They Call Him Coach Kohout

Over the past several years it has been my honor and pleasure to have been chosen by our Lord to mentor His servant, David Kohout, and to watch him grow in the knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. For those of you who may not know it, David gave up a very successful career as a salesman to begin a ministry to young folks that he calls “Talk is Cheap.”  Many years ago God took an under achieving young man with attention deficit disorder who was abusing illegal drugs and searching for meaning in life and changed him into a committed, self-sacrificing servant and strong witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The last time we met David was telling me about his visits to The Ohio State University football team practice sessions, to which he had been personally invited by Coach Jim Tressel and said, almost apologetically, “They call me coach.” In many ways David is a coach of a different sort, he certainly has no need to apologize and that is the stimulus for this essay.

David’s ministry has taken him to the locker rooms and auditoriums of many area middle and high schools, the campuses of several universities, the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London Connecticut and the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He has had a close ministerial relationship with the Youngstown State University football team over several years and most recently the Ohio State Buckeyes as well. David’s winning ways impact both the student and their families and as a result many parents have found that the road to helping a wayward child leads directly through a new personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in their own lives

The Spiritual Battle Coach

When football season begins the young men have been prepared to do battle with the opposing teams and they have been fitted up with protective gear that will limit the injuries they might otherwise incur during the games. They are provided with helmets, shoulder, hip and knee pads as well as shoes that will stabilize their ability to block, run, pass, catch a pass and stand firm as they protect the quarterback on offence and to tackle runners and knock down passes on defense. David makes these young men aware that in life there is a spiritual battle that requires defensive gear as well. The apostle Paul is used as David’s resource: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18). David reminds the young folks wherever he speaks that they are “standing in the midst of greatness.” That greatness is represented by the omnipresent God and the potential they each possess if they commit their lives to Him. It is He that fits them for battle.

Training Camp Coach

The apostle Paul reminds us that Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25)  David reminds the players that an eternal perspective should be placed on all sporting events. Yes they are competing for the local or state championship crown but more importantly, unlike that trophy, there is a crown of salvation that will last forever and that should be priority number one in their lives. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) What is seen, the physical body that is built up in training camp is temporary, but the soul, the seat of intelligence, emotion, personality and will is an everlasting element of our being that will need some major attention as they grow to become all that God has planned for them to be. He also reminds these folks that the spiritual battle will be harder than any sporting event in which they will ever compete. Thus they must recognize God and always be ready to Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. (Psalm 144:1) The greatest piece of equipment we have is the Word of God and we must be trained in how to use it. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Strength Coach

Long before the football season begins, players spend time in the weight room receiving instructions from the strength coach on how to improve their over all stamina, in addition to building up particular muscles for their special positions on the team. For example an interior lineman, whether playing offense or defense, needs strong arms, legs and neck muscles to block and rush over the line of scrimmage past other players of equal size and strength. David teaches young Christians who face a charge of the spiritual enemy to stand their ground and resist the attack. The Lord reminded the people of Israel through His prophet Isaiah that “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9) The forces of evil in this world demand that we build up our spiritual stamina through a study and application of God’s Word in addition to daily prayer and worship. With that in mind, and analogous to what football, basketball and baseball players learn in the weight room, the author of Hebrews tells us this: Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13) We use our arms to help others up who have fallen, either physically or spiritually, and with strong knees we move about doing the work of the Lord. In the context of the strength coach, David uses the analogy to teach team work both on and off the field of conquest. As their spiritual strength coach David reminds them that their physical training, while important, is not nearly as vital to the quality of their lives as their spiritual training, because it has eternal consequences. Timothy’s “coach” the apostle Paul told him this:  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8) Christians must always keep an eternal perspective on everything that happens through the day, on or off the field.

In contact sports, injuries are bound to occur; it’s axiomatic. A time with the team physician and rehabilitation therapist may be necessary, but most injuries are not career ending. So it is in the spiritual battles of life. No one knew that better than the apostle Peter, who lost a spiritual battle and denied his Lord and as a result suffered a great amount of guilt.  Peter’s advice and encouragement is thus based on personal experience: And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:10) Many of these young people under Coach Kohout’s spiritual care have suffered from broken homes (through divorce), the death of a parent, addiction to drugs and alcohol, failing grades, personal illness, rejection, etc. Reminding them of the grace of God who saves and sustains, the coach enables them to rise above their adversity and instead view it as an opportunity. Using his own personal testimony as a launching pad, this minister to the youth of our nation, who has literally taken off like a rocket from Cape Kennedy, humbly confesses, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13). Then he adds “So can you because you are standing in the midst of greatness.”

