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Game Ideas

Superbowl Challenge – A Football themed game for Church Youth

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A Christian Superbowl Challenge
Use this Superbowl themed game with youth as an introduction to the idea of the game of football as a metaphor for living the victorious Christian life.

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Superbowl / Football Games

What You Need

  • Newsprint or long strip of paper – Classified ads work great
  • A marker for writing on the paper
  • Football themed decorations

Preparation

Create a miniature football field in the center of the room.

  • Cut some newsprint into 11 long strips 3 or four inches wide (small print classified ads work best. Cut from a double newspaper spread so that you get the longest strips possible.)
  • Masking tape can be used to replace the paper strips, but be sure to check it first to make sure it does no damage on carpet or floor tiles.
  • In the center of each strip of paper or stretch of masking tape, label the yard lines. You should have one strip for each of the following:

—– GOAL —–
—– 10 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 50 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 10 —–
—– GOAL —–

  • Lay the strips of paper out on the floor to create a miniature football field as shown above.

Create a football

  • Cut a brown paper bag, or piece of brown cardboard into the shape of a football. Use a marker to draw the laces onto the football shape so it looks more like a football.
  • You can also use a small football easily found in a toy store. They are usually about the size of a large orange.

What to do

Bible Quiz

  1. Choose a quiz of at least 50 questions. It can be questions from recent Bible lessons or simply Bible Trivia.
  2. Split the youth into two different teams and sit them on opposite at opposite ends of the football field.
  3. Flip a coin to see which team plays first
  4. Start off on the 50 yard line
  5. Each “Play” involves asking a youth from the team a question to be answered. You may wish to limit each youth on the team to answering only one question to insure that all youth participate.
  6. A correct answer advances the team 10 yards. An incorrect answer causes the team to lose 5 yards. If the student is unsure of the answer they may “pass” to another player on the team that has not answered a question yet. One pass per question is allowed.
  7. The winner is the first team to reach the opponent’s endzone (A touchdown). If the game is taking too long, the team closest to the endzone wins.
  8. For more fun, decorate the room with football logos and come dresses as the referee with a whistle.

VARIATIONS

Instead of a quiz you could use the following ideas:

  • Football Charades

Place a bunch of football related words on folded slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Divide into two teams. A player from the team pics a slip from the bowl, takes a peak at it, then must act out the word for his or her team. If the team hasn’t guessed the word in one minute, the opposing team can make one guess and try to steal the ball. When a charade is correctly guessed the team advances 5 yards. There is an attached list of Superbowl / Football related words you can use for the Charades. Get more details on how to play charades here

You can also play charades using the names of various football teams. You can find some of the football teams here

  • Forbidden Word

Divide into two teams and Every time someone from the opposing team says the word football the ball is advanced for your team.

Football / Superbowl terms (for Charades)

AFL, announcer, arm guard, arm pad, artificial turf, assistant coach, astroturf, audible, back, backfield, ball boy, ballcarrier, bench, blitz, block, bomb, bowl game, carries, center, cheerleader, chest protector, cleats, clipping, clock, clothesline, coach, coin toss, completion, conferences, cornerback, count, cup, dead ball, defense, defensive back, defensive end, defensive halfback, defensive holding, defensive line, defensive lineman, defensive tackle, delay of game, dime back, double team, down, draft, draw, drive, drop kick, elbow pad, eleven, eligible receiver, end, end zone, extra point, face guard, face mask, fair catch, fake, false start, fan, field, field goal, field of play, field position, first and ten, first down, flag, flanker, football, football helmet, football player, football tee, formation, forward pass, foul, four-point stance, free kick, free safety, freeze, fullback, fumble, goal line, goalpost, gridiron, grounding, guard, hail mary, half time, halfback, handoff, hang time, hash marks, head coach, Heisman trophy, hike, hip pad, holding, home-field advantage, huddle, i formation, illegal motion, incomplete pass, instant replay, intentional grounding, interception, interference, jersey, kick, kick return, kicker, kickoff, knee pad, laces, lateral pass, line, line judge, line of scrimmage, linebacker, lineman, live ball, lob, loose ball, man-to-man coverage, mascot, middle guard, midfield, NFL, nickel back, nose guard, nose tackle, off sides, off-season, offense, offensive backfield, offensive holding, offensive line, officials, offside, onside kick, open receiver, overtime, pass, pass defender, pass interference, pass pattern, pass protection, passing game, penalty, personal foul, pick, pigskin, piling on, pistol formation, placekick, placekicker, play, play clock, playbook, playoffs, point spread, possession, post-season, preseason, punt, punt return, punter, quarter, quarterback, quarterback sneak, receiver, reception, red flag, redshirt, referee, regular season, return, reverse, roll, rookie, roster, roughing the kicker, roughing the passer, running back, running game, running into the kicker, rush, rushing, sack, safety, score, scramble, screen, screen pass, scrimmage, scrimmage line, season, set, shotgun, shoulder pad, sideline, snap, special teams, spike, spiral, split end, spot, stadium, stance, starter, steal, stiff arm, straight arm, strong safety, substitution, super bowl, superbowl, sweep, t-formation, tackle, tailback, take a knee, TD, team, thigh pad, three-point conversion, three-point stance, tie, tight end, time out, too many men on the field, touchback, touchdown, trap, trick play, turnover, umpire, uniforms, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, uprights, wide receiver, wing back, wishbone, formation, wrist pad, yard line, yellow flag

