Basketball and Church Fundamentals

Basketball was one way the Lord opened doors in my life. That opportunity came less from athletic talent than from the simple fact that God made me almost seven feet tall. Because of that, I had the privilege of playing the game at the college level and learning many lessons along the way.

Recently, I watched the college basketball tournament and found myself thinking about how different the game looks today from when I played. In many ways, I hardly recognize it.

Basketball used to emphasize fundamentals and teamwork. Today, the game often resembles one-on-one streetball. That is not entirely a criticism of modern players. In many ways, athletes today are more skilled than ever. Shooting ability, for example, has improved dramatically. Even with the three-point line pushed farther back, many players can consistently make long-range shots.

Training methods have also changed. Players today are stronger, faster, and jump higher than previous generations. When I played, it was exciting to see someone dunk during a game. Now dunks are common—even in high school basketball.

Yet as impressive as these developments are, I cannot help but ask a simple question: What has happened to the fundamentals?

Rule changes have made defense much harder to play. Offenses are given more freedom, and violations that were once called regularly—such as carrying the ball or traveling—are often overlooked. Anyone who watches closely can find plenty of examples of players taking more than two steps without a whistle from the referees, especially in the pro game.

There is another interesting development in the sport: the rest of the world is catching up to the United States in basketball. One coach explained why. In the United States, young players often play several games a week but may only practice once. In many other countries, the pattern is reversed. Young players practice most days of the week and play only one game. The focus is on developing skills and mastering fundamentals.

In other words, the global game is improving because it is investing time in the basics.

As I reflect on this shift in basketball, I cannot help but think about the church.

In the same decades since I played college basketball, the church has also changed in many ways. Some of those changes have been good. But I fear that in many places we have drifted away from the fundamentals of the Christian life.

We have replaced steady spiritual disciplines with a “just do it” mentality. Programs and events may multiply, but the basic practices that once shaped Christian life have become less central.

Think about what many churches have lost. There was a time when older believers were known for their deep knowledge of the Bible. Many Christians today remember saints in their churches who could quote Scripture, explain doctrine, and speak wisely about the faith. Their example shaped younger believers.

Midweek prayer meetings were once common. And those gatherings were not simply another program on the calendar—they were devoted to prayer. The people of God gathered to seek the Lord together.

Even the Lord’s Day has changed. For many Christians today, church life has been reduced to attending a service for an hour or two on Sunday morning. We often assume our children are learning the basics of the faith somewhere along the way. Then we are surprised when they reach adulthood and cannot explain the most basic teachings of Christianity.

If the church is going to be healthy, we must return to the fundamentals of the faith.

The early church gives us a clear picture of what those fundamentals are. In Acts 2:42, we read:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

This short verse describes the core practices that shaped the earliest Christians: devotion to Scripture, commitment to prayer, and meaningful fellowship with other believers.

These practices are not complicated, but they are essential.

First, Christians must be devoted to the Scriptures. The Bible is the foundation of the church. It is where we learn who God is, what He has done in Christ, and how we are called to live. Our hope comes from God’s Word, and so does our direction.

That means Bible study cannot be limited to Sunday sermons. Christians should be engaging Scripture regularly as individuals, as families, and together in the life of the church.

Second, prayer must be a fundamental part of our lives. Many people think about prayer primarily in terms of the time they set aside for it. Setting aside time for prayer is important. But prayer is also meant to shape the entire posture of our lives. Christians are meant to live with an ongoing awareness of God’s presence and an open line of communication with Him.

The question we should ask ourselves is simple: Are we actually praying? Do we pray as individuals? Do we pray together as families? Do our churches regularly gather to pray?

Finally, fellowship is essential for spiritual growth. Too often, church life becomes little more than attending a service and exchanging a few brief greetings before heading home. But genuine Christian fellowship is far deeper than that.

Scripture reminds us that believers help shape and strengthen one another. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Iron sharpens iron through contact. In the same way, Christians grow through meaningful relationships with other believers.

The church is not optional, and it cannot be a surface-level commitment. Individuals and families need the encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth that come from deep involvement in a local church.

In basketball—and in many other areas of life—teams improve when they commit themselves to mastering the fundamentals. The same is true in the Christian life.

If we want healthy churches and strong believers, we must return to the basics: devotion to Scripture, commitment to prayer, and meaningful fellowship with the people of God. These are not flashy strategies or new ideas. They are the timeless practices that have shaped the church from the very beginning.

And like the fundamentals of any great game, they are always worth practicing again.