Red Letter Coaching | Matthew 3

Obedience Before Understanding

“It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”— Matthew 3:15

“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”“You must not test the Lord your God.”“You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone.”— Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

The Big Idea (B3rd Focus)

Becoming who God calls us to be always begins with obedience—before comfort, clarity, or outcomes.

Coaching Reflection

Matthew 3 opens with a powerful reminder: before Jesus ever leads publicly, He chooses obedience privately. Standing at the Jordan River, Jesus submits to baptism—not because He needs it, but because the Father requires it. Comfort, logic, and appearance take a back seat to faithfulness.

Immediately after, Jesus is led into the wilderness. Hungry, tired, and preparing for His mission, He is tempted to rely on the flesh, test God, and chase power. Each time, Jesus responds with truth. He anchors Himself in God’s Word, trusts the Father fully, and refuses to worship anything other than God.

This is formation before platform. Identity before outcomes. Faithfulness before success. Jesus shows us that obedience is not a weakness—it is the foundation for everything that follows.

B3rd Application

Athletics place constant pressure on identity and priorities. Performance can replace purpose. Success can become self-worth. When that happens, sport shifts from a platform to an idol.

Matthew 3 calls us back to alignment. God must come first. When He does, athletics regain their proper place—as a tool to glorify God, grow in character, and serve others well.

B3rd Challenges

Athletes

• Where are you tempted to put performance, playing time, or recognition ahead of obedience?

• Are you feeding the flesh more than your faith?

Challenge:

Choose one moment this week—at practice, in competition, or at school—to respond with integrity and obedience, even if it costs you something.

Coaches

• Are your decisions driven more by results or by formation?

• Where might success, control, or reputation be competing with God’s authority in your leadership?

Challenge:

Reinforce faith or character this week without tying it to wins, stats, or outcomes.

Parents

• Are your priorities helping your athlete grow in faith—or quietly increasing pressure?

• Do your conversations point your child toward obedience or only outcomes?

Challenge:

Have one intentional conversation this week that reinforces identity in Christ, not identity in sport.

Final B3rd Thought

B3rd isn’t about being first or second—it’s about becoming who God created you to be. When God is first, athletics become a platform for formation, not a replacement for faith.