5 million adults. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tackles the issue of worry and anxiety. In Matthew 6:25-28, Jesus tells us why we shouldn’t worry. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor and spin.” Saying “do not worry” and actually doing it are two very different things. It is much easier to say “stop worrying” than to do it. However, Jesus gives us very powerful reasons in these verses for why we should not worry. In Matthew 6:25, Jesus teaches that we should not worry about the physical aspects of our lives, specifically food and clothing. The point Jesus is getting at is that life is so much more than our physical needs. More often than not, it is our earthly needs that cause us to worry. But Jesus reminds us that our value as humans is not simply in our physical needs, and therefore, we should not drown ourselves in worry over those things. While our existence is not simply limited to meeting our physical needs, we still need to meet our physical needs. Jesus recognizes this and uses birds to illustrate a key point. The birds of the air do not reap, sow, or store their excess in barns. Yet, God provides them with their needs. The final point that Jesus makes in Matthew 6:26 is that if God cares for the birds, how much more will he care for you? I think we all would agree that human life is much more valuable than the life of a bird, and this should give us confidence that our God will provide for us. So far, Jesus has given us two reasons for why we should not worry. The first is that we should not worry about our physical needs because our lives are more than simply meeting physical needs. The second is that we should not worry because God will care for us, just as He cares for the birds. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus makes the point that worrying is useless. It does not add a single hour of your life, so what is the point? Not only does worry display a distrust in God, it has no positive effect on the situation that is causing concern. In Matthew 6:28, Jesus questions why we worry about material things, such as clothing. It is easy to believe the lie that material possessions are of great importance. In this day and age, people are obsessed with material possessions and allow their value to be defined by what they wear and what they have. Jesus flips this mindset on its head and points to the beauty of the flowers to prove that He, in fact, will provide even the material things we need. Jesus makes it very clear in these verses that God will care for our needs, and that should give us peace. However, Jesus is not teaching us to stand idle and expect to receive our needs from God. If we do not work, we will not be provided for. You may have the ingredients to make a grilled cheese sandwich, but if you do not put in the work that is required to make it, you will not have a grilled cheese sandwich. The same principle applies to how we should approach work. God has provided us with all that we need, but our work allows us to apply those resources to our needs. Not Even Solomon Our previous Sermon on the Mount blog mentioned the riches that King Solomon possessed. One can imagine that a man as powerful and wealthy as Solomon was well-dressed,. In Matthew 6:29-30, Jesus says, “Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? Jesus makes it clear that not even Solomon, in all his splendor was as beautifully dressed as the flowers. God is the ultimate artist, and His creation displays His splendor and glory. If God is intentional with flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, we can trust that God will clothe us even more. This should give us the utmost confidence in our loving heavenly Father. He promises to care for us, just as He cares for even the seemingly insignificant parts of His creation, like the birds and flowers. Jesus saying “you of little faith” is nothing new here. The Bible has a lot to say about those with little faith. In Matthew 14:25-31, Jesus allows Peter to walk on water. While Peter was walking on the water, the wind caused him to become afraid, and he began to sink. Jesus says in Matthew 14:31, “”You of little faith”, he said, “why did you doubt”” It is not a small sin to doubt God and have little faith. Certainly, it is something that every believer struggles with. But Jesus reminds us in this passage that God will care for our needs. He is trustworthy, and that should give us peace about the many things that cause us to worry. Seek First…Him! In the last portion of this text, Jesus closes His teaching with the most important reason why we should not worry. In Matthew 6:32, Jesus points out that the things that often cause us to worry- food, drink, and clothing- are the things that people who do not know God run after. Put simply, we should not be imitating the pursuits of those who do not know God. Because we know God, we should know that earthly things are not our primary concern. God knows that we need to meet our physical needs, but we should not be concerned about physical things. Jesus drops the mic in Matthew 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Yes, and amen. But what does it exactly mean to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness? For so many people, the priorities of this earthly life are the things that they seek first. But, as Christians, this cannot be. Our first and, more important, pursuit is His kingdom and His righteousness. We must pursue the purpose of God and His statutes above every other pursuit. The key to understanding this teaching is to recognize that Jesus is not simply telling us to not worry but rather that we should replace our concern for worldly matters with Godly matters. If we are pursuing the things that matter to God and that He sees as good, then our fixation and concern with earthly things will greatly diminish. Furthermore, Jesus promises that when we seek His kingdom first, we will be given our earthly needs, as well. Leave Tomorrow Alone Jesus closes out His teaching on worry in Matthew 6:34. