Disqualified From Sharing

The first written records of the ancient Olympic Games date to 776 B.C., when a cook named Coroebus won the only event—a 192-meter footrace called the stade (the origin of the modern “stadium”)—to become the first Olympic champion. However, it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years by that time. Legend has it that Heracles (the Roman Hercules), son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, founded the Games, which by the end of the 6th century B.C had become the most famous of all Greek sporting festivals.

The ancient Olympics were held every four years between August 6 and September 19 during a religious festival honoring Zeus. The Games were named for their location at Olympia, a sacred site located near the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. Their influence was so great that ancient historians began to measure time by the four-year increments in between Olympic Games, which were known as Olympiads.

The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. In the opening ceremony, King Georgios I and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed 280 participants from 12 nations (all male), who would compete in 43 events, including track and field, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, cycling, tennis, weightlifting, shooting and fencing.

This weekend marked the beginning of our Olympics in Tokyo. Of course it hasn’t been without a lot of controversy but they go on.

What is your favorite event in the modern Olympics?

What inspires you when watch the Olympics

What things turn you off about the Olympics?

English Standard Version (Chapter 9)

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

When I watch the Olympics, I am in awe of what it took to get there. The dedication is often at a level that even our professional sport athletes in America do not even have. Everybody was so upset that our track star from LSU that had broken the world record was going to off the team because she had partaken in Marijuana use. But that has been the rules and every other athlete had abided by the rules. It actually was disgusting to me to see people come to the defense of someone who knowingly broke the rules when everyone else followed them.

As followers of Jesus, we have a daily task of training our lives so that we can share the good news of Jesus with others. In the Olympics, most will only get one shot to achieve glory. In Christianity, when it comes to having the opportunity to share the good news, we may only have one shot at someone.

What did Paul he would be to others?

What does that mean to be all things to all people that you might win some?

Does that mean we must compromise anything about our beliefs?

Verse 24 he says to run so that you may obtain it. What does that mean?

There really is a two fold meaning when we think about the imperishable crown. What are the two things we are to be reaching for that come from this passage?

Verse 27 is often overlooked in many Christians lives. What can I be disqualified from?

How can I get disqualified?

What are some things I can do about it?