MOVIE MONDAY | Invincible: A Community Win

Today is our final devotional in our summer sports movie series as we unpack the 2006 movie Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear.

Based on the incredible true story of a 30-year-old substitute teacher and bartender from South Philadelphia who tried out for and made the Eagles team in 1976, Vince Papale played three seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in 41 games!

It's an unbelievable real-life sports story, and the movie, of course, takes creative liberties, which makes it really entertaining and inspiring. We watch Vince go from being at rock bottom with no money or a solid job, a wife who left him, and a bleak future to suiting up in an NFL regular-season game. 

He initially got his big break when the Eagles' new head coach, Dick Vermeil, held open tryouts to the public, and he showed up, got noticed, and was invited to the team’s training camp.

We watch as Vince is challenged, disliked, and seen as unlikely to make the team, but he hangs in there, and Vermeil keeps him on the roster.

It’s an amazing movie and story in so many ways, but I know that, for us as sports fans, it’s fun to imagine what it must have been like for Vince to go from sitting in the crowd as a die-hard Eagles fan to having his own locker and paycheck from the home team!

Watching Vince's remarkable journey throughout the movie, rising from rock bottom, demonstrated how critical the people in his life were in helping him get where he ended up, and how genuinely they cared for each other.

Invincible emphasizes Vince’s close relationships, giving us a great picture of what a strong community of friends and family looks like and how they win together. There are a few key moments in the movie we can draw encouragement from. 

Before Vince tried out, he was struggling to survive, and he humbled himself by going to his dad to ask for help paying the rent. The conversation went like this:

Vince: "Pop, I never had to ask you this before, but I'm gonna have trouble making rent."

Dad: "How much you need?"

Vince: "Hundred bucks. I can pay you back as soon as I..."

Dad: "No, no, forget it. There've been times I've needed help, too. This is family. We've had some rough times, you and me, but we stick on this one, okay?”

His dad's loving response took the pressure off Vince and ultimately freed him to pursue the Eagles' opportunity. 

In life, there are times when others come to us, or we go to others humbly acknowledging we need help financially or otherwise. In these situations, we must come alongside of them with generosity and support to the best of our ability. Sometimes people need a boost to keep them going. 

Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:42; NIV): “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Another important character was Vince's friend, Tommy, who pushed him to attend the open tryout. He believed in him and convinced him to do it, even though Vince was reluctant.

In our own lives, we need that kind of friend, and ought to be that kind of friend. So often, we can see someone else’s potential and their gifts, even when they don’t. In those moments of doubt, questioning, and fear, friends can provide the needed push.

Tommy was also the first person Vince told when he made the team, and they shared a special moment. Then they joined their other friends and celebrated this unbelievable opportunity together. 

Often in life, we have friends who experience something really joyous or accomplish something exciting, and in these moments, it’s so much better to celebrate together.

In either situation, someone must set aside any envy or jealousy and share in the thrilling emotions of life together, genuinely happy for the other person. (We also share in the challenges.)

Romans 12:15 (AMP) tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].”

Speaking of envy, there was one character, Johnny, who consistently gave his friend Vince a hard time and took the negative, hurtful angle. However, Vince showed great character and humility in his responses, demonstrating compassion and understanding of the difficulties Johnny faced while out of work. 

Then, in an unreal scene later in the movie, shortly after Vince had a bad first game with the Eagles, he showed up to an intense “backyard” football game his friends were playing in and sat in his car to watch. He used to play with those guys in those games, which helped him prepare for the NFL.

Johnny noticed that he was there and walked over and said, “You know, Vince, I don't know how much longer the Eagles are gonna need you, but your friends could use a little help.”

Vince said, “I got a game this weekend. I can't, Johnny.”

However, Vince took the risk, went and played tackle football in the rain and mud with his buddies, and ended up being fine. It actually sparked him to play much better in the next Eagles game.

There are a couple of things from that exchange that can challenge us today.

Vince prioritized his friends, didn't hold a grudge against Johnny, and was there for them when they needed him to help them win. Absurdly, it was a backyard football game, and he was an NFL player, but oftentimes sacrifice is needed when we’re a part of a community or group of friends.

There are also people in our circle with whom we'll have tension at times, but sometimes we'll get an opportunity to show them how much we care, even if they don't really deserve it.

Ultimately, Vince, his friends, and family stuck together and helped each other as they faced challenges within their group and community, while also rallying around Vince and his unbelievable NFL experience.

The movie makes it evident there was authentic love among this group of people as they cheered and supported Vince, which is what really made him "invincible."

Today, it’s unlikely we’ll go from the stands to the football field, but as followers of Jesus, we absolutely need a strong community of faith to accomplish the work God has called each of us to do on the mission field. We need each other’s help, support, resources, encouragement, and compassion to do things that otherwise seem unlikely or impossible.

At the core of any thriving church community or group of believers that gets through life's difficulties and celebrates its victories is an INVINCIBLE love for one another…rooted in and empowered by the love of Christ.

The kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT), ”Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, show me ways I can offer help, support, and encouragement to those in my community and among my groups of friends. I pray I’d love others well, rejoice with them, and push them to do what You’ve gifted them to do. Please help me to cherish my friends and be the kind of friend that others need me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.