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” A Scripture that relates directly to this teaching from Jesus is James 4:13-14. “No listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” It is so natural for us to look ahead to the future. What will I do tomorrow? Where will I be in a year? Where should I go on vacation? We can become so fixated on the future that we become anxious about it. Jesus reminds us that each day has enough trouble of its own. Therefore, we should not allow ourselves to be worried about tomorrow. If we fix our attention on what is presently in front of us, we will have a much greater ability to handle the troubles that life throws at us. Secondly, it is important to apply the teachings of James to how we view the future, as well. The days ahead are not guaranteed. Therefore, we should not expect to receive them. Our lives are a mist, here in one moment and gone in the next. So, as we think about the future, we should keep in mind that we may not be here to experience it. Therefore, our concerns should not be about the things to come in this life but rather be fixated on what is guaranteed, and that is the things that are eternal. Conclusion Jesus takes anxiety seriously. He is not telling us to simply not worry, but rather is shifting our focus to things that are more important than what typically causes us anxiety. Our focus should be on the priorities and purposes of the kingdom and when we do that our anxieties will be eased. The Christian life is not easy, there will always be challenges. But, when we are pursuing the purposes of God’s kingdom, we will find that our peace will surpass all understanding. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

When discussing facing trials, it is never an if but a when. It is a guarantee that we will face trials during our time here on earth (John 16:33). The sport industry presents a unique set of challenges, pressures, and temptations that can add to the already present difficulties of life. This past summer, during the first-ever Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference, the topic of navigating trials was discussed by an experienced and gifted panel of speakers. The panel featured Tom Crean, former college basketball Head Coach at Marquette, Indiana, and Georgia; Laura Halldorson, former Head Coach of Minnesota's Women's Hockey team and 15-year staff member with the Golden Gopher Fund; Ryan Saunders, Assistant Coach with the Denver Nuggets; and Jonathan Isaac, Forward with the Orlando Magic and author of the book Why I Stand. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, you can listen to the panel session from the conference and receive some practical insight on navigating trails within the sport industry. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! The Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference is an annual conference hosted in Minneapolis, MN, that aims to connect, encourage, and equip Christians working in the college and pro sport industry. Register for the 2024 CWS Conference or learn more here. Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Every Christian reading this would agree that the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand. His wisdom, being the God of Creation, is far beyond our own understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). In this blog series, we will unpack some of the most difficult teachings from Jesus, which come from Matthew 5-7 in the illustrious Sermon on the Mount. Each blog will touch on a different teaching from Jesus within His most famous sermon in an effort to help you apply His teachings to your life as a Christian working in the sport industry. In our eighth blog of the Sermon on the Mount series, we’ll help you better understand and apply Jesus’ teachings on storing up treasures in heaven, which is found in Matthew 6:19-24. Treasures on Earth In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It is easy for the human heart to be deceived into thinking that earthly treasures are the ultimate treasure. Nothing can surpass immense wealth, expensive outfits, the newest Air Jordan's, or the fastest car. The content of modern entertainment proves that humanity is in a constant state of pursuing worldly wealth. Popular music, movies, and television shows display an image of happiness that involves success in gathering worldly possessions. The content of Jesus’ message on pursuing worldly possessions is vastly different from the message that the world has. In verse 19, Jesus teaches that His disciples should not store up treasures on earth because of their temporal nature. Earthly treasures can be destroyed by pests like moths and vermin (which are animals that are harmful to crops & carry disease). Ultimately, even if our earthly treasures are not destroyed by nature, our ability to enjoy them is limited because our time on this earth is limited. This point is not only shared by Jesus in Matthew 6 but also by Solomon, the son of David, in Ecclesiastes. Solomon was an Israelite King, the son of King David, and is most well-known for building the first temple in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 10:23 comments on the worldly success that Solomon had, “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.” Solomon possessed unprecedented worldly wealth in any material possession imaginable. Yet in Ecclesiastes 2:8-11 Solomon states, “I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Solomon’s reflections on the earthly treasures that he had amassed reflect the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19. Earthly treasures do not satisfy, and they do not last. Therefore, only a fool would pursue something that is temporary and insufficient to satisfy the heart of man. Treasures in Heaven In Matthew 6:20, Jesus offers an alternative to the treasures on earth. