The Association of Church Sports and Recreation Ministries (CSRM)
  • HOME
  • Partner with CSRM
    • How to Partner
    • GLOBAL NETWORK PARTNERS
    • MINISTRY PARTNERS
  • SERVICES
    • CONFERENCES
    • CONSULTING
    • CERTIFICATION
    • CONNECTIONS
  • RESOURCES
    • THE AGON INSTITUTE
    • BLOG
    • Book reviews
    • STORE
    • OVERWHELMING VICTORY PRESS >
      • Become an OVP Sponsor
      • OVP Proposal Submission
    • OVERWHELMING VICTORY FLIX
    • DEVOTIONALS
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
    • HISTORY AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
    • LEADERSHIP
    • International Ministry
    • Leedy Scholarship Fund
    • JOBS >
      • VIEW SPORTS MINISTRY JOBS
      • VIEW CSRM JOBS
    • News & Updates
    • CONTACT US
    • Privacy Policy
    • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    • RETURN POLICY
  • STORE
  • Login
  • HOME
  • Partner with CSRM
    • How to Partner
    • GLOBAL NETWORK PARTNERS
    • MINISTRY PARTNERS
  • SERVICES
    • CONFERENCES
    • CONSULTING
    • CERTIFICATION
    • CONNECTIONS
  • RESOURCES
    • THE AGON INSTITUTE
    • BLOG
    • Book reviews
    • STORE
    • OVERWHELMING VICTORY PRESS >
      • Become an OVP Sponsor
      • OVP Proposal Submission
    • OVERWHELMING VICTORY FLIX
    • DEVOTIONALS
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
    • HISTORY AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
    • LEADERSHIP
    • International Ministry
    • Leedy Scholarship Fund
    • JOBS >
      • VIEW SPORTS MINISTRY JOBS
      • VIEW CSRM JOBS
    • News & Updates
    • CONTACT US
    • Privacy Policy
    • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    • RETURN POLICY
  • STORE
  • Login
Picture

BLOG

Designed to Equip the Local Church for:
Strategically Relevant, Effective and Efficient
"Evangelistic-Disciplemaking" Sports Outreach

Sunday Sport & The Sports Minister

4/29/2015

Comments

 
Sunday Sport? The Sabbath/Lord’s Day in Relationship to Sports Outreach Ministry
Sunday Sports is perhaps the most controversial issue confronting the Sports Outreach Movement. Many Sports and Recreation Ministers, Church Recreators and Fitness Ministry leaders wrestle with whether or not to program sports outreach activities on a Sunday and almost every Christian athlete, coach and athletic director has already made a decision on whether or not they will play, coach or organize sport on Sunday.  Christian families are also faced with the question of their “sporty” kids’ priorities and commitments.  Specifically, should their children participate in “travel team,” AAU or other specialized and/or elite athletic sports activities if they occur on a Sunday? 

The answer to Sunday Sports cannot be determined quickly and must not be pre-decided by the often emotional desire to play sport at a high level…even if that desire is tied up with a desire to utilize one’s sport to glorify God and/or reach others for God.  The good news is that an answer can be ascertained by reflection on five key Level #1 Theological Truths: a) Sabbath Day; b) Lord’s Day; c) Ecclesiology (theology of The Church) in relationship to church association and participation; d) Missiology (theology of missions) in relationship to biblical principles of reaching those far from Christ; and e) Soteriology (theology of salvation) in relationship to evangelism and discipleship. The issue of Sunday Sport is indeed uniquely linked with each of these Level #1 Theological Truths and a complete understanding or decision cannot be made without a thorough theological examination.

Sabbath and Lord’s Day [1]
The theological foundation for athletes and their families considering participating in Sunday sporting activities begins with understanding the biblical mandates and principles concerning the Sabbath and Lord’s Day.  The two are similar, interconnected, and yet remain two separate entities.  This week we will look at the Sabbath…

Sabbath
A brief overview of foundational statements concerning the Sabbath as it relates to local church sports consists of the following five foundations.  First, “honoring the Sabbath Day” is the 4th law of the Ten Commandments.  Second, the Ten Commandments were spoken once, and written twice by God.  Third, the penalty for breaking one of them was a death by stoning.  Fourth, the 4th commandment is the only one of the ten discussed in all five books of the Law!  Fifth, when the priority of the Ten Commandments, in terms of their order, is properly understood, the significance of the Sabbath Day Commandment is even more profound as it is number four!  While all ten are vital, God leads with the weightier ones so as to communicate each serves as the foundation for obeying the ones that follow.

Bearing these five foundational points in mind, the two renditions of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5) are affirmed by many other Old Testament passages and reveal three main Level #2 Philosophical Principles. [2]  The way the day is to be honored and observed is to be as: a) a day of rest; b) a day of worship; and c) a day of witness. Thus, the fourth Commandment is foundational for obeying the six commandments that follow and it also helps fulfill the commands of the first three.