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DISCUSSION

  • How much do you know about football? Whos the football expert?
  • Do you have to know everything about the game to enjoy the football game?
  • Are there people who don’t really care about football but get caught up in the excitement of the event? Why?
  • Do you need to know everything about the team players to enjoy the game?
  • What is it about the superbowl that gets people excited?
  • Are you as excited about God as you are about the Superbowl? Why or why not?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Equipment – Ephesians 6:10-18 – In football terms, Paul, the team coach gives his team a pre-game pep talk, reminding them to put on their gear – the hip pads of truth, shoulder pads of righteousness, cleats of preparation, the face mask of faith, the helmet of salvation, and play according to the rules of the Playbook.” Then they have a team huddle to seek perseverance and strength to achieve victory over their opponent.
  • Fans – Some people are in the game and others are simply watching. Some are wearing the uniform, merely to be seen by others, but not on the field. They are watching, yet not doing. (James 1:22; Matthew 23:1-25)
  • Rules – We must compete according to the rules so that we are not disqualified for the prize (2 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:23)
  • Goals – Philippians 3:14 – Press on toward the Goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.
  • Perseverance – James 1:2-4 – You’ll go up against many tests and when you persevere through these tests you will emerge victorious. (Ephesians 6:13; Hebrews 10:36)
  • Cheering – We must cheer one another on. (I Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:23-25; Hebrews 12:1-2)
  • The Clock is ticking down – Are you ready? Make the most of your time. (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 4:2)

For more in depth scriptural applications check out last year’s superbowl lesson here:

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In what ways is the church (or this group) similar to a football team?

(We are united as a team, we have a goal (the great commission), we work together to achieve a goal, there is opposition, sometimes unexpected things happen, sometimes we fumble in our tasks, sometimes we gain ground, while other times we lose ground, We have a coach (God), sometimes we have to defend against the opposition, time is short, there are people watching us (spectators), not everyone plays fair, there are penalties for mistakes, we must wear protective gear (armor of God), we have different positions on the team, there are people who are playing and there are people on the sidelines, we need a game plan, etc.)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Are you part of the team (A Christian?) Why or why not?
  • If you are, what is your position(role) in the team?
  • Are you on the sidelines or playing the game?
  • Do you consider yourself a team player? Why or why not?
  • Are you focused on the goal?
  • What can you begin doing to help the team more effectively overcome the opposition and achieve the goals ahead?

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 1:25-27

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

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Devotional, Youth Sermons

Superbowl Christians – Spiritual Lessons for Youth from the Game of Football

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It’s going to be Superbowl Sunday this weekend and we’re sure your youth are excited to be watching the game. Why not make it an opportunity to share something about how the game relates to their spiritual lives? Even if you don’t watch football, the lesson is applicable to most sports. Have a great weekend!

An Illustration

While you might not think of your Christian life as a football game, the Bible does use sports to teach about spiritual truths. In Biblical times they might not have had American football games or superbowls but they did have athletic competitions.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul writes, “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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

In Hebrews 12:1-2 we read, “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

“Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5

The sports may be different, but you’ll find some things in common with American football if you read the verses carefully. You’ll find running, a prize, winning and losing, competition, training, goals, fighting or struggle, opposition, spectators, obstacles and hindrances, focus and rules. Even so, there tons of lessons we can learn from football.

Take It to the Next Level

COMPETITION is part of the Game

By nature, sports are a competition. But to compete you must be in the game. Just as a coach chooses players to be in the football game, God has chosen us. Our competitor is focused on our defeat (1 Peter 5:8). But we also compete against ourselves. And it is sad to say, but just like in real life football games, most of the people in the stadium sit in the stands. Then there are those who are on the team, but sit in the bench. Most of us would prefer rest on the bench (or pew) and observe the game – both with encouragement and more often with criticism about how others are playing on the field. But God doesn’t call us to be spectators, but participants. Our field is the world (Mat. 13:38), and our goal is to win it for Jesus Christ. Sure, some will have a special call to play a bigger role, but everyone is called onto the field to play. Even if you may not have a key role a particular play, you must still be ready at a moment’s notice to dash onto the field and play your part when the coach calls your number to be on the field. You must clearly know your position, train, and practice your plays to be best prepared for that moment when you might be called upon to make a difference in the game (1 Peter 3:15, 2 Timothy 4:1-5).