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” In contrast to selfishly pursuing treasures on earth, Jesus instructs His disciples to lay up treasures in heaven. The New Testament has much to say about rewards in heaven for the faithful follower of Christ. It is important to remember that we are not to follow Jesus to receive something from Him. Above any reward, Jesus is and will always be our greatest treasure. However, it is also important to know that God desires to reward His faithful followers in the life to come. The Scriptures mention rewards in various places, but a few worth noting are James 1:12, Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, and Hebrews 6:10. The Lord reminds us that material possessions will not pass from this life to the next but that our faithfulness to His kingdom will. In Luke 1:33, the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” The kingdom of God has no end, and our greatest investment with both time and resources is into the kingdom of God. Finally, in Matthew 6:21, Jesus teaches, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If our treasures are found on this earth, then our hearts will desire to be planted on this earth so that we can pursue those treasures. However, if we understand the eternal nature of the treasures of heaven, then our hearts will be planted in things that are eternal. Our hearts cannot be in two places at one time. Therefore, we must commit to living for treasures of heaven so that we will not be swallowed into the temporal pursuit of worldly gain. The Lamp of the Body In Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” From the outset, it seems that this teaching from Jesus does not have anything to do with His previous teaching on treasure. However, this teaching on the eye is directly related to Jesus’ teaching on treasure in heaven and treasure on earth. Jesus states a very simple fact about, the human organ of the eye in verse 22. The eye is the lamp of the body. Because of our eyes, we are able to see light, and therefore, our bodies are illuminated. However, if we were to be blind, then we would live in utter darkness. So, Jesus begins with a fact, and that fact is that our eyes are the lamps that provide light to our bodies. But, in traditional Jesus fashion, this teaching uses worldly examples to reveal spiritual realities. Jesus applies the function of the eye, being that it supplies light to the body, to how we perceive our treasures. Healthy eyes, as Jesus states in Matthew 6:22, provide the body with light. Therefore, we can conclude that a healthy approach to material wealth results in spiritual health for the Christian. However, in contrast, Jesus states in Matthew 6:23, “But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The previous example of the eye that is healthy it is pointing to a heart that desires and focuses on heavenly treasures. This example of the unhealthy eye points to a heart that desires and prioritizes earthly treasures. Jesus furthers His point by stating that if your light, or treasure, is actually darkness or treasures on earth, then how great is that darkness? Jesus reminds us that we must fixate our vision to treasures in heaven because of their eternal nature and the earthly good that they can do in furthering God’s kingdom! The question that arises in view of this teaching from the Lord is what constitutes a healthy approach to treasure. A good barometer to understanding a healthy approach to what our hearts treasure is found in Matthew 19:16-22. In this account of Jesus’ ministry, a man came up to Jesus and asked what he must do to get eternal life (v.16). Jesus responded by saying that he should follow the commandments, and the man stated that he had kept all of the commandments (v. 17-20). Jesus then goes on to tell him that in order to be perfect, he needed to sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him (v. 21). The account ends with the young man walking away from Jesus because the command to sell his possessions was too difficult to obey. Why did Jesus tell this man that in order to be perfect, he must sell his possessions? The answer is simple. It was because Jesus knew that the heart of this man was gripping too tightly to his earthly treasures. In the man's response to this command from Jesus, we see the evidence of an “unhealthy eye” from Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6:22-23. The earthly treasures that this man possessed blinded him from the light, which is Christ, and therefore his spiritual state was unhealthy. If we are to have an eye that is healthy and full of light, we must be willing to hold loosely to earthly treasures. It is not sinful to have and enjoy earthly treasures, for Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” However, we cannot allow earthly treasures to be the barricade between us and faithful discipleship to Jesus. The person with a healthy eye has the ability to recognize when an earthly treasure is holding them back from deeper discipleship with Christ and is willing to let that treasure go in an effort to pursue treasures in heaven. Serving Two Masters Organizational fragmentation is a business term that is used to describe an organization that fails to have clearly defined leadership within departments. Essentially, employees are being supervised by multiple leaders at one time, causing disruptions in workflows and an inability to receive effective communication. One leader may ask an employee to accomplish one task, and the other leader may ask them to accomplish another task, causing the employee to have to decide to complete one task but neglect the other. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus describes a form of spiritual fragmentation. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Jesus’ point is very clear. It is impossible to be a disciple of the world and a disciple of Jesus. Inevitably, we will be devoted to one master over the other. The man from the account in Matthew 19:16-22 exemplifies this point. While he desired eternal life, his master was his wealth, and he could not devote himself to Jesus because his devotion was towards his riches. If we are to be devoted followers of Jesus and make Him our Master, then we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him daily. Jesus says this plainly in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” If our Master is Christ, then earthly treasures will not restrain our devotion to Him. However, if our master is treasures on earth, then our devotion will be towards those treasures with little regard for the will of God. As followers of Christ, we cannot have spiritual fragmentation. We will not be successful if we try to be led by both Christ and treasures on earth. As Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, we must not put our hope in the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God. The Master we serve is Christ, both now and into eternity. Conclusion Treasures on earth are not inherently bad things. God has created things in this world for us to enjoy, and it is not sinful for us to enjoy earthly treasures (1 Corinthians 10:25-26). However, we cannot allow the enjoyment of earthly things to outweigh our devotion as disciples of Jesus Christ. A healthy approach to worldly treasure is to be reminded that it is not eternal and that it cannot satisfy our deepest longings. Only Christ can truly satisfy us (John 4:13). Therefore, our aim in this life should be to hold the enjoyment of earthly treasures loosely and earnestly pursue treasures in heaven. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

