Going Deeper and Caring Enough

Matthew 13:36; Mark 7:17-23; Matthew 17:14-20; John 17:7

Championship Teams Go Deep:
Any team can show up and play a few games. But championship teams? They go deeper. They spend extra time watching film. They ask questions. They challenge each other in the locker room. They don’t just pat each other on the back—they call each other out when something’s off.

Jesus did the same with His disciples. Yes, He spoke to crowds. But more than that, He spent time with a few—His team. He took them deeper and, when needed, He cared enough to confront. Not to tear down, but to build up.

Let’s walk through this together. What does it look like to live like Jesus as an athlete? You go deep. You speak truth. You exalt the Father. And you let others see the glory of God through your life.

1. Jesus Took His Team Deeper-Matthew 13:36 (ESV)
“Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable…’”

Jesus didn’t leave His team guessing. After speaking to the crowds, He pulled aside with His disciples and explained things in detail. The Greek word for “explain” means to make thoroughly clear. He wanted His guys to get it.

That’s what good coaches do. They don’t just shout from the sideline—they teach in the locker room. They make sure you understand the playbook. Jesus did the same.

    •    Are you someone who just listens from the stands, or do you sit at Jesus’ feet and ask Him to explain things to you?
    •    Who do you go to when you have spiritual questions?
    •    Are you willing to go deeper with a few, like Jesus did?
  •    Proverbs 20:5 – “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

2. Jesus Cared Enough to Confront-Mark 7:17–23
When Jesus pulled His disciples into the house, He didn’t just explain—He challenged them.

“Are you so dull?” He said. “Don’t you see…?”
That word “dull” means without understanding or foolish. Ouch! That had to sting. But Jesus wasn’t trying to insult them. He loved them enough to correct them. Because if they didn’t get the truth about what defiles a person, they would miss the whole point of grace.

In sports, correction is a sign of investment. Coaches yell because they care. Teammates call each other out because they believe in each other.

D.L. Moody once said: “God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.”

Jesus had to empty His disciples of pride and confusion so He could fill them with truth.
    •    Do you take correction well?
    •    Are you willing to speak up when a teammate is off track—not to shame them, but to help them grow?
    •    Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

3. Jesus Confronted to Build Up Their Faith-Matthew 17:14–20 
The disciples couldn’t cast out a demon. Jesus responded:
“O faithless and twisted generation… how long shall I bear with you?”

That’s not Jesus being harsh—it’s Jesus being real. He wasn’t just calling them out. He was calling them up.

Then He tells them faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

Sometimes our spiritual “losses” are rooted in unbelief. Not lack of effort, but lack of faith.

It’s like trying to win games with the playbook in your bag. You’ve got the knowledge—but if you don’t believe it enough to run the plays, you’ll lose.
    •    Are you walking by faith or trying to win in your own strength?
    •    Where in your life do you need to trust God more fully?

    •    Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please Him…”
4. Jesus Exalted the Father in Everything-John 17:7 (ESV) 
“Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”

After betrayal, opposition, and the looming cross—Jesus still points to the Father.

This isn’t about performance. It’s about surrender. Jesus said, “Everything I have came from My Father.”

Isaiah 26:12 says: “LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”

Even Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own.” (John 5:30) That takes the pressure off us. Your talents? From God. Your wins? From God. Your future? In His hands.
    •    Are you trying to prove something—or point to Someone?
    •    Do your teammates see that your life is centered on God?
    •    John 15:5 – “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”

Jesus didn’t just teach truth—He was the Truth (John 14:6). He didn’t just gather a team—He gave His life for them. On the cross, He took the penalty for our sin. In the resurrection, He gave us the power to live a new life.

Following Jesus isn’t about religious effort—it’s about relationship. He says, “Follow Me, and I will make you…” (Matthew 4:19). It’s a promise of transformation. From the inside out.

Will you follow Him? Will you go deeper? Will you let Him confront, correct, and change you?

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, Thank You for showing us how to love deeply, speak truth boldly, and exalt the Father in everything. Help us to go deeper with our teammates. Help us to listen, to ask questions, and to grow. Give us the courage to confront when needed—not to tear down, but to build up. May our lives reflect You on and off the field. We can’t do it without You. Fill us with Your Spirit. Make us true disciples who make disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Challenge: Who are the “few” you’re investing in? Are you willing to get uncomfortable, go deep, and grow together? That’s what Jesus did—and it changed the world.

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