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

The "5B's" Of The Sports Outreach Movement: Envisioning Evangelistic-Disciplemaking Through Local Church Sports Outreach - Part #8

12/7/2016

Comments

 
The “5-B’s Rubric of Evangelism” of The Sports Outreach Movement
This series of blogs will describe and explain the “5-B’s” of Evangelism of The Sports Outreach Movement.  This blogs continues the discussion with a description of the third “B” – Baptism
 
Baptizing
The third step in the 5-B’s Rubric is: baptizing.
We come to what may well be the most theologically controversial of all the “5-B’s” – Baptizing.  Views of Baptism have been the cause of many theological and denominational divides.  Let’s first establish what all faith traditions agree upon and then the relevance of baptizing to local church Sports Outreach Ministry.

Baptism is Vital to Becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ

All three of the Christian traditions (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant) agree on the importance of baptism but only the Protestant tradition holds to the “by faith alone” view of salvation.   Furthermore, all three faith traditions, including a vast majority of protestants, would agree anyone coming to faith and converting to Christianity should be baptized, however, there are some serious disagreements about: a) the mode of baptism (sprinkling, pouring, full immersion, or a “dry cleaning” - spiritual baptism without the use of water); b) when baptism should occur (as an infant or as an adult believer); and c) perhaps more contentious, if the re-baptism of an adult who was baptized as an infant is ever right.  While my intent is not to get side-tracked on this ecclesiastical (church) divide, it is worth noting there is no agreed upon consensus as to some of the baptism variations, but there is without question a unity in the belief that baptism is important for all disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Relevance of Baptism to Evangelistic-Disciplemaking

The relevance of baptism to evangelistic-disciplemaking within the 5-B Rubric has to do with how it impacts unchurched people coming to faith in Christ and engaging them in the third phase of becoming a life-long, dedicated-disciple of Jesus Christ.  In addition, it is relevant to how a local church Sports Outreach helps such a people navigate their faith journey.  There are three main reasons why Baptism is vital to establishing disciples of Jesus Christ.

First,
it solidifies the decision of new believers to become followers of Christ.  Perhaps a better way to look at it is, that it reduces any potential ambiguity about the sincerity of faith.  It’s one thing to pray a prayer in a quiet reflective moment; raise a hand at an evangelistic-oriented event; or make an affirmative statement about Christ with a coach, league director or church leader.  It’s quite another to publically profess faith in Jesus Christ in front of an entire church, family and friends, and also to commit to regularly participate as a member of a local church.

Second,
making a public declaration of a private decision, serves as inspiration to all who were prayerfully and lovingly engaged in aiding the newly baptized believer on their spiritual journey.  In addition, it also winsomely challenges others who may be considering professing Christ themselves to boldly step out and become a disciple themselves.

Third,
it forever “draws a line in the sand.”  Whereas, looking back, people can sometimes become confused as to whether or not they ever made a decision for Christ, memories of going through Baptismal classes, the Baptism itself, and gazing at a Baptismal certificate hanging on a wall with a specific date and signature of the officiating pastor all ensure that it was real.

Summary of Baptizing

I believe it is vital for all local church Sports Outreach Ministries to make public baptism a necessary part of their evangelistic-disciplemaking efforts and process.  I believe it even more important for sports-related, para-ministries to have their athletes or coaches who come to Christ be baptized in a local church; preferably the church the para-sports ministry leader is an active member of.
Public baptism is often the determining difference between a “decision for a day” and a lifetime dedicated-disciple.  Public baptism is no little thing.  It is of extreme importance.

The next blog with explain the fourth “B” - Behaving
_________________________________________

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/

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