Kevin "KB" Burgess is most known for his Christian hip-hop music. But, besides being a world-renowned artist, KB is also an author after releasing his book Dangerous Jesus earlier this year. In the book, KB points out that Jesus can either be dangerously good for the world or dangerously bad, depending on how believers interpret who Jesus actually is. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, KB sheds light on some of the ways that Jesus can be dangerously good in the world. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Are you curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Uncommon Sports Group was thankful to host a regional gathering for current and aspiring USG Members in Lynchburg, VA, last week with past and present students from Liberty University who are pursuing careers in the sport industry. The event provided many individuals the opportunity to meet each other for the first time. Some of the highlights from the evening included fellowship, dinner, and corporate prayer together. USG's Executive Director, Drew Boe, was in town for Liberty's annual Sports Management Leadership Summit. Drew commented, "It was such a blessing to gather with USG Members from Liberty University and Northern Virginia. Attendees ranged from people who had been part of USG for a while to some who had just found out about USG earlier that afternoon! It's always encouraging when the body of Christ comes together for a time of fellowship and prayer, and Liberty University has continued to be a special place for our ministry. A huge thank you to Reese and Jodi Braband for opening their home to host our gathering!" It is a part of our mission at Uncommon Sports Group to bring together Christians working in the sport industry through events like these. If you see the benefit of Christ-centered relationships and development in the sport industry, you can get involved with our community of Christians within the college and pro sport industry by applying to join our virtual training experience or connecting with our staff! We look forward to hearing from you!

This past month, Uncommon Sports Group hosted twenty-one Academy graduates in Phoenix, AZ, for an Impact Weekend! USG offers a fully-funded Impact Weekend for every individual who completes the eight-week virtual USG Academy. These weekends provide Academy graduates with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, such as networking with present leaders of the college and pro sport industry, fellowshipping with other Christians in sports, and being challenged to grow in their walk with Christ. Read a full recap of the Phoenix Impact Weekend here. One of our participants during the Impact Weekend, Lydia Radmacher, is presently working as a Retail Associate for the Chattanooga Lookouts, which is a Double-A MiLB affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. Below is her testimony of her experience during the Impact Weekend: "While attending USG’s Impact Weekend in Phoenix, I was reminded of the importance of Christian community. Though I have a solid church family and an encouraging support system of believers, I have lacked relationships with Christians who share similar passions and goals. It was rejuvenating to spend time with people who are succeeding in the sports industry while staying grounded in their faith. Going forward, I want to be more intentional in fellowshipping with USG members and peers, as well as reciprocating the hospitality we were shown by those who spoke to our group. Jesus has given us a special community with USG, and I want to embrace that! In regards to professional development, it was helpful to delve into our CliftonStrengths results as a group. I gained a greater understanding of my own strengths and how I can better develop them while also growing in appreciation of the various strengths of others in the group. God has gifted each of us in unique ways, and together, we create a beautiful tapestry of the talents He has given us. As Paul writes in Romans 12:4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (ESV). This has instilled in me new confidence to focus on my strong points while contributing them to the good of my team or coworkers. A highlight of the weekend was having the opportunity to tour the Footprint Center. As a diehard Phoenix Suns fan, visiting their arena has always been a bucket-list item for me. As we were walking around, I joked that I was like a kid in a candy store, but what a joy to serve a God who delights in what we delight in! Getting to share this experience with fellow USG members made it even more special. Hearing the testimonies of Luke Unverferth and Kyle Gaspari and seeing how God has led them on their paths to the Suns’ organization was an encouragement to remain faithful as a young professional in sports. Even when placed in an environment where it can be difficult to directly share our faith, they serve as a reminder that the light of Christ can always be evident in our actions and how we live our lives. Though I have faced challenges on my journey in sports and know that there will be more to come, it is so much easier knowing that I have a family at USG ready and more than willing to support me!" It was so encouraging to see how God used this Impact Weekend to challenge, encourage, and grow the participants in their faith and careers. We are grateful to Lydia for her testimony and commitment to serving Christ through the sport industry. If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group and how we can come alongside you as a Christian in the sport industry, click here to get in contact with us, or click here to apply to join the USG Academy!

