Sports As Worship

RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM A PROF AT A BIBLE COLLEGE. WE DIALOGUED ABOUT SPORTS AS WORSHIP. THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE SOME THINGS TO CHEW ON, AGREE OR DISAGREE OF COURSE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE. SIMPLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT

__________________

HE WROTE IN SMALL CASE; I IN CAPS

HE SAID

I am a professor at ”        “Bible College in our Sports Management and Sports Ministry major.

FUN DEAL TO BE TEACHING IN!

I have over 20 years experience in Sport Ministry as a college coach, college administrator, and missionary with Athletes in Action.

AWESOME!

I am currently doing some research on what it means to WORSHIP through our athletic endeavors.

GREAT TRUTH

WHEN I WAS JUST STARTING OUT IN GOD REVEALING ABOUT THIS, COLOSSIANS 1:28-29 WAS HUGE TO ME….TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT “PRACTICE” WAS WORSHIP”! THAT I WAS GOING TO CHURCH WHEN I WORKED OUT (COL 3:17 AND 23)

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

I REMEMBER THE VERSE SAYING, AS I MEMORIZED IT BACK THEN IN WHATEVER TRANSLATION I WAS IN, “STRIVING WITH ALL HIS ENERGY THAT HE MIGHTILY INSPIRES WITHIN US!

The guys at PUSH THE ROCK Ministries in PA said you would be a good person to talk to about this subject.

WOW, I LOOKED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND DIDN’T RECOGNIZE ANYONE!!!

HOW DID THEY AND I CONNECT?

I had hoped to catch you at the DELMARVA

I AM VERY CLOSE WITH THE FCA REP THERE, RANDY CHAMBERS. DO YOU KNOW HIM?

FCA Coaches Leadership Conference in April, but I will be out of town at a different Sports Ministry conference that same weekend.

NUTS!

I AM COMING BACK FOR SOMETHING JUNE 5-12 AND POSSIBLY ALSO JULY 12-16 I BELIEVE FOR SOME DEALS

I didn’t know if you had a book, dvd, cd or something else on your thoughts regarding worship through sport.

I HAVE A BUNCH OF EMAILS ON “COMPETING BIBLICALLY”, BUT NOTHING ELSE LIKE THAT TECHNO STUFF

If you do, I would be happy to purchase these items from you.

In my experience with collegiate athletics, I have found that most Christian colleges and Christian coaches (including myself in the past) have fallen short of what I believe God desires to do through us.

OH YES!

HUGE, HUGE GAPS IN WHAT IT MEANS TO COMPETE BIBLICALLY IN EVANGELICAL CIRCLES

THE  PRIMARY “DIVIDER” WITHIN CHRISTIANDOM (BETWEEN PROFESSING CHRISTIAN COACHES) IS

1) HOW WINNING IS APPROACHED

2) HOW THE OPPONENT IS APPROACHED

We often focus on character development, community service, even missions trips, but in so doing, we have focused on our efforts, what we are doing for Jesus, instead of Jesus himself.

YES

UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S NOT ABOUT HIS GLORY, IT’S ABOUT US, OR WINNING, OR BLA BLA BLA

Often times, this approach leads to coach burnout or ineffectiveness.

Worship, true worship of Jesus, appears to be the only real solution that I have found. From our worship comes an overflowing of His spirit which enables us to share Christ’s love with the world.

YES, YES. GOD’S GLORY, GOD’S WILL BE DONE

It’s not something we have to then “muster” up. It comes naturally,

YES, FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT (SUPERNATURAL GAS)

but only if we are engaged in continued loving worship of Christ.

YES

IT MUST BE ABOUT HIM

HE MUST BE LIFTED UP, AND RELIED ON, AND SURRENDERED TO

I’m looking for more info from people smarter than me on what they’ve discovered through scripture and life about worship and sport. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

YOU WANT SOME STUFF VIA EMAIL?

KESS