The “5-B’s Rubric of Evangelistic-Disciplemaking” of The Sports Outreach Movement
This series of blogs describes and explains the “5-B’s” of Evangelistic-Disciplemaking of The Sports Outreach Movement.  This blogs continues the discussion with the fifth “B” – Becoming
 
The fifth and final step in the 5-B’s Rubric is: becoming. Becoming is perfect as a descriptor because it communicates not only that evangelistic-disciplemaking is a process but also that “dedicated disciples” of Jesus Christ never arrive, but are constantly progressing.  More importantly however, becoming effectively communicates the true essence of the evangelistic-disciplemaking process of the 5-B Rubric.  The commitment to be about making dedicated, life-long disciples of Jesus Christ as opposed to asking someone to make a one-day decision about becoming a Christian, is significantly different.
It should also be apparent becoming is impossible without the first four steps in the 5-B Rubric.  A person cannot not become a person who truly worships and embodies Christ without: a) belonging: being part of a community; b) believing: coming to faith in Jesus; c) baptizing: being baptized in His name; and d) behaving: striving to live as Jesus taught.  Becoming is the ongoing result of the first four “B’s.”   While becoming is a resultant end, it is also truly an ongoing resultant end.  It is an arrival/destination that assumes continual growth and development.
 
The Conclusion of The “5 B’s” - The Relevance of the 5-B Rubric for the Sports Outreach Movement
There may be no other concept more relevant to the Sports Outreach Movement than the 5-B Rubric of Evangelistic-Disciplemaking.  On this Level #2 Philosophical Principle, hang all subsequent Level #3 Methodological Models.  All local church Sports Outreach Ministries and each sports-related, para-ministries raise funds based upon this rubric.  More important, all activities, outreaches and endeavors are built upon the philosophy of ministry...and of course, all Level #2 Philosophical Principles are informed and shaped by their Level #1 Theological Truths.

If the Level #1 theological perspective of soteriology (theology of salvation) of a church or ministry is to “get someone saved,” (decision for a day), then their 5-B Rubric is, at best, reduced to a 2-B approach… belonging and believing.  With such a theological mindset there is no need for the last three “B’s.”  If however, a ministry’s theology of salvation includes “making disciples,” (life-long, dedicated disciples) then the entire 5-B Rubric is of vital importance. 

So, the real question for the Sports Outreach Movement is: is it about evangelism or better said, evangelistic-disciplemaking?  Is the job of a local church Sports Outreach Ministry completed upon a person’s profession of faith, or is that profession of faith a most welcomed and celebrated step on a journey towards becoming a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ?  How Sports Outreach leaders answer this question will decide the future of the Movement…and to a large degree…impact the future of The Church.
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This blog is an excerpt from chapter #3 of Dr. Linville's yet to be released book – Sports Ministry Fundamentals.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

The “5-B’s Rubric of Evangelistic-Disciplemaking” of The Sports Outreach Movement

This series of blogs will describe and explain the “5-B’s” of Evangelistic-Disciplemaking of The Sports Outreach Movement.  This series is a Level #2 Philosophical Principle of the “3-Tier Paradigm” and serves to succinctly chart a step-by-step Biblically-based philosophical progression of The Evangelistic-disciplemaking Concept from which Level #3 Methodological Models can emerge.  Each of the five steps starts with a word that begins with the letter: “B.”  It is conceptualized from within, and built out of, the 5th of “7 Sports Outreach Continuums of Tension” – Celtic–Roman as outlined and further explained in the book from which this excerpt is taken.

The “5-B’s” in concept, are not unique to the Sports Outreach Movement but to the author’s knowledge, this is the first place they have been categorized and aligned as such.  While almost embarrassingly simple in concept, the “5-B’s Rubric” is ingeniously helpful to all Sports Outreach Movement leaders who are attempting to comprehend and implement the evangelistic-disciplemaking concept in their Sports Outreach Ministry.  This series has two sections and a number of subsections that include:
 

1. The description and explanation of, the “5-B’s Rubric” of Sports Outreach
   
2. The relevance of the “5-B’s Rubric” of Sports Outreach
   

 