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. One way that USG develops future leaders of sport is by funding its members to attend conferences, conventions, and events that develop them as followers of Christ and sport industry professionals. Earlier this month, USG funded two USG members with the opportunity to attend the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention in New Orleans, LA, on October 8-10. The Women Leaders in Sports Convention offers women working in the sport industry an opportunity to learn from keynote speakers and connect with over a thousand women working across the industry. One of our members who attended the convention was Alexis Conaway, presently the Director of Beach Volleyball Operations Graduate Assistant at Louisiana State University. Below is Alexis' testimony on her experience at the Women Leaders in Sports Convention: "The Women Leaders in Sports Convention involved three days of nonstop encouragement and empowerment. Over 1300 women (and a few brave men) from all spheres of the athletic world gathered to support each other and celebrate the work they feel called to pursue. As someone early in my career, it was inspiring to learn from driven athletic directors and company presidents who are also loving wives and moms. They shared about the importance of bringing our full selves to the workplace, regardless of how we feel it might be received. The 'Lunch with Leaders and Legends' provided a neat opportunity to chat directly with a woman who is rocking it! While I enjoyed meeting new people, it was a fun surprise to see many familiar faces as well. I reconnected with a past advisor I hadn’t seen in years and ran into a group of women still working at my alma mater, Iowa State University. A group of around 20 women from LSU attended, and it was sweet to share meals and get to know them more personally. A few, such as our sports psychologist, even led sessions at the convention. I now feel like I have a bigger support system of women all across campus I can go to whenever I need anything, women I may have never met otherwise. The final morning, I met up with two fellow USG members attending the convention (at the New Orleans classic Café Beignet, of course!). It was so refreshing to take a step back and be reminded of the bigger picture of it all. We’re not just going after big things - we’re going after God's things. We’re not just celebrating our victories - we’re celebrating the Lord and what He is allowing us to be a part of. We’re not just advancing the sports world - we’re advancing the Kingdom. I left re-energized and ready to keep pressing into my role at LSU and whatever God calls me to in the future, grateful I am not in it alone!" Another one of our members who attended the convention was Natalie Osborne. She is presently studying Performance & Sports Psychology at Grand Canyon University. Below is Natalie's testimony on her experience at the Women Leaders in Sports Convention: "Attending the Women Leaders National Convention was such an encouraging experience for me. It was my first time in New Orleans, so it was fun to see some of the city. I had the opportunity to meet many incredible women working in sports, including many of faith. I believe that this experience helped prepare me for my future by getting me out of my comfort zone to meet new people and network. I also heard about a lot of very relevant topics in sports, including emotional intelligence. I have even started to do my own research on this concept, which has made space for more conversations and growth. My biggest takeaway from the weekend was that women need to support one another and lift each other up. There are so many different opportunities in sports, and each role is so important to have strong programs and success in sports. Instead of working against each other and competing for opportunities, we can support one another and cheer on other women working in sports. It was really fun for me to learn about all the potential positions supporting sports and how they interact with one another. For my future career, I hope to work closely with these individuals to create the best experience for student-athletes. The Lord really put it on my heart to be open to new experiences and to lean on other women for support and encouragement. I got to meet up with two other girls from USG and felt so loved and cared for, even though we hadn’t met before. It’s been sweet to see those relationships start to grow from afar. It was such a blessing to get to do life with them for the weekend, learning and growing together. I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend the Women Leaders in College Sports conference!" It is encouraging to see that Alexis and Natalie were impacted both spiritually and professionally at the Women Leaders in Sports Convention. We are grateful for both of their testimonies! If you see the benefit of Christ-centered relationships and development in the sport industry, you can get involved with our community of Christians within the college and pro sport industry by applying to join our virtual training experience or connecting with our staff! We look forward to connecting with you.

