Flag on the Play, Part 3: Double Dribble // Jamie Nunnally

Don't get called for double dribble in the kingdom! In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how to stay consistent in your walk with God and keep your spiritual momentum. 

In sports, a penalty stops the game until it's addressed. Spiritually, penalties stop our momentum. We're learning to identify and call them out in ourselves so we can keep moving forward with God.

Today's focus: the basketball penalty called double dribble. A dribble is bouncing the ball while walking. But once you stop, you must pass or shoot — you can't start again. Spiritually, "double dribble" is inconsistency in our walk with God.

Inconsistency kills momentum.

God's not looking for weekend warriors — He's looking for weekday walkers. It's easy to be on fire Sunday, but what about Thursday?

James 1:8 KJV says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." A double-dribbling Christian keeps picking up and putting down God's ways.

Remember Demas?

2 Timothy 4:10 NLT: "Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life..."

Demas walked with Paul, saw miracles, and still walked away. Why? 

Because inconsistency leads to drift.

Hebrews 2:1 MSG warns us to hold tight to truth so we don't drift.

Culture is a current pulling you away from God.

Inconsistency → Ineffectiveness → Insignificance.

(Not your worth, but your usefulness in the Kingdom.)

How to avoid double dribble:

1. Abide in the Vine

John 15:4-5 ESV: "Apart from me you can do nothing."

Branches bear fruit only when connected to the root.

God doesn't want to be number one on your to-do list — He wants to BE the list.

Don't compartmentalize God. Build your life around Him. He's the center from which everything else flows.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Like athletes practice, we must develop daily spiritual habits: prayer, scripture, community, worship.

Each time you do, it's like bouncing the ball.

Philippians 2:12: "Work out your salvation..."

Have you seen someone burn hot, then fizzle?

They sprint spiritually, then stall out.

Consistency > Intensity.

Ten minutes daily is better than a monthly binge.

The goal isn't perfection, it's progress. 

Closing: From Demas to Mark

Mark started strong, then quit. Paul even refused to work with him. But later, Paul calls Mark "useful to me" (2 Timothy 4:11).

Tradition says Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark — from quitter to gospel writer.

Failure isn't final.

God can still use you.

Decide today: No more double dribble. Start the daily dribble.

Pick ONE thing you can do daily — pray, read, encourage.

Don't be spectacular. Just be steady.

Could double dribble be called on you?