There are RULES to the Game

The football field is laid out in ten yard increments, has boundaries, and there are rules to the game. The boundaries are there to keep us in the game. The 10 yard markers are there not as the object, but as a point of reference as we move toward the goal. If they weren’t there, we wouldn’t know if we were heading in the right direction or running to the wrong goal. God’s laws and the 10 commandments function in much the same way. They keep us in the game and give us points of reference for gaining or losing of ground. Violating the rules results in penalties and may even take us out of the game for a while. There are turnovers and fumbles as well. Yet when we compete according to the rules, and are victorious in our efforts, we will receive a prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Our TIME on the field is limited

The clock is counting down. The game of football is played in four quarters with a set time limit. The wise player, especially the quarterback, will keep his eye on the clock and make the most of his time. The same is true for us as Christians, but unlike the game on the football field, we can’t see the clock. We don’t know how much time is left. This makes it even more important for us to value our time and make the most of it. The Bible commands us to redeem the time, to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16) rather than waste it. In fact, if you think about the world today there is not much time left on the clock. In fact, it’s already the fourth quarter, down to the two minute warning, and now it’s up to us to play our part win another one for the coach. Things may seem dire. But in life, just like in football, nothing is impossible, everything can happen. You should not slack or give up until the referee blows his whistle and declares the Victor.

TRAINING is essential for Victory

In football there is an in season and an off season. During the off season the team works on the fundamentals to get ready for the big games during football season. They train for the big games ahead. “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Be ready in season and in the off season” 2 Timothy 4:2. “There is a season and a time to EVERY purpose under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1-11. There are times in our Christian walk when we experience seasons of rest. They’re not for us to be idle, but to prepare ourselves spiritually, to grow, to draw closer to God.

GEAR up for the Game

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul gives the team the pre-game pep talk and reminds us to check our football gear. He’s talking about gearing up for battle, but football players also gear up for the game. If he’d been thinking about football he might have phrased it this way, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the uniform, so that you can take your stand against the opposing team… Therefore put on all of your gear so that when the game day comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the shoulder pads of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the shoes of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the face mask of faith, with which you can conquer all the opponents’ plays. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, your playbook, which is the word of God. Let’s all commit the game to God as we kneel for a locker room prayer, that we might prove victorious in this game.”

We strive for the GOAL

It is not enough to simply be in the game. It is not enough to simply overcome the enemy. Out goal is to score one for the team. And another one. And another one. Touchdown after Touchdown. In life, the goal may seem at the far end of the field. It can be difficult to keep moving forward. It may seem that every time you run a play you get knocked down. Sometimes you may even get sacked. The solution is not to focus on where you have come from, but where you are going. “Press on toward the Goal.” Philippians 3:14 And while touchdowns are great, as Christians our goal is to do more than simply score, but to be the player the Head Coach has chosen us to be. We must be always moving forward, never fumbling the ball, and always gaining new ground. If we do stumble and fumble, we are to recover the ball quickly and press onward. If we step out of bounds, or get the wind knocked out of us, we must get back in the game and focus on the Coach. And even if you are tackled for a loss, When you are focused on Him, and run the plays He calls, you’ll find yourself moving toward the goal.

We don’t play alone, but play as part of a TEAM

Football is a team sport. You don’t win it alone. When the team is working in harmony under the direction of the coach things will happen. There’s are star players, but the star players cannot function without the core team. They need blockers, the need linemen to open up opportunities in the defences. There is an offensive team, a kickoff team, a team of receivers, and a defensive team and each are critical to a win for the team. There is no individual victory, only the victory of the team. Only when all players, from the starting quarterback, the receivers, the linemen and the person playing his part in even the smallest position work together, does the team run a successful play. Likewise, every believer has a unique role and a part to play in the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 12:4-6; 12-20)

The Victors receive a PRIZE.

It’s not Super Bowl rings, but the crown of eternal life Christ that we seek. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Make it Practical

Are you in the game?
No one in the crowd ever gains a yard on the field. No one in the crowd ever adds a single point to the scoreboard. The game is played and won by the players on the field, and not by anyone else. Are you in the game or a spectator? Just being a Christian isn’t enough. You are called to be on the playing field, not in the stands or on the sidelines. Are you on the field playing the game and gaining ground for Jesus Christ or are you merely watching the game? The clock is ticking away, and time is running out. Get in the game before you lose your chance forever!