What is our mission as followers of Christ? The answer to that question can be found in Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus commands His disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Our mission is to make disciples and share the Gospel of the Kingdom with those around us. But how can we practically do that while working in the sport industry? In this message from the first-ever Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference this past summer, sports agent and founder of KMM sports, Kelli Masters, shares her journey to discovering God's mission for her life and equip listeners with tools that will help them live out God's mission in their lives while working in the sport industry. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! The Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference is an annual conference hosted in Minneapolis, MN, that aims to connect, encourage, and equip Christians working in the college and pro sport industry. Register for the 2024 CWS Conference or learn more here. Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Every Christian reading this would agree that the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand. His wisdom, being the God of Creation, is far beyond our own understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). In this blog series, we will unpack some of the most difficult teachings from Jesus which come from Matthew 5-7 in the illustrious Sermon on the Mount. Each blog will touch on a different teaching from Jesus within His most famous sermon in an effort to help you apply His teachings to your life as a Christian working in the sport industry. In our seventh blog of the Sermon on the Mount series, we’ll help you better understand and apply Jesus’ teachings on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting in Matthew 6:5-18. How Not to Pray We see Jesus teach in a similar way at the beginning of His instruction on prayer as He did in His instructions on giving to the needy. Jesus says in Matthew 6:5, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” It is important to reiterate from our previous blog that the word hypocrite is better translated from the Greek as an actor. So, in this teaching, Jesus is stating that we should not pray as actors because the ultimate goal of an actor is to play a role that is not truly who they are in real life. If we pray to play a role and look a certain way, we completely miss the point of prayer. Jesus also reveals to us a common human flaw, especially when it comes to prayer. It was common for the hypocrites, as Jesus calls them, to pray in the synagogues and the street corners. In ancient Israel, it was common for Jewish people to pray in the synagogues during times of public prayer or on the street corners during the appointed time of prayer. On the surface, it would seem that praying out loud during these times wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. However, the temptation that almost every human has when they speak in public for any reason, including praying in public, is to impress those listening with our words. A prayer recited in public can often shift from a time of pouring out your heart to God to a time of seeking to impress those listening. This is an incredible danger because the gift of prayer can become a tool that we use to impress others instead of using it for the purpose it was intended. Jesus closes this teaching at the end of verse five by stating that those who pray to be seen will receive their reward in full. The only reward a person who prays to impress will receive is just that- the approval of those listening. That person will not receive a reward from God because their heart condition toward God in prayer is not in the right place. How TO Pray Jesus is very clear on how not to pray in verse five. But how, then, should we pray? This is a question that Jesus’ disciples had for Him, as well. In Luke 11:1, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” So, we are in good company when we ask the question of how to pray. Thankfully, Jesus is very clear on how we should pray in Matthew 6:6-15. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Jesus begins His teaching on how to pray by stating that as opposed to praying in the synagogues and on the street corners, our prayers should be made in private where only God can see. The purpose of this command, of course, is to avoid the temptation to pray with the desire to impress people. Rather, the Lord desires that we pray to Him secretly so that our prayers may be done with a pure intention. In contrast to what Jesus says about those who pray with the intent to impress, those who pray in secret with a pure heart will receive a reward from the Father. It is important to note that Jesus does not prohibit public prayer. We see evidence of corporate prayer in Acts 13:3 and 4:24. Jesus Himself prays corporately in John 17. The command, however, points more to the condition of our hearts when we pray. Are we desiring to please God with our prayers, or impress those listening to our prayers? Secondly, Jesus teaches in verses 7-8 that our prayers should not be filled with many words. In the NIV, it says that we shouldn’t babble when we pray. In the KJV, it says that we should not use vain repetitions. This teaching doesn’t necessarily teach that our prayers shouldn’t be long, but rather teaches two key things. The first is that our prayers should not consist of worthless or pointless words. They should have meaning, truth, and purpose behind them. The second is that long prayers do not mean that they are more powerful or that they are more likely to be answered. We see evidence of vain repetitions in 1 Kings 18:26 when the prophets of Baal prayed, “O Baal answer us” for half a day, awaiting a response, and received none. In contrast to prayers that contain vain repetitions, Jesus instructs us not to babble because God knows what we need even before we ask Him. We do not pray to inform God of our needs but rather commune with the living God and bring every need and worry before His throne. Furthermore, knowing that God already knows all of our needs before we pray reminds us that we do not need to be perfect in our prayers or say exactly the right thing for God to understand and answer. Rather, because He already knows, it frees us up to have confidence that our prayers have a greater purpose than just what we say but why we say it. The Lord’s Prayer In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches specifically how we should pray. Almost every Christian has heard or recited the Lord’s prayer at some point in their life. The Lord’s prayer is a model that Jesus provides us for how we should pray. Like a recipe, Jesus gives us the key ingredients to our prayers within the Lord’s prayer. In His example, He provides us with five different ingredients to incorporate into our prayers. The first is found in verse 9, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Our prayers should always be addressed to God our Father. The proper prayer is addressed to the real and living God. Furthermore, the Jews rarely used the term “Father” to address God because they believed that it was too intimate. But Jesus teaches us to call God Father when we pray. What a wonderful display of the intimate relationship that God desires to have with each and every one of us. Secondly, He teaches us to honor the Lord’s name in our prayers. The word “hallowed” means greatly revered or honored. We should ensure that in our prayers, we are honoring the name of the Most High God. The second is found in verse 10, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Our prayers should consist of a desire to see God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, there are no obstacles to God’s will being done. But on earth, there is opposition to God’s will being done. Therefore, as followers of Christ, our prayers should communicate a desire to see God’s will accomplished on earth. The third ingredient is found in verse 11, “give us this day our daily bread.” Jesus teaches us that a key element for our prayers is asking