What rugby taught me about discipleship

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” 2 Pet. 3:18

When I was 23, I stepped into an adventure that I had no idea would shape a significant part of my 20s: I attended my first-ever rugby practice. I knew nothing about the sport except for the single college club match I watched live. Like anyone stepping onto the field to learn a new sport, I was nervous that I would look dumb, embarrass myself and get laughed off the field. But something unique happened – the coach sent the team to practice and spent about 30 minutes with me.

He showed me the basics like how to carry and throw a rugby ball and how a rugby tackle is different from a football one, as well as explaining the positions and the rules. After that, I worked out with the team. Every time I made a mistake, one of the players clarified what I should have done.

Even in my first match, our coach told the ref and other team that I was a new player. When the ref called me for an infraction, he and the players on the other team would tell me what I did wrong. All the players and coaches wanted to win, but they were united in their desire to see another player learn, enjoy and continue to participate. It was a completely different culture from any other sport I had played before.

There are some lessons we as pastors can learn from rugby culture when it comes to discipleship.

1. Train the new guy.

The coach himself took time away from the team to make sure that I knew what he wanted me to know. He wanted me to think about the game in the same way that he did, to use the same words and philosophy that he had for our team. As pastors, we need to be engaged in teaching and discipling new believers. Take time out for them and show them what is important.

2. Give the new guy opportunities.

Coach didn’t make me team captain or put me in the game at a position where I had to make tactical decisions right away, but I did start and see significant playing time in my first game (and made several big mistakes). He put me in a place that I could be part of the team and contribute. We need to give new people opportunities. Don’t let the new believer preach, but show him how to share the Gospel and help him find opportunities to do so. Let new people serve in a variety of ways so they know they are part of the team.

3. Desire to see the sport grow.

Rugby is not a sport Americans grow up playing, so most people who show up to practice are participating for the first time. Personally, I loved the game and was part of rugby for over a decade as a player, coach, referee and rugby dad. Every time we put a player in a new position or had a new player out there for the first time, we talked to the other players, coaches and referees in order to help them be as successful and safe as possible. We did it so that the sport would grow even after we got too old and broken to play. We wanted more people to learn love the game like we do. That is how we as pastors, church leaders and Christians need to think. New believers generally did not grow up in the church. They need to be taught what it means to follow Christ, and it is our job to share what we have learned with them so we can make more disciples.

I spent the large portion of the next decade playing and coaching rugby. My love for the sport inspired my son who played for a season in high school. I attribute all of that to the culture of teaching and integrating new players that is common in the sport of rugby. The alternative is to be like the high school PE teacher we all had – the one who throws out basketballs during class and tells everyone to just start playing. That is sufficient for the kids who are already athletic and know how to play ball, but others will get left behind or left out. When we do not create a culture where discipleship is integral to our church, we leave new believers behind by not providing them with the tools and skills necessary to grow in their faith.

Erik Maloy is the lead pastor of First Church in Charlestown, MA, co-host of the Church Revitalization podcast and occasionally blogs at www.erikmaloy.net.