Scripture References

“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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
– 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
– Hebrews 12:1-2

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 3:12-14

“Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.”
– 2 Timothy 2:5

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
– 1 Peter 5:8

“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one.”
– Matthew 13:38

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
– 1 Peter 3:15

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
– 2 Timothy 4:1-5

“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
– Ephesians 5:16

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
– Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
– Ephesians 6:10-18

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 3:14

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
– 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
– 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Creative Teaching Ideas

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Running for the Gold

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Running for the GoldWe’ve come to the end of the Olympic games. Seen the joy on the faces of the athletes at the closing ceremony and seen the flag passed on to Rio, the next hosts of the Olympics. For many of these athletes, this would mark the end of their career. Their last time competing on the world’s stage. As we recognize their achievements, we’re reminded of the spiritual race that still lies before us…

Running for the Gold

 

During the 2012 London Olympic Games, we watched athletes who have invested a lot of time, money, and immense effort in order to compete (often in a single event), hoping to receive gold, silver and bronze medals that will be hung on ribbons around their necks. In the original Olympic games the only prize the Greek athletes received was a crown of olive leaves cut from a sacred tree at Olympia. There were no medals and only the winner’s name was recorded. There was no prize for those who finished second or third. While today’s Olympic medals last much longer than a crown of olive leaves, they may not be worth as much as you think.

Olympic gold medals only need to be gilded with a minimum of 6 grams of gold. The rest of the medal is silver that is a minimum of 92.5 percent pure. Silver medals are made entirely of at least 92.5 percent pure silver. At today’s prices the gold medal is only worth around $300 and the silver medal is worth considerably less. But ask any athlete how much it is worth and they are sure to tell you it is priceless. Even so, these medals do not last forever. Medals can tarnish, be stolen, or even be lost. The ribbons they hang from will rot. The athlete’s moment of glory will one day be forgotten. Think about it, how many Olympic champions can you remember? How many world record holders can you name?

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul says, “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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (NIV).

Just as the Olympic Games has come to an end, and the athletes have been awarded their medals, the Olympic flame extinguished, our life will one day come to its end. The Bible says that we also compete, not for a medal, not for a temporary crown of olive leaves, not for honor and personal glory but for a crown that lasts forever. The opponents we face are the enemy and his forces and our own fleshly nature. The glory we receive is not that one moment on the podium but one that endures for all eternity. God’s crown is not for one winner, but for all who strive for righteousness.

The crown is our reward for running the race, for being faithful to our calling, for enduring the struggles and the hardships, for wrestling with the sad events and circumstances we cannot control and do not understand, for finishing the course God has set out for us.

Toward the end of his life Paul writes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to ALL who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Take it to the Next Level

 

Life is like a race. Sometimes its uphill, sometimes it’s downhill. Sometimes you don’t know how far you’ve come or how far you still have to go. It’s more than simply showing up to the starting line.

The important factor is not how many start, but how many finish. It’s not a half-effort attempt, but a total commitment. It’s not taking short cuts, but following the rules. Only then can you win the prize.

It’s the pursuit of a goal, forgetting about what lies behind and instead straining toward what lies ahead, and casting aside anything that might hinder us. It’s the pursuit of Godliness. It’s something you strive for every moment of every day. We have our coach, our guide, the Holy Spirit and our training manual – the Bible. Our coach makes it clear to us what we need to work on, and the Bible provides instruction on how to make it happen. Both reveal areas where we need self-control, more discipline, and better focus. Both guide our training in righteousness. We must make a disciplined all out effort to act on that instruction. And at the end of this life, we will stand on the victors team. Christ has already run the race, being not only the first, but also the last to make sure that all of us in the middle cross the finish line in victory. Don’t just run. Run in such a way as to win. When things get tough, the discipline carries you through. When the moments of testing come, its the training that brings you the victory.

If you look at many of the great Bible characters you will see a period of training and discipline before God places them in the spotlight. Daniel in Captivity. Joseph in a prison. Moses in a desert. David as a shepherd among the sheep. John and Peter as Fishermen.  Saul (Paul) as a Pharisee.

 All destined to be used by God, yet all in a place of training where God prepared them for the race that was ahead. And God has plans for you too. Wherever you are now, whatever situation you are in now, is training not only for the present, but also for the race ahead. Maybe God has already brought you to the track. Maybe God is preparing you for the track. Whatever the case, he will work his perfect will in your life if you have the discipline and accept the training he has for you now.

Scriptures Verses for Youth Bible Study

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
“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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to ALL who have longed for his appearing.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'”

Questions for Youth Discussion

Rules

  • What are the things we are commanded to DO in these Bible verses?
  • What are we told to NOT DO in these Bible verses?
  • How are we to run?
  • What will result in disqualification for a Christian? What are we disqualified for?
  • What actions can cause us to lose our rewards?
  • What are the rules for Christian living?