for our needs. The right prayer will consist of our needs and trusting God to care enough about our big and small needs to provide us with them. It is important to note that Jesus teaches us to pray for needs, not wants. We should be careful not to pray for things out of a heart of greed. The fourth is found in verse 12, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Our debts are our sins. There is a double meaning in this that we should incorporate into our prayers. The first is that we should be asking God for forgiveness daily. Our debts are many, and we know the Lord has forgiven us for those debts in Christ, but we should still be confessing our sins to the Father daily (1 John 1:9). Secondly, we should be consistently forgiving people in our lives who have trespassed against us. Asking God for the strength to forgive is an essential part of our prayer life and a direct command from Him. The fifth and final ingredient is in verse 13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Scripture makes it clear that God does not tempt us to do evil (James 1:13). Rather, Jesus is teaching that we should pray that God would not deliver us into a period of testing. If we are to incorporate this into our prayers, we should be asking God to keep us from boasting in our own strength, keep us from trials if that is His will, not to fall into sinful temptations, and never lead others into sinful temptations. Verses 14-15 seem out of place in Matthew 6. It seems that Jesus quickly transitioned from teaching His disciples how to pray to teach the importance of forgiveness. I believe that the purpose of this transition is to remind His disciples that if our prayers are to carry weight and be heard by God, we must be living a life that honors God. Specifically, in this example, Jesus teaches that we are to be forgiving others when they sin against us. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” If we love sin and do not live a life that seeks to honor God, we can expect that our prayers will not be heard unless they are prayers that consist of repentance for our sin. How Not to Fast Fasting was commonplace in Jesus’ day, and the Jewish people were commanded to fast on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31). However, Jesus was clear that the good and healthy practice of fasting had been once again turned into a show of flexing spiritual muscles by the people He labeled as hypocrites. As mentioned in this blog and our previous Sermon on the Mount blog, the word hypocrites in the Greek language is better translated as actor. So, when Jesus labels people as hypocrites, He is labeling them as spiritual actors who seek to display an image of righteousness and holiness when it is truly nothing more than theater to impress those watching. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus teaches how not to fast. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Imagine going to the gym to work out, and on your way out of the gym, you dump a gallon of water on yourself to present the image that you worked out harder than you actually did. This is essentially what the hypocrites would do when they fasted. They would purposefully make themselves look more disfigured and tired so that people would notice that they were fasting. Their goal in this, similar to dumping the gallon of water on yourself, was to have their fasting efforts noticed by others and applauded. Jesus rebukes this selfish pursuit and again states that those who seek the approval of others through their spiritual practices will only receive the award of human applause. How To Fast It is important to make the point that this teaching from Jesus on fasting proves that He assumed His disciples would fast. It is safe to say that if Jesus believed His disciples would fast, we also should incorporate the habit of fasting into our walks with Christ. With that said, what does Jesus say about how we should fast, as opposed to how we shouldn’t? In Matthew 6:17-18, Jesus says, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” In contrast to the hypocrites, Jesus teaches that fasting is an act that should be done in secret. The hypocrites would purposefully disfigure themselves to make sure people knew that they were fasting, but Jesus says that we should purposefully look as if we are not fasting so that our fasting may be between us and God. In obeying this command from Jesus, we avoid the temptation to use fasting as a flex of our spiritual muscle and use the act of fasting as a way to deepen our relationship with God. The question that some may have is, “What if someone asks why I am not eating?” The main point Jesus is getting at in this teaching is our heart condition. If we are fasting with the goal of looking good for others, then we are missing the point. However, if we are fasting to please God and grow in our relationship with Him, then we are doing it for the right reasons, regardless if people around us find out or not. Conclusion In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about two critical spiritual practices that are expected to be practiced in the life of every disciple. Prayer and fasting should be a part of every Christian’s life, and we should be careful to abide by the teachings of the Lord in this section of Scripture so that our works may be done out of a pure heart and without the stain of selfish pursuits. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

This past weekend, Uncommon Sports Group hosted twenty-one Academy graduates in Phoenix, AZ, for an Impact Weekend! USG offers a fully-funded Impact Weekend for every individual who completes the eight-week virtual USG Academy. These weekends provide Academy graduates with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, such as networking with present leaders of the college and pro sport industry, fellowshipping with other Christians in sports, and being challenged to grow in their walk with Christ. Read a full recap of the Phoenix Impact Weekend here. One of our participants during the Impact Weekend, Nathan-Jesse Campbell, is presently working as an Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Marketing at Cornerstone University. Below is his testimony of his experience during the Impact Weekend: "The Impact Weekend to Phoenix was a great experience for me. As someone who is 28 and has been in the field of athletics professionally for a while now, it was really cool to meet people from different stages of life when it comes to their profession while also being so united in their love for Christ. I was initially nervous [because] I did not know many people going into the trip, but it did not take long to make some great friends and professional connections throughout the group. As the experience went on, it was great to have the opportunity to tour so many places. The time at Grand Canyon University was one of my favorite experiences to hear from a panel of different professionals who work in athletics there. As someone who has spent their entire career in small college athletics, it was so cool to hear and see how Grand Canyon grew from a small college to a now elite campus that competes at the NCAA DI level. It was also cool to see how all of the panelists were committed to Christ in their work despite the worldly growth they have seen on their campus. It is truly powerful and rare when an organization that has so much success stays committed to the same mission they had in Christ as they did when they were just a small school. I would encourage anyone who is considering being part of this group to take the leap and do it, as it provides a ton of benefits spiritually, professionally, and relationally." It was so encouraging to see how God used this Impact Weekend to challenge, encourage, and grow the participants in their faith and careers. We are grateful to Nathan-Jesse for his testimony and commitment to serving Christ through the sport industry. If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group and how we can come alongside you as a Christian in the sport industry, click here to get in contact with us, or click here to apply to join the USG Academy!

