Ingredients of a Champion

Introduction

What are some things that come to mind when you think of a winner or a champion?

Coach Terry Bowden coached over 300 college football games over a span of 4 decades. In 1993, he led Auburn to a perfect 11-0 season and said that his team’s success boiled down to one word… attitude. To remind him of the importance of attitude, Coach Bowden carried this article around with him throughout the season.

“Attitude: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.”

– Charles Swindoll

Attitude determines how we respond to challenges and opportunities in life. Today, we’re going to talk about three key ingredients of a winning attitude. Each of these ingredients begins with a D, and each of them makes a major contribution to individual and team success both on and off the field.

Determination is the ability to stick with it and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks.

The Three D’s

Who can tell me who Florence Griffith-Joyner is?

“Flo-Jo” is often considered the fastest woman who ever lived. She set the world record for both the 100 meters and 200 meters way back in 1988, records that still stand to this day. (To give you some perspective, the men’s 100M record has been broken 14 times since 1988!)

Shortly after winning the gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, Flo-Jo was asked to what she attributed her success. She replied, “Desire, Dedication, and Determination.” Those three D’s are what I’m going to talk to you about today.

1. Desire

How would you define “desire?”

Desire can be difficult to define, but you know if you have ever experienced it. It is an urge, an impulse, a longing to experience or accomplish something. It motivates you to strive and sacrifice for the result you are hoping for. There is an expression in Spanish to do something “con ganas,” which literally means “with desire,” but expresses so much more. It might be better translated to “put your guts into it,” or “give it all your strength.”

To be successful as a player, as a team, or in life you need desire. How strong is your desire to compete in your sport?

Check out this story about a 13-year-old boy who went on to become the greatest scorer in NCAA basketball history:

“I began to eat and sleep with my basketball by my side. I was so dedicated to perfecting my skills that when Mom came in to kiss me good night, without fail I was lying in bed shooting the ball to the ceiling. and catching it. I’m sure she heard me repeating, ‘fingertip control, backspin, follow-through … fingertip control, backspin, follow-through.’ As Mom said good night, she would tuck the ball under my arm, as some mothers would a child’s teddy bear, then turn out the light. Sleep didn’t come easily because my mind constantly churned new ideas regarding the ball-handling and dribbling drills my dad had taught me that day.”

This 13-year-old boy was none other than “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who in 3 years between 1968-1970 averaged 44 points per game and scored a total of 3667 points … A record that stands to this day.

Ted Williams – one of the greatest hitters in baseball history – said this: “All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will say, there goes the greatest hitter that ever lived.”

· What do you want people to say about you?

· How strong is your desire to achieve success?

The first ingredient is desire – you’ve gotta want it!

2. Dedication

The second ingredient is dedication.

Desire will only take you so far. To be successful, you must have the dedication to actually follow through on that desire. You have to actually do it! Dedication is often what separates average players and teams from champions.

Bobby Knight put it this way: “The will to win is the most over-estimated phenomenon in sport. It’s not the will to win – everyone wants to win. It’s the will to prepare to win that makes winners.”

A lot of people want to win, but aren’t willing to pay the price. There has never been a great sports champion who wasn’t dedicated – Steph Curry, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning – all of these guys had or have intense regiments of training that helped them reach their desired goals.

What about you? Are you willing to work hard to win? If coach was to ask you to do some extra drills after practice, what would your attitude be?

Ok, let’s review:

· The first ingredient: Desire

· The second ingredient: Dedication

3. Determination

Our final ingredient is determination. This is the ability to stick with it and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. Every great champion has had to overcome challenges and failures along the way. The examples are endless: Many of you have probably heard the story about Michael Jordan. As a sophomore he was unable to make the varsity basketball team. Apparently, there were 15 kids better than him at his high school. Jordan turned that into motivation. He worked out relentlessly, became the best player on the JV team, and a year later was the undisputed leader of the varsity squad.

Many of you may know that Tom Brady was drafted in the 6^th round of the NFL draft, the 199^th pick overall. Every NFL franchise had the opportunity to select Brady and passed, multiple times. Tom used that snub as motivation throughout his NFL career, winning 7 Super Bowls (more than any NFL franchise) and becoming arguably the greatest NFL player of all-time.

· What is your attitude?

· Are you easily side-tracked or are you determined to press on?

To be a champion in life requires desire, dedication, and determination in every area of your life- the physical, the mental, and the spiritual.

Conclusion

Let’s review the 3 D’s:

· Desire

· Dedication

· Determination

Ask yourself where you can apply these ingredients to help you achieve your goals. Also, what about applying it to other areas of your life so you can excel off the field as well.

To be a champion in life requires desire, dedication, and determination in every area of your life- the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. A lot of professional athletes have acknowledged the key role spiritual motivation has played in their success – players like Clayton Kershaw, Steph Curry, and Cooper Kupp. These guys have learned how to strike a balance in these three areas of their life.

Cru is an organization that supports students who want to develop the spiritual area of their lives. Addi (Cru student leader) has been involved for the past 4 years and she and our Cru staff team want to invite anyone who is interested to hear a bit more about Cru and how we seek to serve students in our community. If anyone is interested, we will have pizza and popsicles tomorrow after practice and share a little bit more about Cru and how we can grow as spiritual champions as well.

Comment Cards

Thanks again for having us, coach. I do have just one favor to ask. We’re going to pass out some brief comment cards. We would love it if you could take about 2 minutes to give us some honest feedback about the talk today. It is always helpful for us to know what students find most helpful, as well as what topics you might be interested in hearing about. There is also a place on the card where you can provide your contact information if you would like a reminder text about our pizza and popsicle event taking place outside the locker room tomorrow after practice. Thanks, guys. Best of luck with the remainder of your season.

Next Step

Decide on a team for a team talk, and offer this talk or Successful Teams to the coach.

team talk successful teams

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.