When the fledgling American Football League announced it would have a team in Dallas in 1960, the NFL decided it, too, needed to have a team there. Tom Landry was 35 years old when the Cowboys made him the youngest head coach in the NFL.

Landry held the position of head coach for the next 29 seasons. He led the Cowboys to 20 consecutive winning seasons and two Super Bowl victories. The Cowboys started with difficulties, recording a 0–11–1 record during their first season, with five or fewer wins in each of their next four. Despite his slow start with the team, his players began to trust in his leadership. He later said, “Really, coaching is simplicity. It’s getting players to play better than they think they can.” He understood this would build confidence in themselves and trust in their coach.

Mark 8 – Investing in Others

A critical lesson from Tom Landry’s coaching career is that it takes time to build trust, and that only happens when investing time in your team. There are really no shortcuts. Jesus spent much time pouring into the lives of His disciples and often had to teach them the same lesson more than once.

His disciples were slow to learn his lesson from chapter 6 when Jesus showed his power to provide through feeding the five thousand. Though they had witnessed this miracle before, they still doubted His power (Mark 8:14-21). Gradually, as His disciples spent time with him, they began to place their trust in Him. Finally, when Jesus asked them who they thought He was, “Peter said, “You are the Christ” (8:29).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete know it takes time to build team unity and trust in its leaders. They patiently repeat lessons until others grow in their faith and understanding of the truth.

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – Jesus answered, “’THE FOREMOST IS, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 LSB

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