Living for Christ as an Athlete

Living for the Lord as an Athlete

Living for Christ as an athlete involves several key aspects, according to the provided articles. One article suggests that a healthy follower of Christ is someone who balances biblical purposes in their life and heart, surrendering to Christ on an ongoing basis[1]. Another perspective emphasizes that victory for a Christian athlete is not about winning in the worldly sense, but resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This allows athletes to work diligently and with hope, knowing their labor is not in vain[2]. The concept of maturity is also highlighted as an important aspect of Christian living, with mature individuals knowing themselves well and using their abilities to help others without seeking personal gain[3]. Additionally, biblical maturity is described as including characteristics such as spiritual wisdom, walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God[4]. It's important to note that these articles do not specifically address athletes, but provide general principles that could be applied to Christian living in various contexts, including athletics.

[1] Steve Gladen, Small Groups with Purpose: How to Create Healthy Communities (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 45. [2] Stephen T. Um, 1 Corinthians: The Word of the Cross, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 285. [3] Jeffrey Arnold and Stephanie Black, The Big Book on Small Groups (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992). [4] Paul David Tripp, Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Revised and Expanded. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2022), 179.