Emphasis Preaching Journal

Eric had always been a bit different. For some reason he seemed out of step with most folks. He had a lot of ability but people were never quite sure how he would use it, where he'd fit in or what he would think or say. A few, if they were honest, even wished he'd be a little less active in church. But Eric had a deep faith. There was no doubt about that. And he was often offering himself to the service of the church.

One day he decided to do something else. He'd always been into volleyball. Eric found out that some of the local high schools had boys' volleyball. The high school closest to the church didn't have a team. Eric went to the principal and explained that he had both the talent and the time to coach a team. The school had the equipment for gym class already. The only cost to the school would be the bus for away games. Eric would even coach the team for free.

Through coaching, Eric got to know the boys at the school. He never spent a lot of time with religious talk, he just coached the kids and got to know them well. They knew he was a Christian, and he would occasionally invite them to the church youth group, where he also served as an advisor. A year later, few people at the church wondered any longer how Eric would serve the church. He had used his gifts to bring the Gospel to the world. In the process, the youth group had tripled in size.