Tag Archives: olympics

The Lord’s Baseball Game

June 25, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, “He sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.

But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord’s team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained,” If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home.”

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Inspiration

The Character of a Champion

January 2, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Of the many Olympic events, to win the Marathon is one of the most prestigious. Yet in the 1968 Olympic Marathon, it is not the winner, the one who finished first, who is most remembered, but the runner who finished last.

Darkness was falling. Only a few thousand spectators remained in the stadium. The Marathon had been won over an hour earlier. Now, as the last of the spectators were leaving, their attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of police sirens and whistles at the marathon gates.

Out of the cold darkness, John Stephen Akhwari, wearing the colors of Tanzania, entered at the far end of the stadium, painfully hobbling, his leg bloody and bandaged.

Earlier, several miles into the race, Akhwari had found himself trapped in the middle of some runners. Unable to see well, he fell and severely injured his knee and ankle. He watched in anguish as the other racers continued. But he didn’t give up there.

Grimacing with every step, he now painfully hobbles around the 400 meter track, eventually crosses the finish line and collapses–the last man to finish the marathon.

The spectators rise and applaud him – saluting the man’s determination. Without looking back, Akhwari quietly walked off the field. Later, when asked why he did not quit, he replied, “My country did not send me 7000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7000 miles to finish it.”

Akhwari was never awarded a medal. They don’t hand out awards for perseverance at the Olympics. Yet few remember who won the gold in the 1968 Marathon. Instead they remember John Stephen Awkwari — the runner whose determination and perseverance represented the true character of a Champion.

Anyone can start something

but true Champions finish what they start!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
-Hebrews 12:1

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Inspiration

The Impossible Dream

December 31, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Doctors and scientists said it was impossible!
Man could not run a mile in less than 4 minutes!
He would die in the foolish attempt.
It was an Impossible Dream.

Our bone structure was wrong.
Wind resistance was too great.
We had inadequate lung power.
Our heart could not take the strain.

25 year-old Roger Bannister wasn’t listening.
He endured thousands of monotonous laps,
Around the same university track,
Determined to shape his body and his mind.

May 6, 1954, at Oxford University in England,
Was viewed as simply another attempt,
In a history of foolish attempts,
To achieve the Impossible Dream.

Yet at the end of the race the stop-watches held a different view.
The results were announced.
‘Result of one mile… time, 3 minutes…’
The rest was lost in the roar of the crowd.

Roger Bannister blazed across the finish line,
In a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds.
The Impossible Dream was now an event for the history books,
Considered one of the greatest feats in sports history.

46 days after Bannister’s breakthrough,
The record was broken again by a different runner.
By the end of 1957,
16 runners had achieved the Impossible.

Runners did not suddenly get “better” in those few short years.
They simply began to believe.
Running a mile in less than four minutes was not only possible,
It had been achieved!

To date, 955 runners have achieved the Impossible Dream
Accomplishing the feat an incredible 4700+ times.

Many of life’s barriers and obstacles come from within.
We create limits for ourselves.
But once those barriers are broken,
We realise the biggest barriers are our beliefs.

What beliefs are keeping you from achieving your dreams?
Don’t accept them. Don’t listen to the voices of doubt.

Forge ahead in faith and you too
Can achieve Impossible Dreams!

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
-Matthew 19:26

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…”
– James 1:6-7

Take it to the Next Level

Belief plays a significant part in the life of believers. We believe in Christ for salvation. And through our faith in Him, God does the impossible. As William Carey, pioneer missionary of the modern missions movement, said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”

And like Roger Bannister we may have seemingly impossible dreams. As William Carey, pioneer missionary of the modern missions movement, said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” Unlike Roger Bannister, we don’t do things for earthly accolades, but for the rewards of heaven, that one day we might stand before God and hear, ‘Behold my servant, in whom I am well pleased.”

Applying it to life

What are some of the things the world sees as impossible that God does in the lives of youth today?
What barriers and doubts do youth face in the Christian journey?
What is something you need to believe God for in your life?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Creative Teaching Ideas

Running to Win

October 22, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
1. You’ll need a flag sized piece of cloth.
2. Mark starting and finish lines in your room using the masking tape. You can also mark out an entire race course if you have the space. For an outdoor use cones or stake some brightly colored string or yarn to the ground to define the track. Ensure there is enough room for cars to pass each other on the track!
3. You’ll also need Bibles.

Activity
1. Form “race-car teams” of five students
2. Each of teams is to be an Indy-style race car. One person will be chassis, and the other four will be the wheels. The wheels must carry the chassis.
3. When I shout, “Racers, start your engines!” all race cars should line up, side by side. Let me hear the roar of your engines!
4. When I drop my flag, your race car should race along the outside edge of our meeting room. The first race car to make five laps around the track wins. Ready? Racers, start your engines! Pause, then quickly lower the flag.

Application
When the race is finished, have youth / children sit together with their teams. Give each team a Bible. Ask a volunteer from each team to read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, then have teams each discuss the following questions to debrief their experience:

What does it mean to “run to win”?
Did your team run to win? Why or why not?
What does it mean to run to win in life?
What’s one thing you can do that will help you run to win in your life?

