How to Share Your Faith Using Sports
As fall kicks into high gear, perhaps you find that sports are a significant part of your world - either because you're on a team or because you're rooting for one! Have you ever given any thought to why millions and millions of people, across cultures and generations are avid sports players or fans?
One obvious reason is that sports are fun! Fun to play, and fun to watch (sometimes). If you're a soccer or football player, you've been back on the field for awhile, hard at work - conditioning your body, disciplining your mind and honing your skills and teamwork. If you're a fan, you're cheering your team on.
But beyond the fun, there's the draw of competition - of striving to be the best you can be and giving it your all. Striving to live up to your full potential is a good thing, and sports provide an agreed upon set of rules and referees that allow us to compete. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor. 9:24,
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
Doing out best in with integrity in whatever we undertake can give glory to God. After all, He designed us and gifted us with the natural abilities we're blessed with and He has made it possible for us to have the time and resources at our disposal to hone our skills and improve our performance.
However beyond the fun and competition, sports also appeal to us because they give us a communal identity - we get to feel part of a team or part of a larger group of fans that support a team. We enjoy being part of a group because God created us to be relational. God is relational and being made in His image, we're relational too. There's something in us that is drawn to being part of something bigger than ourselves and something that makes our spirits soar when we hear the roar of the crowd's encouragement. No wonder sports have such a global appeal and such dedicated players and fervent fans. The Bible tells us that our spiritual walk has some of those same characteristics.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." (Heb. 12:1, NLT)
Given its almost universal appeal, have you ever considered using the current soccer, football, hockey or whatever season as an opportunity to share about God in your life? Here are some suggestions for conversation starters:
- Ask your friends why they think striving to do their best is important. Share why it's important to you.
- If and when you find yourself in a sports situation that feels unfair to you and your teammates or fellow fans, discuss why fairness is such a big deal. What gives us that sense of right and wrong and fairness and unfairness? Perhaps you'll get a chance to explain how our whole concept of right and wrong comes from God and His Word.
- Ask your friends if they've ever been tempted to cheat in sports. Would they rather win by cheating or lose with integrity? Find out why and share your perspective.
- What's the big appeal of being part of a team or part of a movement that's bigger than you are? Invite your friends to your next youth group meeting or service project where they can experience being part of something bigger than themselves.
Sports involvement can be a great experience because it challenges you to reach deep within yourself to excel, it's fun, AND it can also be a great vehicle for outreach. What a game plan!!