Coach Kokout never vocally engages these young people, either in a group session or one on one before shoring up his own spiritual strength through prayer. He is reminded of Peter’s caveat all the time; If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:11

Offensive Coordinator

Those who follow football know that the offence is either managed by the head coach (as in Jim Tressel’s case at Ohio State) or a specially trained and proficient man who designs plays and teaches the players how to execute them. The play book is thick and complicated and the players must spend hours memorizing the plays, their particular responsibility during those plays, the position they must take as they line up on the field to run the play and the code word or hand signal that represents the play that is communicated to them from the sideline and/or in the huddle. Each player, quarterback, running or blocking back, tight end, wide receiver, offensive line guard or tackle and the center, knows what his duties are on each particular play. In life, Coach David knows full well that the play book is the Bible and he thus instructs his players or students in the methods of waging offensive spiritual battles. Of course the main offensive coach from whom David learned about the use of the playbook in the first place is the Holy Spirit who communicates the right play at the right time and teaches us the methods by which we utilize the information.

Coach Kohout tells these young people that the battlefield in life is not waged like a conventional war or a contact sport. Our strategic and tactical warfare is based upon the fact that it is spiritual and thus our offence must be spiritual as well. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)  It takes a great deal of intelligence to memorize and utilize the plays that are diagramed and laid out in an offense’s playbook. Once they have mastered it they can beat any other team’s defense to the punch that is not equal in its training, strength and coaching. So it is with what we learn in the playbook of like, the Holy Bible. The psalmist confidently asserts; Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:99-100)  When every player on the offense follows the directions that he finds in the play book, the play is executed well. So it is with our daily lives as we learn from God’s Word.  Coach points out that the psalmist asks the very practical question and then offers the answer: How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. (Psalm 119:9)

The metaphor used for the playbook of life, is a sword and it is the only offensive weapon mentioned by Paul in his discussion on spiritual warfare in Ephesians chapter 6. There he tells us that when confronted by the spiritual forces of evil we must grab hold of and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (vs. 17) In the book of Hebrews, the author also uses the same metaphor: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  (Hebrews 4:12)

There we find that the word of God is not merely useful as we engage the enemy without, but also the enemy within; our fallen, depraved and sinful nature. Coach Kohout readily reminds the young Christian that they will have these inner battles regarding doing the right thing, on the filed, in class, at home or on a date. Even the great apostle Paul fought with his inner soul in these matters. He readily admits this in his letter to the church in Rome: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25)

There is one Scripture based play that we should all memorize when it comes to temptation and the power to resist following through into an act of sin. It is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. With that weapon firmly tucked away in the scabbard of our mind we can draw the sword of the Lord and fight off the evil that confronts us. By the time you and I have repeated that verse, the temptation will have passed and the power of the Holy Spirit will over rule in our heart. That is an offence with which we can all identify.

Defensive Coordinator

The defensive coach draws up plays that will enable the players to contend against various types of offensive plays; running or passing. Those too are communicated to the defensive linemen, linebackers, corner backs and safeties. While Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11-17 that we need to put on defensive armor, we need to know that it is not we who resist the devil but God the Holy Spirit Himself who lives in us. Spiritual battles are just as certain as the sunrise each morning. Peter warns believers of this very fact in our defensive playbook, the Bible. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). A defensive lineman must be “self controlled so he does not jump off side and a linebacker, corner back and safety need to be alert to see what play the offense is throwing up against them. The devil is always waiting to see where our defense is weak, so that he knows where to attack.

Whenever you or I are confronted by the enemy of our souls we must cry out; Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. (Psalm 35:23) Of course, the psalmist only felt as though God was sleeping, but we know full well from Scripture that He is always on guard for us: I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:1-8) These are encouraging words for every believer engaged in spiritual warfare. As are the following words that comfort us when we are opposed by an army of evil forces: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. (2 Chronicles 20:15). The coach will honestly warn the young folks that their peers may scoff at them when they learn of their commitment to Christ and their belief in the truth of God’s Word. He will also remind them that the first century believers like Paul were also mocked and criticized for such beliefs. But Paul has told each of us, young and old alike, that we are to be courageous defenders of the faith, bold, unafraid and unashamed: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (2 Timothy 1:7-9)

Coach Kohout has waged many a personal spiritual battle about which he has shared with the young folks to whom he was called to minister. In today’s relativistic society, engendered by public education, few young people (or adults for that matter) have any idea what truth is. On the first Good Friday Jesus told Pontius Pilate; I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)  Then Pilate asked a question that many a person, young or old, is asking today “What is truth?" (John 18:38). The line of scrimmage for truth is drawn, we need to choose to be on the winning side and listen to Jesus.