Every Christian reading this would agree that the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand. His wisdom, being the God of Creation, is far beyond our own understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). In this blog series, we will unpack some of the most difficult teachings from Jesus which come from Matthew 5-7 in the illustrious Sermon on the Mount. Each blog will touch on a different teaching from Jesus within His most famous sermon in an effort to help you apply His teachings to your life as a Christian working in the sport industry. In our sixth blog of the Sermon on the Mount series, we’ll help you better understand and apply Jesus’ teachings on how we should practice generosity in Matthew 6:1-4. How Not to Practice Righteousness As humans, we have a natural tendency to try to impress others. Jesus knows this little secret about our hearts and that often when we strive to serve other people, we can have a heart condition that desires to impress the people around us. This is why Jesus says in Matthew 6:1, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” This command from Jesus is clear: don’t do righteous things simply for display or an improvement of your image. There is a danger in cultivating an image of righteousness that only reveals itself in the public arena, but is never practiced in private. Earlier in Matthew 5:16, Jesus teaches that we should let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify God because of those good works. Are these commands contradictory? No, they are not. Instead, Jesus teaches that those around us should recognize our good works, but our heart's desire to do those good works should not be for the approval or applause of others. At the end of His statement, He says that anyone who practices righteousness to be seen by others will receive no reward from God. The reward that the person who seeks to practice righteousness for the sake of approval receives is the approval itself. Rather than seeking to honor God and serve others through the practice of righteousness, they seek the reward of the applause of men. Jesus elaborates on this command in Matthew 6:2, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Jesus provides a direct example of how not to be generous, and that is to be sure not to announce it plainly that we are being generous. In the ancient Greek language, a person who was a hypocrite was known as an actor. The hypocrites Jesus refers to who made their generosity obvious to others in order to impress were nothing more than religious actors. They had no genuineness behind their actions but rather played the role of generosity to fulfill their sinful motives. Once more, Jesus affirms that these religious actors have received their reward, which was not from God but rather from men. How TO Practice Righteousness Jesus gives us a clear blueprint for how not to practice righteousness, but how, then, should we practice righteousness? In Matthew 6:3-4 Jesus says, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Sometimes, the commands of Jesus can cause us to scratch our heads. How in the world do we not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing? Obviously, it is impossible to not be aware of your own actions, but the principle behind this teaching is what Jesus desires us to apply to our lives. That principle is that our giving should be so secret that even you are unaware of it. We must be cautious not to allow ourselves any hint of self-congratulation because that small “pat on the back” reveals an inward desire for the praise of men rather than praise from God. Jesus cares about our motives more than anything else. If we are generous for any other reason besides giving for God’s glory, even if it is done in secret, then we have no reward from the Father. Our motive for generosity should always be to point people back to the glory of God in Christ Jesus, not for the glory of our name. Jesus closes this teaching by saying that the person who gives for the right motives will receive a reward from the Father. This is an encouraging reminder that the Lord knows our deeds and will be generous to those who do His work for His glory. Conclusion The Lord is diligent in reminding us of the importance of our heart condition. In this teaching, it is an important reminder that too often we as humans can seek the approval of men through our actions that are seemingly done in the name of Jesus. I urge you to be aware of your motives and to ask God to reveal in your heart areas in which you need to repent because it will ultimately be for your benefit and His glory. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

Every sports has fundamentals that every athlete must master to be successful. In basketball, it is fundamental to dribble the basketball with both your left and right hand. As a quarterback in football, it is fundamental to have proper footwork when dropping back to pass. In golf, it is fundamental to grip the club properly. Similar to the sports we know and love, walking out our faith in Jesus comes with fundamentals that must be practiced consistently if we are to be successful in our walk with Him. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, SEC Network College Basketball Analyst & Sportscaster Jimmy Dykes talks about the fundamentals that every believer should be mastering in their walk with Jesus. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!