1. The Description and explanation of the “5-B’s Rubric” of Sports Outreach
   

The “5-B’s Rubric” of Sports Outreach is a helpful shorthand way to encapsulate the evangelistic-disciplemaking concept and is designed to help the leaders of the Sports Outreach Movement conceptualize, implement and evaluate whether or not they are actually succeeding in making “dedicated-disciples” rather than the typical “days-decision” experienced by most attempting evangelism.  Each “B” represents a clear step in the evangelistic-disciplemaking process.  Each identifies a necessary step in the spiritual journey of secularized, non-churched, non-believers as they become “dedicated disciples” of Jesus Christ.  Each “B” will be stated and then described.     The “5-B’s” are:

• Belonging
  
• Believing
  
• Baptizing
  
• Behaving
  
• Becoming
  

 
The next blog will begin the first step in the journey by explaining the first “B” - Belonging
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This blog is an excerpt from chapter #3 of Dr. Linville's yet to be released book – Sports Ministry Fundamentals.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog

Is Sports Outreach Effective?
This is a reprint of a blog from February 2015....

This series of blogs addressing the question: Is Sports Outreach Effective continues the conversation on the third Sports Outreach Ministry Continuum. What follows is intended to begin a conversation based upon the hard questions asked within.  It is not written so as to be intentionally offensive or hurtful.  All truth seekers are invited to continue. 

Sports Outreach Continuum of Tension #3:

Local Church Sports Outreach – Para-Sports Ministry
Earlier in this series (see February 2015) I stated there was an insidious dilemma facing the Sport Outreach Movement in regards to a Level #1 Theological Truth concerning evangelism that often pits local church Sports Outreach Ministries at odds with sports-based Para-ministries.  Previous blogs in this series provided a brief history of local church sports outreach and an overview of its theological, philosophical and subsequent methodological approach to “evangelistic-disiplemaking.  This blog shares a brief historical perspective of sports-related Para-ministries and also looks at their philosophical and methodological foundations… 

A Brief Historical Overview of Sports Based Para-Ministries
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) was founded in 1954 by professional athletes such as Bob Feller and Otto Graham.  Campus Crusade followed suit about ten years later with its Athletes in Action Sports Ministry.  Since then, hundreds of sports related Para-Ministries have been instituted; most were established since 1980.  Of course some might suggest the YMCA was the first Sports Ministry.  Indeed, it began in 1844 and was an excellent Para-ministry but, the Y did not begin as a sports-based ministry.  It did eventually add a “physical” department but sadly, while it wisely added sports and fitness methodologies, for the most part it Capitulated its Christian distinctive and the YMCA no longer has Evangelism or Discipleship as its purpose for existence. (See my other writings for a much broader history of the Y and all things Sports Ministry). 

Sports-Related Para-Ministry Philosophy and Methodology
Philosophically, the vast majority of sports related Para-Ministries focus on athletes and coaches.  Two main Methodologies are: a) Chaplaincy work which includes team Bible Studies and outreaches with some being campus based and others team or club based; and b) Mega-event and/or multi-media outreaches which focus on providing a “platform” for athletes to “proclaim” their faith via a speaking opportunity or through various media outlets.

All such Para-ministries claim to have great success when it comes to the twin Evangelical endeavors of Evangelism and Discipleship.  But do they?  If all the numbers of “decisions for Christ” reported by these ministries were combined, the entire world would be Christian today!  The statistic that most accurately communicates success however, is not how many "decisions for Christ" were made, but rather is, how many of the athletes and coaches associated with the Para-ministries become life-long disciples of Christ including regular and significant involvement with a local congregation. 

What’s the Problem?
You might be asking “what’s the big deal as long as everyone is focused on Evangelism?”  That question can be answered by asking a different question.  If Para-Ministries are so successful, then why hasn’t this success resulted in the growth of the Church?  If the philosophy of Para-ministries is so significant and the methodologies of Sports Chaplaincies, Mega-Sports-Outreach-Events, Platform Evangelism and Mass Media communication of the gospel are so fruitful, then why has church attendance continued to dwindle in the very countries in which sports related Para-ministries have flourished and claimed such great success?  It could be argued church attendance would have fallen even lower had it not been for the efforts of Para-ministries, yet this is refuted by the fact that other than a few notable exceptions, elite athletes and coaches are not intimately involved with local churches.  Of course, the local church must also “look in the mirror” to see if their philosophies and methodologies are working but the bottom line is, the numbers simply haven’t matched the expectations claimed by Para-ministries fundraising appeals.