Paul also gives us uplifting words in his letter to the Philippians’ church when he speaks of his own defense in the battle for truth.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel  (Philippians 1:14-16) Coach points out that they will be called on to defend the gospel, just as they are assigned different roles in the defensive play book of the team and so they must be prepared to do battle with the sword of the Spirit firmly grasped in their hand.

Special Teams Coach

In the game of life, as in the sporting games, we are each gifted with certain specific talents and abilities. A good coach will recognize the potential in each player, and decide which are best suited for offence; defense or what are called “special teams.” These players participate less frequently than the others but their roles are very significant and important to the game. In fact many a football game has been lost because the special teams did not do their job. In football the special teams are involved in a kickoff, punts, field goals and extra points following touch downs. In the church, the body of Christ, we also find special teams; players who have been especially chosen and empowered by God to do particular things that others are incapable of doing. For example we read this about the apostle Paul and his miraculous conversion from an offender of Christians and the church to a defender of the faith: But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15)

Coach Kohout is a teacher of God’s Word, and in doing so he points out that each of us is saved for a special purpose on a special team. He instructs students in the following verses about spiritual gifts: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) The verse teaches a believer that God has saved each of us and has done a work in us that will prepare us for some special service on this earth.  He taught the Corinthian church that There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:4, 7 and 11)  Everyone gets some kind of spiritual gift for working on a special team. The gift is to benefit the whole team, because it is for the common good. It is the Divine Special Teams Coach that gives out the special team assignments just as he determines. Peter then added to this teaching about special teams and the glory they bring to God when he wrote, Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Practice

Every player on every team, whether offense, defense or special team, will never be able to contribute to a winning team without hours of hard work and practice. It is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it. Having learned the theory behind their offensive, defensive and special teams playbooks they have to run over those plays time after time with their physical bodies or their head knowledge will do absolutely no good on game day. So it is with the game of life and our play book the Bible. Jesus taught that very lesson, using builders, not athletes. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27) The old adage “practice makes perfect” is just as valid in the act of Christian living as it is on the gridiron. We can hear and know God’s Word but it does us no good without practicing.

Too many young folks these days have little respect for their parents or grand parents; even young Christians To those people the Divine Coach has this advice: But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (1 Timothy 5:4) Finally, though coach Kohout, like the rest of us, is far from perfect, he encourages the kids he impacts by echoing these words of the psalmist, In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. The play book, God’s Word lays out God’s game plan for our lives and we should make a practice of following it to the letter.

The Pre-game Pep Talk

While coach Kohout would be the first to admit that “talk is cheap,” there is some definite value in the inspirational talk that coaches give to their teams on game day. The time in the weight room gaining strength has passed, training camp has ended, they have all studied the play  book, they have been through double session practices on hot summer days and scrimmages with area teams; now the big day or night has come to show the fans in the stands what they have learned and perfected. Their goal is to win every game in their conference, go on to the playoffs in the regional and sectional tournaments and ultimately head for the state finals where they will compete to win the ultimate prize, the state title in their particular division. In life’s contest, the battle for truth and the fulfillment of God’s will, we are all in the process of doing what Paul told the church at Philippi: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)  The team will be performing for their families and friends, their classmates, teachers and neighbors and they want to do the best they can. In his role as a teacher of the Bible, Coach Kokout reminds his young folks and us all what the author of Hebrews wrote long ago concerning those in the bleachers that are watching us as we stand our ground against evil opposition, as we are careful not to be weighted down by adversity or tripped up in our faith, as we run for God using our special gifts and endure the opposing forces, that though we may grow weak and weary at times during the contest, though we may occasionally come out spiritually bruised and bloodied, we will one day gain the ultimate victory and spend eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ and others in the faith. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Hebrews 12:1-4)

The next time you see this dear friend of mine, this servant of Christ that I love so much, a man who has devoted his life to the service of God and the betterment of our nation’s future leaders, reach out and shake his hand and say “Thanks coach for all you do for the young folks God sends your way.” Then ask him how you can help him through your prayers and financial contributions to his ministry Talk Is Cheap. It is a non-profit organization that focuses on building character, establishing confidence and providing hope in the lives of young people everywhere. You and I have neither the time, the inclination, the dedication nor the ability to do what David does but we do have some money and since God has seen fit to save David’s soul and enable him to do Christ’s work on earth among the youth, the least we can do is lend him support.

Soli Deo Gloria