Discipline & Training

  • What are the Christian disciplines?
  • Why did Paul live a disciplined life?
  • What is a disciplined life in the context of living as a Christian?
  • What are some of the Christian disciplines that prepare us for the race?
  • What are the characteristics of our training?
  • What does it mean to run in such a way as to get the prize?
  • What does the spiritual athlete need to exercise?
  • When have you “run aimlessly” or “beat the air”?
  • What requires discipline and self-control in your life?

Goals

  • What is our goal, our purpose as a Christian?
  • What can we do to ensure we finish well?
  • What is the prize for Christians?

Application to the Lives of Youth

* What lessons can you find in your past and present circumstances?
* What training and discipline has God revealed a need for in your life?
* What are some goals that you would like to trust God to achieve?
* What are your plans (i.e., activities) to achieve these goals?

What can you begin with today, so that at the end, you can say like Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, and now there is in heaven the crown of Righteousness.

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

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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”

Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Never Give Up

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Runner’s World (8/91), told the story of Beth Anne DeCiantis’s attempt to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Trials marathon. A female runner must complete the 27-mile, 385-yard race in less than two hours, forty-five minutes to compete at the Olympic Trials.

Beth started strong but began having trouble around mile 23. She reached the final straightaway at 243, with just two minutes left to qualify. Two hundred yards from the finish, she stumbled and fell. Dazed, she stayed down for twenty seconds. The crowd was ticking—2:44, less than a minute to go.

Beth Anne staggered to her feet and began walking. Five yards short of the finish, with ten seconds to go, she fell again. She began to crawl, the crowd cheering her on, and crossed the finish line on her hands and knees. Her time? Two hours, 44 minutes, 57 seconds.

Hebrews 12:1 Reminds us to run our race with perseverance and never give up.

Source: Terry Fisher, San Mateo, California, quoted in Preaching Resources, Spring 1996, p. 69.

Devotional

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Blade Runner

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The Olympic Games celebrates the athlete at their best. It is the pinnacle of human sporting achievement and you’re likely to see every Olympian striving to give their most perfect performances, many after years of challenging training. But today, our focus shifts to one particular athlete that has caught our attention. One that isn’t quite so picture perfect. We want to introduce you to…

The Blade Runner

 

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, also known as the “Blade Runner,” was born in 1986 in Johannesburg.

Oscar is like most runners competing in the 2012 London Olympic games. There’s only one difference. He has no legs. Born with a congenital absence of the calf bone in both legs, he had to have them amputated between the ankle and knee at the age of 11 months.

Ironically, this record breaking Paralympian’s only obstacle is the controversy he faces over his prosthetic limbs, as some critics have claimed gives him an advantage over able-bodied athletes.

In 2007 the International Association of Athletics Federations conducted research on Oscar’s prosthetic legs and found that it gave him certain advantages against able-bodied athletes. They claimed his prosthetics were lighter and had more “spring” than normal legs. Although he won the appeal, he did not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, he performed exceptionally well at the 2008 Summer Paralympics: he won gold in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, completing the 400m race in a world-record time of 47.49 seconds.

In 2012, he will be competing in the 400-m and the 4 x 400m relay events, being the first double amputee runner at the Olympic games. In response to being admitted to the Olympic team, Oscar said, “Today is truly on of the proudest days of my life. To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games… is a real honor and I am pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together.”

Oscar’s story of determination and perseverance in spite of his condition inspires us. He wasn’t born perfect, he had his struggles, but he chose not to dwell on the things he could not do, but kept his focus on that he could accomplish.

We have all been called to some great purpose. And there are times we may feel our past experiences, our failures, our lack of spiritual maturity, our lack of talent or skill “disqualify” us from partnering with God to fulfill that purpose. We feel “handicapped” and inadequate; that our weaknesses far outweigh our strengths.

Take It to the Next Level

Paul was a spiritual giant in his own right. He was an apostle, much of the New Testament are his inspired writings. He had performed numerous miracles in the name of Jesus, he had led thousands to God. But he had a “thorn in his flesh”. The Bible never explains to us exactly what it is in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, but it’s often implied to be a physical weakness. He asked God to remove it. Not once, but three times. God responded to him, pretty much the same way He refers to our own weaknesses, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Just like Oscar whose disability strangely perceived to give him advantages over other able-bodied runners, God’s power is perfected in us, not “in spite of,” but “because of” our weaknesses. Paul’s response? “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” We COULD ask God to remove our weaknesses. Why not? He has the power to do it doesn’t He?

The funny thing is, if God really did that, what’s going to stop us from depending on our own abilities, on our own strength? What’s going to stop us in boasting about what WE have accomplished?