The relevant question for both local congregations and the sports related Para-ministries is: “how many Disciples of Christ have been added to the ranks, rather than how many decisions were recorded.”  Evangelistic-disciplemaking should be judged by how many new Disciples of Christ are produced, not by how many prayed a prayer with a counselor, filled out a card at an event, raised their hand at a meeting or “went forward” at service. 

Relevance of the 3rd Sports Outreach Continuum
Future blogs will address the relevance of the Local Church – Para-ministry continuum  and work towards a proposal for a synthesized Philosophical Principle to produce a truly effective and efficient Methodological Model.

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Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports written by Dr. Greg Linville are archived at: www.csrm.org and http://www.csrm.org/blog201112-2.html This blog is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's yet to be released book.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org

Overcoming Obstacles in Local Church Sports Outreach Ministry #4 - Philosophical Objections
This set of blogs revisits and updates a series of articles that address common obstacles faced by many Local Church Sports & Recreation Ministers.  The articles first appeared in CSRM’s Journal “The Sports Minister” and were originally written by Sports Ministry Pioneer Rodger Oswald and appear here in edited excerpts.  The end goal of the series is to help identify, define and explain various obstacles faced by Local Church Sports Outreach Ministers
 
Philosophical Objections to Church Sports Overview
Having addressed the major Biblically-based objections to Church Sports, I now move to those objections based in philosophical principles.  This has more to do with the construct of the local church…in other words what is The Church supposed to do?
 
The Purpose of Local Church Sports Outreach Ministry
When someone asks the Sports Minister what his or her philosophy is, what they really are asking is; “Why are you doing what you are doing.”  Churchmen over the ages have been asking that same question, and even today, the answers vary.  However, if one were to spend time in the book of Acts or the Pastoral Epistles (the letters to Timothy and Titus), I believe the consensus would be the local church gathers in order to WORSHIP, EDIFY and EVANGELIZE.  The task for the pastor and/or church leadership is to determine how that will take place most effectively in order that people might have a vibrant relationship with God and that the results include the spiritual growth of the individual as the body coordinates to impact the unsaved locally and globally.
 
The fact that some Churchmen eschew or ignore Sports Ministry is interesting in that recent history has proven sports and recreation is the most culturally relevant and therefore, most strategic tool the local church has to: a) build “body life;” b) build up the believer; and c) build a bridge of relationship that lends itself to incarnational evangelistic-disciplemaking.  When asked about this, the responses are very revealing.  Some pastors respond with: “They never taught me this in seminary,” or “The really spiritual things take place in the worship center, Sunday School class or home Bible study.”  They may even add: “Jesus was not a competitive person and therefore His followers should not be competitive.”
 
These and other responses speak to the issue of Philosophy.  Those uttering these responses reveal the scope of their paradigm (and the fact they are uncomfortable outside that paradigm), or a bias based on a lack of interest in sports and recreation…or perhaps even resistance toward sports due to a negative personal experience.
 
The fact that someone is unaware of the potential of a prospective ministry should not prevent a person from learning about that potential for the sake of The Church and the gospel.  Likewise, it seems as though a prudent person ought to be willing to examine feeling and prejudices based on present need (and ecclesiastical effectiveness) rather than historical biases.
 
[For further reflection on the Philosophical basis for Sports Outreach Ministry readers are encouraged to review previous blogs on the “3-Tier Paradigm” archived in previous CSRM blogs (http://www.csrm.org/blog)
 
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Next week’s blog will continue the series on Obstacles to Sports Outreach by discussing Practical Objections
 
This blog is an edited excerpt an article by Rodger Oswald originally published in “The Sports Minister” Journal – Spring 2000.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:
Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. W. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and Rodger Oswald are archived at: www.csrm.org

Local Church Sports Ministry and Gender Issues

The blogs in this series are excerpts from Dr. Linville’s yet to be released book.  They explore the realities occurring in local church Sports Outreach Ministries in relationship to an evolving culture and shifting trends within sport, The Church and society in general. This blog examines the Creation Narratives as they specifically relate to homosexual activity and same gender marriage.  The end goal of this Biblical exegesis is to aide local church Sports & Recreation Ministers comprehend, and proactively structure, their outreaches with theological clarity and relational love and sensitivity.

