Sports Spectrum
Scripture Union Sports Resources
https://content.scriptureunion.org.uk/sports-resources
http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/
The resources here may be used or adapted for the non-profit purposes of your club only, and may not be used for commercial gain. Please put the word sport or sports in the search engine or look for sports resources on the website.
VBS (Vacation Bible School) Christian Olympics
By Bible School Resources
http://www.bibleschoolresources.net/vbs/ChristianOlympics/
http://www.bibleschoolresources.net
The materials on this website were written for a one-day Vacation Bible School. However, there are five logical lessons within each set of materials, and way more material than can be fully covered in a one-day session.
Olympic Theme "Champions For Christ"
By Growing Seeds For Kids
http://growingseedsforkids.com/OlympicTheme.html
http://growingseedsforkids.com/
You can get here your copy of the The Olympic Theme "Champions For Christ." The package includes 12 lesson plans, various sport game activities, crafts, activities, and lesson summaries. You can download the first two lessons for free.
Audio
Running For My Life, Unabridged MP3-CD
By Lopez Lomong
Running for My Life is Lopez Lomong's harrowing story of loss, overcoming, triumph, and redemption. It is the once-in-a-lifetime story of a Sudanese lost boy who became an American citizen and Olympic athlete. His life is a powerful picture that we can overcome, that what seems out of reach is within our grasp if we'd believe and if we'd only try. A story of faith, and a story that captures the best of humanity, Running for My Life will arrest the hearts and inspire the hopes of readers everywhere. Please put the word Lomong in the search engine.
Books
AIAGear.com
http://aiagear.com/c-37-books.aspx
AIAGear.com is a way to support the ministry of Athletes in Action which is a ministry of Cru. A portion of the proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund to help athletes participate on AIA Opportunities each year. You are not only getting quality clothing but helping to reach the world with the Gospel.
Greater Than Gold
Greater Than Gold is an autobiography of David Boudia, an olympics athlete. Aside from being an athlete, David is a devout Christian and he openly references his religious beliefs as his faith plays a very big part in his life.
On Your Mark
http://aiagear.com/p-52-on-your-mark.aspx
On Your Mark is the companion to Passing the Baton for US campus sports ministry. This manual is designed to give a greater understanding of the athletic culture and to suggest activities to help you begin a dynamic sport ministry on the college campus. It will also lead you to web sites and make suggestions on where to find other resources. On Your Mark is practical without being overly pragmatic; sport ministry, like all ministry, should flow from a heart that is nurtured in relationship with Jesus Christ, infused with the Spirit to help change lives in the world of sport.
Passing the Baton
http://aiagear.com/p-53-passing-the-baton.aspx
Passing the Baton is a study guide of basic biblical principles for developing a personal ministry in any sport context: college and clubs, school, youth teams or professional sports. This workbook is for sport leaders who want to start a ministry or a great training tool for your key disciples. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, Passing the Baton contains a sound mission's model applied to sport. If you want to develop ministry skills and be salt and light in the world of sports, this book is for you and the leaders you seek to develop.
Ritchie Christian Media
http://www.ritchiechristianmedia.co.uk/
Please put the word Olympic or Olympics or sport or sports in the search engine.
Run The Race: Inspiration for the Race of Faith
By Alastair Kirk
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1503378500/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1503378500
https://www.amazon.co.uk
This book of short messages on a theme of sport and athletics encourages us to look to Jesus who has already completed the race and wants to lead us to fulfill every potential He has for our
lives. Each chapter regularly uncovers the links between the many athletic verses in the New Testament and Greek culture of the day and exploes other key Scriptures that remind us we are not
in this race alone.
The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns
By S.E. Gregg
In this book, author Gregg unveils the Bible's comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic games. Gregg developed Biblical strategies to help Christians run the race of life well, just as athletes develop a game plan to help them win their competitions. Gregg examines the rich comparative examples Paul gave us in the Epistles. The lighting of the flame at the Olympics is reminiscent of the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which was the 'divine' opening ceremony.
Bookstores / Online Stores
AIAGear.com
http://aiagear.com/c-12-home.aspx
http://aiagear.com/
AIAGear.com is a way to support the ministry of Athletes in Action which is a ministry of Cru. A portion of the proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund to help athletes participate on AIA
Opportunities each year. You are not only getting quality clothing but helping to reach the world with the Gospel.
Christianbook.com
This online store has books, dvds, audio, ebooks, and more. To search for sports related books, please put the word Olympic or Olympics in the search engine.
DVDs
AIAGear.com
http://aiagear.com/c-35-dvds.aspx
http://aiagear.com/
AIAGear.com is a way to support the ministry of Athletes in Action which is a ministry of Cru. A portion of the proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund to help athletes participate on AIA
Opportunities each year. You are not only getting quality clothing but helping to reach the world with the Gospel.