“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we haveright thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh startcomes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” 1 Cor 26:31 (MSG)

So, let’s not go around tooting our own horns. Let’s not hide behind our weaknesses any longer. Let us trumpet out loud that all we have comes from God. The weak, the insecure, the inadequate, we are everything God made us to be. Victorious in our weaknesses, triumphant because of His grace working through us that comes through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Don’t feel like you’re worthless before God – you actually are! BUT our worth doesn’t come from what you’ve done, what you do, or what you will accomplish. Your worth comes because the creator of the universe chose YOU. Chose to die for YOU. Chose to work through YOU as His instrument on this earth. Chose YOU to be His heir and spend eternity with. That’s exactly how much YOU are worth.

“We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Rom 8:37b (NIV)

Scriptures Verses for Youth Bible Study

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

1 Cor 26:31 (MSG)
“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we haveright thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh startcomes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”

Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Questions for Youth Discussion

[Teacher’s Note: We often learn more about a person’s true character through their weaknesses rather than their strengths. The power that youth would like to have often reveals an area where they are feeling weak.]
Who is your favorite superhero? Why? What is that superhero’s weakness? Why is it that every superhero has a weakness? If you could have one supernatural power, what would it be? Why?

  • Why is it that God allows weakness in our lives?
  • Who’s your favorite Athlete? Why?
  • As a society we are more likely to look up to weakness than strength. Why?
  • What are some of the things that our society defines as a strength? As a weakness?
  • In what ways have you seen a weakness become a strength?
  • Why are youth more likely to boast of strengths rather than weaknesses?
  • How does Paul’s view of power and weakness differ from that of the world?
  • What are some of the weaknesses that youth have to deal with?
  • What understanding, or insights have you learned from your own experiences regarding weaknesses and struggles?
  • How have you seen God work in your own life during times of weakness?
  • How have you seen God work through you in times of weakness?
  • In what experiences have you seen God turn a weakness into a strength?

Application to the Lives of Youth

  • In what areas of your life are you more likely to rely on your strength rather than God’s strength?
  • What weaknesses, struggles, or constraints in your life might God be able to use?
  • What is an area where you will commit to trust God this week, even though you might feel weak or inadequate in that area? What step of faith will you take in spite of your perceived weakness?

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

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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”

Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Go for the Gold, Go for God

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“…I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14

Going for the Gold!

That is the aim and aspiration of the vast company of athletes who assemble every four years from all over the world to take part in the Olympic Games. For them, to stand on the winner’s podium, be hailed as a hero, with the strains of their home country’s national anthem ringing in their ears, emotion etched on their tear stained faces, would make all the sacrifice and strenuous effort worthwhile.

You know, the Christian life is no different. Paul sees it as a race! It is not a 100 yard dash. It is a marathon cross-country. Of necessity, we are to abandon our own selfish ambitions so that we may wholeheartedly pursue the goal that is set before us. Nothing must hinder or hamper our steady progress. It is not a spectator sport but one of active participation by all. Down the straight, round the bend, over the hurdle, in the final analysis, consistency is what really matters.

There will be frustration as we strive to attain spiritual fitness. Many tears may be shed as we county the cost of getting rid of the excess baggage. The pain barrier must be broken if we are to keep on going. But, even though we may not all be winners by nature, with the spiritual instincts of the new man reigning within, we can conquer all and cross the finishing line in triumph.

Awaiting us is Christ, the One who has gone on before. No greater incentive can be given; no other motivation should be required. That’s why we pull out all the stops, with every fibre of our being, stretching all the sinews, as we keep the end in view. What an exhilarating prospect.

Let’s go for the gold…and go for God!

This was Paul’s thinking. It was his game plan. And, he stuck rigidly to it. Like him, we want to be there at the end. Paul shows us how to do it in Philippians 3:12-16. He leaves us a few tips that are designed to enhance our performance in the race ahead:

Be realistic – know where you are at
Be single minded – learn the art of concentration
Be forward looking – resist the temptation to look back
Be a plodder – don’t be a dropout on the last lap
Be sensible – know the rules and stick to them

Winning moves. Yes! Absorb them and get yourself down to the track!

Author: Sam Gordon

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined 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”

Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Running by Faith

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Ryan Hall - Running by FaithOlympic Marathon Runner Ryan Hall

 

I read an article today in the New York Times about an exceptional runner. His name is Ryan Hall. You’ve got to read it to believe it.

At the 2011 Boston Marathon, Ryan Hall ran a personal best of 2 hours 4 minutes 58 seconds. No other American has run faster. What’s more surprising is the fact that he coaches himself, running alone instead of with an elite training group in Northern California. Well, he’s not necessarily alone.

You see, after finishing second at the 2011 United States half-marathon championships, Hall went to drug testing, a standard procedure. Asked on a form to list his coach, he wrote: God.

“You have to list the name of a real person,” a doping official said. “He is a real person,” Hall responded.