Additional Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2; I Cor 9:24-27

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Creative Teaching Ideas

Broken Down Car Race

October 19, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
A large open space

Activity
In the broken-car relay, each team runs several consecutive races.
1. In each race they will pretend that they’re part of a car with a problem, such as a stuck horn that’s blaring incessantly or windshield wipers that won’t stop moving. The children run the race acting out what’s broken. For example, if the car is stuck in reverse, the children will run backwards.
2. Before each race begins, tell the runners what problems their car will have.
3. Choose a starting point and a turnaround line that are about 20 feet apart and then divide the children into two teams, or have them pick which team they want to be in. Each team should line up single file behind the starting line.
4. At your signal, (dropping a checkered flag?) the race begins.
5. One by one the children run to the turnaround line and back while pretending to be the car with the first problem.
6. After all the children on one team have had the first problem, they run again, this time with the second problem and then the third, etc. The first team that completes all of the relays wins the race.

Hints
Young children may have a hard time figuring out what motions to use while they run. You can always give them ideas or help them to come up with their own.

Application
Paul compares the Christian life, not to a car race, but to a human race where the runners press toward the prize. But sometimes we have problems running the race God has given us. We don’t live up to our potential.

Discussion
1. What are some of our problems that prevent us from running the Christian race at our best?
2. How can we get our lives tuned up for victory?
3. What do you need to change this week to become more victorious in your Christian life?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Creative Teaching Ideas, Icebreakers

Running the Race?

October 17, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
This activity can be used as an icebreaker or discussion starter on living the Christian life. In the Bible, Paul frequently illustrated the Christian lifestyle as being similar to running in a race. It’s ties in nicely to an Olympics theme as well a general sports related theme.

Materials
None

Activity
Give youth / kids different sports below to pantomime. Let the rest of the group guess the sports.

Baseball	Basketball	Bobsledding
Bowling	Boxing	Canoeing
Chess	Cross-country Skiing	Darts
Diving	Downhill	Skiing
Football	Figure Skating	Golf
Gymnastics	Horseshoes	Ice Hockey
Kayaking	Luge	Ping-pong
Rapelling	River Rafting	Rock Climbing
Horseshoes	Rugby	Ski Jump
Slalom	Soccer	Speedskating
Swimming	Tennis	Track & Field
Volleyball	Waterpolo	Wrestling
Others?

Discussion
Ask each youth what sport best describes his/her spiritual life and why.

Application
Paul compared his life to that of a race. He leaves everything behind and presses toward the goal, the finish line. (Phil 3:12 – 16 )

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Teaching Illustrations

Rudy Tomjanovich

October 14, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Rudy Tomjanovich, the former basketball coach of the Houston Rockets and more recently the Los Angeles Lakers experienced an unusual event in 1973. As a robust twenty-five-year old, Rudy was playing for the Rockets.

In the middle of a close game, a fight broke out at center court. Rudy rushed over to the unfolding conflict, running at full speed, to try to break it up. Just as he arrived, a player whipped around and without looking, swung as hard as he could.

Unfortunately, the punch landed right in Rudy’s face. It was labeled the “punch heard around the world”. The blow fractured Rudy’s skull, broke his nose and cheekbones, and nearly killed him. Although Rudy was sidelined for months following the devastating punch, he eventually recovered.

One day after Rudy recuperated, a reporter asked him, “Rudy, have you ever forgiven the player who wounded you so badly?” Without hesitation, Rudy said immediately, “Absolutely, I’ve totally forgiven him.”

The reporter shook as his head as though he was perplexed. “Come on, Rudy, that guy nearly killed you. He caused you all that pain. He stole part of your career. Do you mean to tell me you don’t have any anger, any hatred or bitterness toward him?”

Rudy smiled, “I don’t have any at all.” The reporter stared at him in disbelief. He finally asked, “Rudy, tell me, how do you do it? How could you possibly forgive that man who hurt you so badly?”

Rudy replied, “I knew if I wanted to move on with my life, I had to let it go. I didn’t do it for him. I did it so I can be free.”

We often fail to consider the residual effects of unresolved conflict in our lives.

Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”.

From Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen, pp. 160-161.

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Object Lessons

Sports Equipment

July 3, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
A variety of sports equipment. Possibilities include: (a baseball mitt, baseball, bat, and baseball cap), (soccerball, soccer shoe, shin guard), (golf club, golf ball, putter, golf tee), (table tennis table, ping-pong ball, racket, net), (basketball, basketball net), (chessboard, chess pieces), (Chinese chess pieces and board), (tennis ball, tennis racket), (croquet set), (swimming fins, goggles, swimsuit, skull cap), (bowling ball, shoes, and glove) and various balls and equipments from other sports. While using actual equipment will make the lesson more exciting, if you can’t obtain the different sports equipment you can write the names of the items on note cards.

Activity
Have children or youth group the items together. As a children’s sermon make believe you are playing the different sports, but use the wrong equipment. For a fun youth lesson, actually play a sport with the wrong equipment.)

