Spiritual Sports Lessons
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.
1 Cor. 9:24-27
Background of this Lesson
Background of this Lesson
• Christianity is practical and timely
Background of this Lesson
• Christianity is practical and timely
• Spiritual lessons are found everywhere
Background of this Lesson
• Christianity is practical and timely
• Spiritual lessons are found everywhere
• Jesus’ used common things in teaching
Background of this Lesson
•
•
•
•
Christianity is practical and timely
Spiritual lessons are found everywhere
Jesus’ used common things in teaching
Prevalence of sports in first century
Background of this Lesson
•
•
•
•
•
Christianity is practical and timely
Spiritual lessons are found everywhere
Jesus’ used common things in teaching
Prevalence of sports in first century
Today, a study of “spiritual sports”
CHURCH FOOTBALL
CHURCH FOOTBALL
QUARTERBACK SNEAK
BENCH WARMER
HALFTIME
FACE MASK
BACKFIELD IN MOTION
DELAY OF GAME
ROUGHING THE PASTORS
CHURCH FOOTBALL
QUARTERBACK SNEAK—What later arrivers do to avoid being seen
BENCH WARMER—Those who do not sing/pray during worship
HALFTIME—The period between classes and worship
FACE MASK—What some wear to appear to be listening to a sermon
BACKFIELD IN MOTION—Making a trip to get a drink during worship
DELAY OF GAME—Starting worship late
ROUGHING THE PASTORS—Unjust criticism of the elders
CHURCH FOOTBALL
QUARTERBACK SNEAK—What later arrivers do to avoid being seen
BENCH WARMER—Those who do not sing/pray during worship
HALFTIME—The period between classes and worship
FACE MASK—What some wear to appear to be listening to a sermon
BACKFIELD IN MOTION—Making a trip to get a drink during worship
DELAY OF GAME—Starting worship late
ROUGHING THE PASTORS—Unjust criticism of the elders
TWO MINUTE WARNING
BLITZ
ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT
FLEX DEFENSE
CHOP BLOCK
STAYING IN THE POCKETe
CHURCH FOOTBALL
QUARTERBACK SNEAK—What later arrivers do to avoid being seen
BENCH WARMER—Those who do not sing/pray during worship
HALFTIME—The period between classes and worship
FACE MASK—What some wear to appear to be listening to a sermon
BACKFIELD IN MOTION—Making a trip to get a drink during worship
DELAY OF GAME—Starting worship late
ROUGHING THE PASTORS—Unjust criticism of the elders
TWO MINUTE WARNING—When the preacher says, “Finally . . .”
BLITZ—The rush for the exit following the closing prayer
ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT—Using cell phones during worship
FLEX DEFENSE—The ability to allow nothing said to affect your life
CHOP BLOCK—Christians gossiping about one another
STAYING IN THE POCKET—The contribution of some
Spiritual Sports Lessons
Spiritual Sports Lessons
• Sports are profitable
7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and
exercise yourself toward godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is
profitable for all things, having promise of the life that
now is and of that which is to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Spiritual Sports Lessons
• Sports are profitable
• Boxing and beating the air
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.
1 Cor. 9:24-27
Spiritual Sports Lessons
• Sports are profitable
• Boxing and beating the air
• Spectators are watching you
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and
discouraged in your souls.
Heb. 12:1-3
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.
1 Cor. 9:24-27
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
Getting on the track, staying on track
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not
crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Timothy 2:5
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
Getting on the track, staying on track
Laying aside unneeded “baggage”
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and
discouraged in your souls.
Heb. 12:1-3
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
Getting on the track, staying on track
Laying aside unneeded “baggage”
Finishing the race
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also
to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
Getting on the track, staying on track
Laying aside unneeded “baggage”
Finishing the race
Being like your hero
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and
discouraged in your souls.
Heb. 12:1-3
Spiritual Sports Lessons
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports are profitable
Boxing and beating the air
Spectators are watching you
Getting ready—self denial demanded
Getting on the track, staying on track
Laying aside unneeded “baggage”
Finishing the race
Being like your hero
Standing on the podium, your medal
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.
1 Cor. 9:24-27
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
• Repent (turn from sin) Acts 17:30
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
• Repent (turn from sin) Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ
Rom. 10:9
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
• Repent (turn from sin) Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ
Rom. 10:9
• Baptized into Christ
Gal. 3:26-27
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
• Repent (turn from sin) Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ
Rom. 10:9
• Baptized into Christ
Gal. 3:26-27
Added to His Kingdom, His Church
Enter the Race and Win the Crown
• Believe in Him
Mark 16:16
• Repent (turn from sin) Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ
Rom. 10:9
• Baptized into Christ
Gal. 3:26-27
Added to His Kingdom, His Church
• Be faithful until death
Rev. 2:10