Introduction to the Process

The process for this series of blogs in terms of contemplating each of the passages, consists primarily of referencing the work of others: scholars, apologists, preachers, thinkers and then articulating the issues and drawing a few conclusions.

Creation Narrative Accounts –Genesis 1 & 2

There is a definite difference of opinion about the Creation Narratives when it comes to determining a biblical ethic regarding homosexual activity.

Dr. Mel While states the narrative accounts say nothing about homosexuality and therefore can’t be used to condemn homosexual activity and relationships.  Kevin DeYoung has a completely different take on the Creation narratives.  I believe DeYoung would agree with White to the point that the word homosexual is not used anywhere in the passage yet his main rationale for determining the passage condemns such activity is based on a much more significant biblical/theological foundation.  In essence, DeYoung utilizes a valid theological principle in regards to hermeneutics (bible interpretation) called biblical apriori.  This means the bible communicates doctrines, and the ethics that emerge from such doctrines, in overarching themes which are found throughout the bible.  For DeYoung, the Creation Narratives clearly establish the foundation for the broader biblical support of hetero-sexuality and marriage being reserved for one man and one woman.  On the importance of biblical aprioris, I believe White would agree with DeYoung, although not as DeYoung interprets this passage.  As I understand White, he uses the apriori strategy to support his position for love being the highest ethic (see below).  White would not agree Genesis 1&2 support traditional hetero-sexual marriage.

I would encourage everyone to read DeYoung’s clearly articulated 5 rationales for believing Genesis 1 & 2 support marriage to be reserved only for one man and one woman, and also read White’s equally clear articulation of the Creation Narratives in his 5th premise of his apologetic for homosexual activity and marriage.  The stark contrast could not be more apparent.

Identifying the Issues

If the Creation Narratives do in fact provide the foundation for hetero-sexual, monogamous marriage and activity as DeYoung believes, then White’s argument faces an arduous uphill battle.  If White’s argument is irrefutable then at best, it leaves room for his main rationale for homosexual activity and marriage….which rests significantly on his 7th premise which raises the biblical apriori “love ethic” above all others. 

As will become apparent over the next weeks, what a local church determines to be biblical (Level #1 Theological Truth) will greatly inform how they organize (Level #2 Philosophical Principles) and eventually expedite their Sports Outreach Ministry (Level #3 Methodological Models).

Next week’s blog will begin to explore Genesis 19 in regards to homosexual activity.

This blog is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's yet to be released book.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. W. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org

Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville are archived at: www.csrm.org  

A Plea For Grace

This set of blogs discusses the most socially charged issue of the current day.  The author is seeks truth; desires to provide both questions and answers to further the discussion; engage in civil discourse; and most importantly provide a haven for love and grace.  I encourage all readers to: “know your mind, but not have your mind made up.”  As Martin Luther stated, I believe we should be open to being persuaded by Holy Scripture and evident reason (logic).  I start by asking for grace when I don’t use the right term to describe something or someone, and I plead for forgiveness when I offend someone due to my own fallen nature which may lead to unintentional insensitivity, ignorance or hurtful language.  My intent is not to hurt or injure anyone, but rather, it is to seek Christ’s will for all of us who are attempting to follow Jesus as we travel this path together.

Recommended Books & References consulted for this series of Blogs – A select list…

• What the Bible Says and Doesn’t Say About Homosexuality – by Mel White http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7069876-what-the-bible-says---and-doesn-t-say---about-homosexuality
  
  
• A Response to What the Bible Says and Doesn’t Say About Homosexuality – by Dr. Stanton Jones - http://www.wheaton.edu/CACE/CACE-Print-Resources/~/media/Files/Centers-and-Institutes/CACE/booklets/StanJonesResponsetoMelWhite.pdf
  
  
• Stranger at the Gate – by Rev. Dr. Mel White
  
  
• What the Bible  Really Says About Homosexuality – by Dr. Daniel Helminiak
  
  
• enGendered by Sam Andreades
  
  
• What does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality – by Kevin DeYoung
  
  
• Slaves, Women and Homosexuals – by William J. Webb
  
  
• World Magazine – many articles
  
  
• Protecting Your Ministry – A handbook for Ministries – http://thewhiteheadfirm.com/uploads/Protecting_Your_Ministry_ADF_ERLC.pdf
  
  
• The intro to: Love is an Orientation by Andrew Marin - http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3626-I.pdf