Over the past decade, the win-at-all-costs mentality has become a bigger issue in sports at all levels. This same mindset now affects youth sports, where the average number of team sports played per child dropped 5.9 percent from 2010 to 2015. The same University of Kent study suggests that high-pressure parenting is pushing some athletes toward using performance-enhancing drugs. 

Local newspaper headlines are filled with sports stories about performance-enhancing drugs, hazing, and unethical recruiting violations. It shouldn’t be surprising that Lance Armstrong’s problems started long before his cycling career. During the ESPN documentary, Lance Armstrong himself admitted to cheating on his birth certificate as a teenager to unfairly compete with other athletes. 

Colossians 2 – False Teachers

While there is a real danger of being spiritually deceived by worldly philosophies in sports, Paul warned the Colossian Christians about an even greater threat. Gnosticism was probably what endangered immature Christians in Colossae. It was a pagan mysticism mixed with worldly ideas. Paul urged them not to trust the deceitful and misleading false teachers (Colossians 2:8). Their philosophies might have sounded appealing, but they were mental detours that led many astray. He wanted them to understand that they have the Power and Person within—who is greater than anything the world, the flesh, or the devil can offer.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are not deceived or confused by false, groundless, or worldly philosophies that mislead Christians. They trust in Christ for everything they need and recognize Jesus as sufficient as Lord.

Bible Memory Verse – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute: Win At All Costs

Our featured book this week is Ecclesiastes – The Forward-Looking Athlete. (A  10-Week Bible Study For Athletes Who Want To Compete With The End In Mind), written by Joshua Thiessen.

 Click HERE to review.

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