Organizational Principles for Local Church Sports Outreach - #6

The 3-Tier Paradigm

This series of blogs are excerpts from Dr. Linville’s yet to be released book.  They explain and outline the 3-Tier Paradigm introduced in his book.  The 3-Tier Paradigm is the organizational structure upon which Dr. Linville’s series of Sports Outreach Ministry books are based and serves as the guiding light for how the association of Church Sports & Recreation Ministries (CSRM) executes its equipping of local churches. This blog explains the Core Values component of the 3-Tier Paradigm and how they empower it.

Summary of CSRM’s 3-Tier Paradigm

As stated before CSRM exists to: “equip local churches to change lives through sports outreach.”  The equipping is designed to mobilize, enable and empower churches for evangelistic-disciplemaking.  The previous blogs outlined Levels 1-3 of the 3-Tier Paradigm.  Level #1 described the “Why” of Local Church Sports Outreach; Level #2 outlined the “Where, When and With Whom” of Local Church Sports Outreach; and Level #3 the “What” of Local Church Sports Outreach.  This blog describes the “Core Values” of the 3-Tier Paradigm which is the “How” of Local Church Sports Outreach.  The “How” of a Sports Outreach may well be the most important part of “What” the Sports Ministry does.

Understanding the “How” of Sports Outreach

Most people who participate in a local church’s Sports Outreach Ministry won’t remember the scores of many, if any, of the games they played in.  They will however, remember “How” they felt and “How” they were treated.  The truth is, Sports Ministers cannot guarantee each and every team will win every game.  Not even Jesus Christ could perform that miracle!   Thankfully, however, they can create an atmosphere that communicates what the church believes in and stands for.  Regardless of “What” a local church Sports Outreach does, the “How” it does it, should include such core values as: excellence; integrity, consistency, compassion, inclusiveness, honesty and most of all, love.

The Core Values of a Local Church Sports Outreach may well be the most important aspect of the entire operation of a Sports Ministry because it is through “How” the ministry is conducted that the gospel of Jesus Christ is seen, felt, observed and experienced.  The two phrases that best encapsulate the “How” of Local Church Sports Outreach have always been: “Jesus is caught more than taught,” and “people are most open to the gospel when having fun.” 

The Key Question

“How’s” your Sports Outreach doing?  Have you created an atmosphere of fun?  Have you fostered a culture where the gospel is caught? 

Next week’s blog will unpack the vital relevance of the “3-Tier Paradigm” by providing insight into two of the most vital issues confronting the Sports Outreach Movement: a) Sunday Sport; and b) Gender Issues.

This blog is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's book Christmanship and another 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