2008 Beijing Olympics

Just a couple years earlier on August 24, 2008, Hall reached the starting line of the Olympic marathon in Beijing. Hall was considered a medal candidate. But he felt sluggish and when the gun sounded, his race plan crumbled. Dejected, Hall finished 10th in 2:12:33. He was unable to watch a replay of the race for three years. Emotionally scarring, he called it.

Eventually, that defeat in Beijing changed from deflating to liberating for Hall. He embraced risk and lost his fear of failure.

“I don’t see failure as a negative thing at all anymore, which is a huge shift for me,” he said. “I just see that as part of my training, my process, learning, experimenting, getting it wrong so that I can get it right.”

“Sometimes, you have to fail your way to the top,” Hall said in his open, easy manner in March. “Thomas Edison found a thousand ways not to make a light bulb before he got it right.”

2012 London Olympics

And he’s well on his way. Of the 29 fastest marathon performances in 2011, Hall’s was the only one by a runner from a country other than Kenya or Ethiopia. His next marathon will come August 12th at the London Olympics. Hall firmly believes he could challenge the East Africans for a gold medal.

“It’s going to take a special day,” Hall said of his gold medal chances. “But I feel like I went for it, regardless of how the race goes. I’ll always look back on this as a season of joy. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s part of the fun of life, taking some chances and seeing what happens.”

Faith Based Training

Some elite runners seem taken aback by Hall’s faith-based training.

“So he really thinks God is saying, ‘Run 10 times 1,200 meters today,’ or ‘Take tomorrow off’?’ ” said Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished ninth in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one spot ahead of his countryman Hall. “Wow.”

Take It to the Next Level

 

It’s uncanny that Ryan chose the marathon as his sport of choice. It’s very much like our walk with Christ. We’re not meant to be fireworks, putting on a big show, burning bright in a blaze of glory then fizzling out. We’re meant to be lamps, being consistent, burning slowly so that we can light the world for generations to see. Are we burning out in our zeal for God? Or are we pacing ourselves for the spiritual journey ahead? In this race, we’ll experience disappointments, failure, uneven roads, missed opportunities and losses. God is not asking us to be perfect right away. It’s part of the journey. It’s only when we’re authentic Christians that we can be great witnesses for God. When we can be real with God in our struggles and real with the people around us that we can be true witnesses for Christ.

Failure

What we don’t often realize is that failure is part of our Christian walk. In stumbling and failing we do grow strong. We become the kind of person God wants us to be. That’s where true victory lies. Not in winning, but in the building of our character. That’s what God is more concerned about. When we fall, we get tired, and feel like giving up because we failed or felt we failed God through our own weakness, that’s when we need to come to Him even more. Rather than blame God for “failing us” or when things don’t always go our way, we need to pause and look at the bigger picture from God’s perspective. Instead of asking, “Why God?” We need to ask, “What do you want me to learn through this?” It’s okay to not understand what God wants to show us. We don’t need to have it all figured out. All we need to do is trust Him. That in his divine, big picture plan for us, failure is necessary. It’s okay to be disappointed, to be real with God. But let’s not stay in that place and wallow forever. We have a God we can draw strength from. To hope in. To wait upon. And he’s always willing to renew us and give us what we need to push on to the next leg of our spiritual race.

“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)

Witnesses

People see the power of our God working through us, in our character, in our speech, conduct, integrity, wisdom, perseverance, kindness, and faithfulness. How can we be a great witness for God is we behave no differently from the standards of the world? We need to set ourselves apart. To be in the world, but not of it – participating in the affairs of the world, but not sticking to what the world believes is “right”. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard – the standard of the cross. We have to be Christians “where we live”, in our offices, schools, bands, sports, squads, homes, and community. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, whether we’re running, playing football, studying, working. Our lives have to reflect God’s character in this world. That’s really what’s going to make people who don’t have a personal relationship with God sit up and go, “Wow. I want me some of that!”

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Scripture Verses for Bible Study

  • Isaiah 40:27-31
  • Matthew 5:14-16

Discussion

  1. Think about a time when you failed. How did you feel?
  2. Looking back at that failure, did you come out of the situation bitter or better?
  3. What are some of the lessons you have learned from failures in your own life?
  4. What are some important Biblical lessons to remember when you face future failures?
  5. What words might come to mind if people were to describe you?
  6. How would others describe the role of God in your life?
  7. How can you reflects Christ’s character in your family, among your friends, in your school, to the world?
  8. How can you be a more authentic Christian among those around you?

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

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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”

Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Sports’ Highest Honor

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A String of Ducklings

In the 1992 Olympics Henry Pearce of Australia was competing in the single scull rowing event at the 1928 Olympics. He was leading when a duck and her string of ducklings came into view up ahead. They were on a collision course and Pearce reckoned that his scull would cut the string in two and sink a few ducklings in the process, so he pulled in his oars. When the ducks passed, Pearce again bent his back to the task. There’s a happy ending to the story. Pearce won. Usually, acts of sportsmanship result in defeat. Remember Leo Durocher’s pronouncement, “Nice guys finish last”?

