While interviewed by the Big Ten Network, former NFL legendary coach Tony Dungy talked about how Tom Osborne’s positive example impacted his coaching career.

“In my first year as an NFL assistant coach, I visited the University of Nebraska to scout their senior football players. I was able to watch their head football coach, Tom Osborne up close and personal. As a young coach, his example of how he handled his players impacted my own coaching career. You could easily see how he really cared about his players and how he was trying to help make them better as people and not just football players. As a young 26-year-old coach, I could really point to him and say that’s the way I want to coach. I want to be like this guy who not only turned out great players but also turns out good people. His example inspired me to coach calmly and respectfully yet still be very competitive.”

While Tom Osborne provided crucial insights for a young Tony Dungy to imitate, so did Paul for the Thessalonians involved in church ministry. Paul was an example of a ministry strategy worthy of emulating.

1 Thessalonians 1 – Be the Example

Paul mentions the Thessalonians briefly in Acts 17. He formed a strong bond with the believers who embraced the gospel and started a church. Paul writes this letter to the church to encourage the young believers in the faith.

Paul was thankful for the positive example the Thessalonians were for other churches by embracing their newfound faith and turning away from sin. They had become an outstanding example of faith, love and hope (v. 3). Even when faced with persecution, they stuck with the gospel message (v. 6).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are an example of others to follow in service to the living and true God (v. 9). “Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:7).

Bible Memory Verse – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (LSB)