Biblical Perspective on Sports Ministry (cont.)
4. In Defense of Sports – Barnabas Piper
Piper poses and responds to some typical objections to people’s enjoyment of sports. He concludes, “I believe sports are a gift, a good gift, that God gave through human creativity for our enjoyment. They should be participated in at every level and in every way as such. And just like all of life, we ought to approach them with thoughtfulness, discernment, and intentionality.”
5. God’s Chariot of Fire: The Life of Missionary Eric Liddell and the Race He Ran – Hebrews 12:1-3 – Danny Akin
Dr. Akin examines the life and missionary calling of Olympian Eric Liddell. Although his athletic ability was world class, he ran for something much greater than Olympic gold. Akin’s sermon is as enlightening as it is challenging. “Contrary to popular opinion, he never said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” However, he did say, “We are all missionaries. Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ or we repel them from Christ.”
You might also enjoy Chris Norman’s personal testimony, Why I Said No to the NFL. Books by Christian athletes offer biblical perspective on sports ministry.
6. Football Talk – Tim Challies (2004)
I have benefited greatly from Challies’ blog and resources. However, I’ve rarely seen his interest in sports come out on his blog. Check out this post.
This isn’t an exhaustive list. But these resources offer a biblical perspective about sports ministry. I hope they provide insights about the possibility, temptations, and joy of athletics!