Debrief
While we may be able to play with the wrong equipment, we are NOT going to break any records. If I hit a basketball with a golf club it will take me forever to reach the hole and when I reach the hole the ball won’t fit! While some small items like a baseball cap may not make a difference, other equipment may be impossible to use for the wrong game. Imagine running a race in flippers. If you want to be successful and victorious you need to use the right equipment.

Application
Solomon tried a lot of things in life. While some of them worked for a while, his relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually.

Alternate Application
Applied to Spiritual gifts, God gives us each gifts with a purpose. Like a piece of sports equipment, We each have our own role to play in this game called life. We are not all called to play the same game or even to use the same gifts and skills. If we try to serve God in ways for which we were not created or for which he did not intend for us to serve, we may be able to function, but we will be far from our potential in Christ.

Alternate Application
While some of the wrong equipment may work for a while, you won’t realise your true potential until you use the right equipment for the right task and are pursuing the right goal. For Paul, (Phil 3:12 – 16 ) there was only one goal that mattered. His relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually. We have to make sure that in life we are playing the right game and pursuing the right goals.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Creative Teaching Ideas

Tiny Olympics

May 1, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Long rope. (Towels or bedsheets can be tied together to make a rope.)

Activity
Don’t tell the youth or children why, but they must send their 10 littlest (smallest) people together for a very special task. Once the kids or youth have selected their smallest, reveal the rope and tell them you are going to having a “Tiny Tug” of war. After a couple of tries and encouragement to the winning team ask the losing team if they think they will win? But this time help them. Of course with the teacher on their side they are sure to win.

Application
While things may seem difficult or impossible to us, when God is on our team we can do anything.

Variation: Mini Olympics
Mini tug-o-war: Get a rope about 1 meter long and make the markings on a table. The catch is the participants may only use one hand to pull the rope and may only use a thumb and index finger to grab the rope. Done in this way, the deciding factor is not the strength or weight of the person, but the strength of their grip with the two fingers.
Mini Javelin Toss: Usw a straw and only two fingers to toss it
Mini Shotput: Use a ball bearing or marble and flip it with your thumb
Mini hockey: Use a tabletop and a carrom seed or checker disc and straws in a person’s mouth to move it the seed through the goals
Thumb wrestling: Gripping fingers so only the thumb is raised extended, participants try to hold the other persons thumb down using their own.
Synchronized Twirling: Dexterity competition twirling a pencil through fingers
Relay race: moving a coin on the top of your hand, from top of thumb to the pinky and back using only once hand;
Marathon race: rolling a coin the farthest distance;
High Jump: Flipping a coin in the air using the thumb and index finger

Application
Many times we think we must be big and powerful to do things. We think we can only help if we are strong. But even if we are not strong enough and powerful enough or big enough we can still help others by pointing them to God who is all strong and powerful.

This creative teaching activity uses games to remind children or youth that the Christian faith is not a “I can’t” religion. It is always a “I can” religion. The assurance is found in Phil 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” In this passage we are promised the strength to deal all adversties of life – trials and temptations. This power is given to us as long as we are in Christ.

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Devotional, Object Lessons

Slow Leaks

March 11, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

So many of the sports we play today involve little round objects which we hit, kick, drive or dribble toward a goal. We have basketballs, golf balls, tennis balls, and soccer balls, just to name a few.

Many men my age prefer golf. With golf, the objective is to a hit a little ball into a little hole from half-way around the world. Personally I find golf more an exercize in frustration rather than enjoyable recreation.

I have a preference for basketball. With basketball you can take a much bigger ball, get as close as you want to the hole, and jam it down the hole if you have the vertical leap to do so.

While golf requires expensive club memberships, green fees and a heavy collection of golfclubs, all I need is a basketball and a short trip to the nearest basketball court – which happens to be free.

Unfortunately my basketball has developed a little bit of a problem. It doesn’t quite bounce like it once did. Instead of bouncing into action as it once did, it generally hits the ground with a dull thud. Without a forceful push from an outside force, it is perfectly content to just sit there. And even when pushed pushed, It seems tends to roll off the court and spend the day simply lying around.

You can’t tell by looking at it, but over time my basketball has gone flat. I can’t point to a specific point in time when it lost its bounce. I can’t find any teethmarks from the neighborhood dog or punctures from angry players. The real problem is that the basketball leaks!

Yet now that I have discovered the problem, the solution is quite simple. I take out my trusty air pump and give it a periodic refill.

Yet what is true of my basketball is also true of us as Christians. There was a time when we all had a spring in our step and bounced into action when a spiritual goal was placed before us. But something has changed. We probably can’t point to a specific event that took the air out of our Christianity, but our spiritual life is now flat. We have the same problem as my basketball– we leak! Mediocrity is rarely the result of a blowout, but more often the result of a slow leak.

So how do we get that bounce back in our step? How do we change that dull thud into high flying goals? Instead of rolling away from His heavenly court and sitting in spiritual stagnation, we draw near to God and let him fill us with his presence. “Be ye continually being filled.” (Eph 5:18b)

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

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