The bottom line is, Christ followers have no option as to whether or not they are to observe the day, as to keep it holy.  We are commanded to observe the day, keeping it holy.  We do however have some leeway in how this observance is manifested.  This observance will be further clarified and more fully explained by next week’s blog on Lord’s Day considerations. [3]

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 NW Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org

[1] The full discussion on Sabbath and Lord’s Day considerations for local church sports outreach is found in chapter 6 of my book - Christmanship.  The discussion here is but an overview of the subject.  Any serious consideration of whether or not to participate in Sunday sport must include the treatise in the Christmanship book along with what is proposed here.  See the bibliography of the book for additional books on this and related topics.


[2] See the following: Gen, 2.2; Neh. 8.1-8 & 10.28-39 & 13.15-21; Isaiah 56.2-6 & 58.13, 14; Ezekiel 20.1-31 & 46.1.


[3] Again, please see chapter 6 of my book Christmanship for a full discussion on the Lord’s Day and its relevance for local church sports ministry.  What is offered here is but a mere and partial summary of this most vital theological truth.
Comments

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4.6 8
    1 Timothy 4.6-8
    #3 Tier Paradigm
    5B Rubric
    Accommodation
    Answers To Difficult Questions
    Capitulation
    Certification
    Cheating
    Christmanship
    Continuums Of Tension
    Ecclesiology
    Effective
    Effectiveness
    Efficient
    Evangelism
    Evangelistic Disciplemaking
    Faith & Sport Integration
    Fitness
    Future
    Gamesmanship
    Gender Issues
    Kingdom Or Community
    Level #1 Theological
    Level #1 Theological
    Level #2 Philosophical
    Level #2 - Philosophical
    Level #3 Methodological
    Level #3 - Methodological
    Level # 3 Methodological Models
    Local Church Sports Ministry
    Lord's Day And Sport
    Mega Event
    Muscular Christianity
    Obstacles Of Church Sports
    Para Church
    Para-Church
    Para Ministries
    Para-Ministries
    Parenting Athletes
    Personal Finance
    Proclamation Platform
    Redemption
    Rejection
    Sabbath Day & Sport
    Sportianity
    Sport Ministry Syndromes
    Sportsmanship
    Sports Ministry
    Sports Ministry Continuums
    Sports Outreach
    Sunday Sport
    Theology Of The Church
    The Sacraments
    Wellness
    Wholeness
    Why Church Sports

    ARCHIVES

    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    May 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009

    CATEGORIES

    All
    1 Timothy 4.6 8
    1 Timothy 4.6-8
    #3 Tier Paradigm
    5B Rubric
    Accommodation
    Answers To Difficult Questions
    Capitulation
    Certification
    Cheating
    Christmanship
    Continuums Of Tension
    Ecclesiology
    Effective
    Effectiveness
    Efficient
    Evangelism
    Evangelistic Disciplemaking
    Faith & Sport Integration
    Fitness
    Future
    Gamesmanship
    Gender Issues
    Kingdom Or Community
    Level #1 Theological
    Level #1 Theological
    Level #2 Philosophical
    Level #2 - Philosophical
    Level #3 Methodological
    Level #3 - Methodological
    Level # 3 Methodological Models
    Local Church Sports Ministry
    Lord's Day And Sport
    Mega Event
    Muscular Christianity
    Obstacles Of Church Sports
    Para Church
    Para-Church
    Para Ministries
    Para-Ministries
    Parenting Athletes
    Personal Finance
    Proclamation Platform
    Redemption
    Rejection
    Sabbath Day & Sport
    Sportianity
    Sport Ministry Syndromes
    Sportsmanship
    Sports Ministry
    Sports Ministry Continuums
    Sports Outreach
    Sunday Sport
    Theology Of The Church
    The Sacraments
    Wellness
    Wholeness
    Why Church Sports

CURRENT NEWS
Visit Facebook for the latest news and views.
PRAYER SUPPORT AND INFORMATION
Visit Twitter for the latest updates and prayer request.
OUTREACH MINISTRY VIDEOS
Visit our new YouTube channel for new training videos for the purpose of equipping the local church to change lives through sports outreach.
CONTACT US
Your questions and comments are important to us. Please contact us  and we will answer any questions you may have!

ABOUT US
Leadership
Strategy
How to Partner
FOUR C STRATEGY
Conference
Consulting
Certification
Connections
PARTNERS
Ministry Partners
Global Network Partners
Preferred Providers
Affiliated Ministries
RESOURCES
Articles
Audio
Book Reviews
Blog 
Devotionals
Store

© Copyright 2019   |  The Association of Church Sports and Recreation Ministries  |  All rights reserved. | PO Box 9110 Canton, Ohio 44711
​Website partially sponsored by:
Author David Waddell | 
www.davidwaddell.biz and
​Amazing Athletes
® Educational Sports Programs in Columbus | www.amazingathletes.com/columbus