This Popular Sports Show Accidentally Reveals What’s Missing in Modern Churches

Faith Facts

• The hit show Ted Lasso models biblical discipleship principles through coaching relationships that mirror Christ’s investment in his followers
• Modern church culture often emphasizes personal growth over the biblical mandate to make disciples who make disciples
• True Christian maturity is measured not by what we know, but by how effectively we pass our faith to the next generation

A surprising source of spiritual wisdom has emerged from an unlikely place: a comedy series about an American football coach leading a British soccer team. As the show enters its fourth season with the launch of Richmond FC’s women’s team, believers are finding powerful parallels between the mentoring on screen and the Great Commission’s call to make disciples.

The comparison isn’t about entertainment—it’s about a fundamental shift in how we view spiritual maturity. Contemporary Christian culture has drifted toward self-improvement, treating faith like a personal development program rather than a transformative relationship meant to be shared.

The difference matters enormously for the future of the Church in America. When we focus exclusively on becoming “the best version of ourselves,” we miss the essential biblical pattern: Jesus didn’t just teach people—He invested in disciples who would invest in others.

Ted Lasso’s character consistently pours himself into his players, not just to win games but to develop their character and potential. He celebrates their growth and equips them to lead others. This mirrors the apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

The blessings God gives us—spiritual gifts, biblical knowledge, life experience, financial resources—aren’t meant to end with us. They’re meant to flow through us to others, creating a multiplication effect that spreads the Gospel across generations.

American churches have become exceptionally good at gathering crowds for worship services and Bible studies. We’ve built impressive programs for spiritual consumption. But are we equally committed to spiritual reproduction? Are we intentionally raising up the next generation of faithful believers who will do the same?

The early church turned the world upside down not through sophisticated programs but through ordinary believers who had been with Jesus and couldn’t help but share what they’d received. They understood that discipleship wasn’t a program—it was a lifestyle of walking alongside others in faith.

This approach requires something our culture resists: time, vulnerability, and genuine investment in others’ spiritual lives. It means older women teaching younger women, as Titus commands. It means fathers discipling their children in the faith, not outsourcing spiritual formation to Sunday school. It means seasoned believers mentoring new Christians beyond the church building.

The self-focused spirituality of our age produces consumers, not disciples. It creates audiences, not armies of faithful witnesses. When the goal is personal fulfillment rather than kingdom multiplication, the Gospel stops advancing.

True biblical maturity isn’t measured by how much Bible knowledge we’ve accumulated or how polished our theology sounds. It’s measured by whether we’re faithfully passing the faith to others who will pass it to others still.

Jesus demonstrated this perfectly. He could have spent His entire earthly ministry preaching to massive crowds. Instead, He invested deeply in twelve men, who invested in others, who changed the world. This is God’s design for spiritual multiplication, and it remains His method today.

The question for every Christian isn’t just “Am I growing?” but “Who am I growing?” Not just “What am I learning?” but “Who am I teaching?” Not just “How is God blessing me?” but “How am I blessing others with what God has given me?”

Churches that embrace this discipleship model will look different. Small groups won’t just study Scripture together—they’ll intentionally equip members to lead future groups. Sunday schools won’t just teach children—they’ll train parents to be the primary spiritual educators. Youth programs won’t just entertain teenagers—they’ll prepare young people to share their faith and mentor peers.

This shift requires humility from church leaders who must resist building ministries around themselves and instead raise up others who might eventually surpass them. It requires patience from congregants who must value long-term multiplication over immediate results.

The Great Commission doesn’t say “make converts” or “grow audiences.” It says “make disciples”—followers of Jesus who obey His commands and teach others to do the same. This is the biblical standard, and anything less falls short of Christ’s vision for His Church.

When we pass on our faith intentionally and sacrificially, we participate in something eternal. We become links in an unbroken chain stretching back to the apostles and forward to Christ’s return. We ensure that the next generation inherits not just information about God but a living, vibrant relationship with Him.

The lessons from a fictional soccer coach serve as an unexpected reminder of timeless biblical truth: the measure of success isn’t personal achievement but faithful stewardship of what we’ve received by passing it to others.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.