Seven Sports Analogies that Motivate Spiritual Growth

While the earth is pulsating with excitement for the start of the World Cup, my city is frantic over the Knicks’ playoff run. The city streets are electric. And people who would not get along at other times embrace, high-five, and stand together for hours screaming, groaning, and gloating over a bunch of guys throwing a ball around. And I join right in.

Every culture has its competitive sports, and the language of competition saturates our stories. The ancient world was no different. The New Testament authors wrote to cultures that embraced chariot races, marathons, boxing, wrestling, and gladiator battles. Consider seven sports analogies from the Bible that will motivate your spiritual growth.

Lesson 1 – Run to win.

“Run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

The City of Corinth was known worldwide for the Isthmian Games. Every other year, people packed into Corinth for the Olympic-style games held at a pagan temple about 8 miles from the city center. The highlight of the games was the stadion, a sprint of 20 racers for about two football fields. Of course, each trained athlete ran to win. No one entered the competition to give up halfway through.

As Christians, our running has a greater purpose and anticipates greater glory. We run the Christian race to finish. Of course, we are not trying to get first place (like the Olympic runner), but we started this race to see it to the finish. There’s a total heart-and-life commitment to the entire journey. As Jesus stated, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 LSB). So run to win!

Lesson 2 – Compete with Control.

“Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25 LSB).

Athletes were required to live in Corinth for the 30 days preceding the Isthmian Games. Judges scrutinized and strictly supervised their training regimen. So everyone knew what these athletes gave up in order to bring their best to the field. We see that in our own Olympic athletes today. They must exercise self-control in every area of life to be the best competitor. And yet, their reward is a fading pine wreath of human ambition.

Christians exercise self-control as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Self-control says no to self. In the context of 1 Corinthians 9, it says no to one’s own desires in order to be a witness to more people. Self-control makes choices based on God’s Word, not spontaneity or lust. Consequently, there is no out-of-control Christian in this race. The race is real, the training is real, and the wreath is eternal.

Lesson 3 – Box into Obedience.

“I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 LSB).

Boxing was also one of the ancient Olympic Games. Their hands were covered with leather, and they boxed one another until one knocked the other down. Paul uses this imagery to communicate how we treat our flesh—not to beat ourselves up physically but to have our flesh under control. I tell it what to do. It doesn’t tell me what to do. I say when to go to bed, and what to eat. I tell it what to look at, what to read, and what to think. I’m no longer obeying the flesh’s call. The flesh can’t talk because it’s lying on the ground after the knockout.

Why? I don’t want to be disqualified. I want to win the prize. So, I can’t pretend to be disciplined—that’s just shadowboxing. I need to plan, prepare, and make sure that I’m obeying God’s Word.

Lesson 4 – Run with Endurance.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The Greeks stripped away anything that would impede their running. Similarly, long-distance races usually begin early in the day when it is cool. So, I’ll buy some overclothes from a local thrift store that keep me warm but are not for the whole race. They are cumbersome and would weigh me down and trip me up, so I throw them aside after the first mile or two.

We follow Jesus Who ran the race before us and set the perfect pace. It’s not a sprint, it’s a long-distance, endurance race. Endure is made from two Greek words “remain” and “under.” We remain under the strain of the race, the cross, until the finish line. But to remain under the weight we must put off selfish and sinful weights. These impede progress and must be discarded to run well.

Lesson 5 – Follow the Rules.

“If anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5 LSB).

Rosie is well known for winning the Boston Marathon in record time in 1980. She is even better known for being disqualified eight days later. She had used the bus to get through much of the route! To keep things fair, strict judges oversaw the athletic events at the Greek games.

As we serve the Lord, we are to do so without cutting corners. Many Christian virtues are carried out before Him alone. He sees your time in prayer, your giving, and your ministering to the poor or downtrodden. It is easier to work diligently in the ministries others see. But in God’s service, every activity demands our best. All service is done to the Lord, and so we do so with Him as our judge and His Son as the goal.

Lesson 6 – Exercise for Godliness.

“Train yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7–8 LSB).

The cities of the ancient world contained several public places where men would train and exercise. The Greek culture prized discipline and the human body. The Greek word “train” in this passage stems from that training place (hence our word Gymnasium). Bodily discipline was important. And yet, discipline just for a particular bodily skill or form is only of little profit to the Christian.

This verse is often taught incorrectly. The point is not that exercise is only of little profit (so don’t concentrate on it). The point is that the discipline from exercise can translate to discipline for godliness. And discipline for godliness is of great value. So, give purpose to exercise. As you discipline your will in the gym, you will be able to discipline your will to memorize Scripture, share your faith, and rise early to read God’s Word. Exercise for eternal benefit.

Lesson 7 – Wrestle for the Faith.

The most popular Greek game was wrestling—excruciating hand to hand combat. The competitors tried to force one another to the ground or out of bounds. Wrestling is intense and requires strength and agonizing endurance. In fact, we get our word agonize from this Greek word. 

This intense picture, straining every muscle, is used to communicate our straining in the cause of the Gospel. Christians must wrestle for the faith once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 1:3). This word describes Epaphras’ prayers for others. He agonized on their behalf (Colossians 4:12). Paul describes his whole life as agonizing the good agony (2 Timothy 4:7).

The Christian life is not a game. It is much more important. Therefore, the effort, discipline, endurance, and preparation that people undergo for a World Cup or an NBA Final should be small compared with those who are fueled by Gospel grace and enabled by God to work for His glory. Our lives should be a wrestling for God and His kingdom that endures every day till our long-lasting Sabbath above.