A Broken Rudder

It happened a couple of years ago in the marathon tandem kayak racing event at the world championships in Copenhagen. Danish paddlers were leading when their rudder was damaged in a portage. British paddlers, who were in second place, stopped to help the Danes fix it. The Danes went on to defeat the British by one second in an event that lasted nearly three hours. But there’s a happy ending to this story too. According to The Wall Street Journal, the British kayakers won what many people regard as the highest honor in sports. They became the winner of the Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Trophy.

The trophy is named for the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and it has been awarded annually for the past 28 years to people in sports who have demonstrated nobility of spirit. It is big news in Europe, but it has not been given much recognition in the United States. In the past, the trophy has gone to a Hungarian tennis player who pleaded with officials to give his opponent more time to recover from a cramp, and to a high school basketball coach who forfeited the Georgia (US) state championship after he found out that one of his players was scholastically ineligible.

A Broken Bolt

The first trophy went to an Italian bobsledder named Eugenio Monti for a gesture that exhibited a touch of class. In the two-man bobsled event at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, Monti was the leader after his final run. The only one given a chance to beat him was Tony Nash of Great Britain. As Nash and his teammate got ready for their final run, they discovered that a critical bolt on their sled had snapped at the last moment. Monti was informed of the problem and immediately took the corresponding bolt from his own sled and sent it up to Nash. Nash fixed his sled, came hurtling down the course to set a record and won the gold medal.

Source: Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, Page 4-6

As a Christian, our Highest Honor is to appear before God and have him proclaim, “Well Done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Other related Bible Verses

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28-29)

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined 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”

Resource Reviews, Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Champions Never Quit

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“Let me win.  But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Special Olympics Oath

“Champions are not those who never fail, they are those who never quit…Men love winners.  They want to be identified with winners. Men open a newspaper and turn directly to the sports page because it features winners, while the front page usually features losers…Champions are the right man, in the right place, at the right time.  Timing is all important.

God has an eternal clock which was started from the beginning of time to make you become a champion for Him.  To become a  champion, you must see yourself  as a champion.  Hanging on to the fear of failure, the sins of others and past mistakes will keep you from becoming a champion.  Champions are made, not born.  Many champions start with severe handicaps in life, but in making the effort to overcome, they find the ability to continue until they have excelled beyond those even without handicaps.

The athlete, the farmer and the soldier all have different ways of winning.  Each of them does his training, plowing or exercising in private, and they show their abilities in public…The fainthearted never win, they wilt.  They start well, but fade before they finish…

Joshua was a member of the championship team.  He could hardly stand to see other men who didn’t feel the way he did, and finally issued the challenge that lives on forever:

‘Choose this day whom you will serve,
but as for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord’

I’m proud to be on Joshua’s team!”

Source: Edwin Louis Cole,  “Courage – Winning Life’s Toughest Battles”

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined 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”

Teaching Illustrations

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: The Power of the Cross

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“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)

Author Unknown*

In 1967 while taking a class in photography at the University of Cincinnati, I became acquainted with a young man named Charles Murray who also was a student at the school and training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. Charles was very patient with me as I would speak to him for hours about Jesus Christ and how He had saved me. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any kind of church, so all that I had to tell him was a fascination to him. He even began to ask questions about forgiveness of sin.

Finally the day came that I put a question to him. I asked if he realized his own need of a redeemer and if he was ready to trust Christ as his own Saviour. I saw his countenance fall and the guilt in his face. But his reply was a strong “no.”

In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he was avoiding me, until I got a phone call and it was Charles. He wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some verses that I had given him about salvation. I gave him the reference to several passages and asked if I could meet with him. He declined my offer and thanked me for the scripture. I could tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did not know where he was or how to help him.

Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special privileges at the University pool facilities. Some time between 10:30 and 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area. Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive. At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. It was the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him. He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air.

Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. As Charles looked down from his platform he saw an empty pool which had been drained for repairs. He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross had stopped him from disaster.

* According to the Cincinnati Post, University of Cincinnati officials have checked out this story, which has been posted many times on the Internet under the title of The Power of the Cross. “UC spokesman Greg Hand said two Charles Murrays attended UC then. One left UC before ’67 and another was not enrolled at the time. Neither were divers. Still, Hand is not ready to call the story fiction. ‘I’m of the opinion that maybe the names were changed in this story,’ he said. The university swimming pool in Laurence Hall is housed in a room whose west wall is made entirely of glass panes, a fact which substantiates a key part of the story. ‘It’s one of those things where you kind of hope it is true,’ Hand said.”

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo 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”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined 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”