Champion's Challenge
http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/champions-challenge-dvd-1100801.html
Champion's Challenge DVD accompanies Champion's Challenge holiday club programme. It retells the five stories that are explored in the programme. The training feature explores how to expand the scope of your holiday club, turning a one week club into year-round ministry. The DVD also includes the two holiday club songs, the theme song and the learn and remember song, the song Take Up Your Cross. Powerpoint presentations and OHP templates for the song words are available in the ROM folder, as are pdfs of the artwork from the resource book.
Chariots of Fire
Christian Cinema
http://www.christiancinema.com/
This film features the inspiring true story of two runners from UK, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Contrasting the spiritual motives of one man versus the more selfish goals of the other, their fierce, personal competition ends up uniting them in a great victory in the 1924 Olympics.
Christian Cinema
http://www.christiancinema.com
Christian Cinema has over 15 titles of DVDs related to sports or olympics. Please put olympic or olympics in the search engine.
For the Glory
http://www.christiancinema.com/
For the Glory is based on a true story of olympic soccer player Kurt Kuykendall. Faced with the rejection of his perfectionist father, his mother's crippling alcoholism and his own failure to make it as a college basketball player, Kuykendall meets Christ at an emotional crossroad. Then at the bidding of an insistent friend, Kurt reluctantly tries out for the college soccer team, having never played competitive soccer in his life. To everyone's surprise he becomes an overnight sensation. His skill as a goalkeeper leads him all the way to the Olympic games where plays for the glory of Another.
Power to Win Giant Faith
http://aiagear.com/p-278-power-to-win-giant-faith.aspx
NFL Football - there's no sport like it. It's like watching modern day gladiators in action. Every Sunday, some of the greatest athletes that have ever played the game strap on their battle gear and engage in fierce competition. They are trained to be intense, focused, disciplined, tough, and relentless. No wonder people all over the world view them as heroes. This DVD offeres a glimpse into the lives of a few of these men. These stories are not just about modern day gladiators, but about real people with real needs who have found that real faith is essential for success in real life.
Struggle & Triumph
http://aiagear.com/p-385-struggle-triumph-multi-language-pal.aspx
http://aiagear.com/p-382-struggle-triumph-multi-language-ntsc.aspx
http://aiagear.com/
From the grueling hours of training and repetition to the glory of the winner's podium, to be an Olympian is to experience all the hard work with no guarantee or reward. Yet it has been said
that "the important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle: The essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well." Struggle and Triumph follows the journeys of an
American sprinter/bobsleder, a Kenvan marathoner, a Chineses speed skater, and a Brazilian swimmer as they share their stories of struggle and triumph in the Olympic spotlight.
Ministry
Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action helps sports-minded people think and live biblically at the intersection of sport and Christianity. This website provides resources for the athlete, coach, and spectator interested in allowing God to shape their thinking in every aspect of life, including their interaction with sports. They engage into issues surrounding sport culture by opening a door for thoughtful but accessible Christian analysis of sports. They also offer daily spiritual content for those concerned with the redemption of both sports and those who love them.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives. It challenges coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.
The Prize - Under Pressure
With over three billion fans, football is by far the world's most popular sport. Millions dream of playing in the World Cup, but only a few ever realize their dream. Features testimonies from Kaka, Eyong Enoh, Jacob Mulenga, Cacau and Aston Villa Goalkeeper Brad Guzan. For anyone gifted enough to represent their country, the pressure is enormous. Discover how these international footballers deal with pressures they encounter every day as high profile players.
Some of the sermons below are probably not about sports.
Sermons
Spiritual Olympics
By Leonard Ravenhill
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=121110638496
http://www.sermonaudio.com
Please put the words Olympic, Olympics, sport, or sports in the search engine.
The Olympics
By Robert W. Reed
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=22410154361
The Resurrection Olympics
By Dr. Brian Green
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=923121554441
Tracts
Eric Liddel Tract
You can buy the Eric Liddel tract on this website. Eric Liddel was a known athlete in his days. He served the Lord using his God-given skill and talent. Please put Eric in the search engine.
Going for Gold
The Olympic games provides the backcloth. Go for Gold and take Jesus into your heart and life. Please put the word gold in the search engine.
Articles
A Thousand Invisible Mornings
Ron Hutchcraft Ministries
"Every four years the Winter Olympics roll around, and every time I see them, this memory keeps flashing back in my brain. I'm not sure which looms larger to me, the Olympic memory or the lesson I learned from it." (Read more abou this article, click on the link above.) Please put the words sport, sports, olympic, or olympics in the search engine for more articles.
An Olympic Story: The Gold Medal Life of Eric Liddell
By Kristin Charles
http://ministry-to-children.com/an-olympic-story-the-gold-medal-life-of-eric-liddell/
http://ministry-to-children.com/
"Olympic athletes capture our attention and our hearts with the stories of their lives, their commitment and sacrifice, and their excellence in their field of play. With 2012 Summer Olympics quickly approaching, there is so much we can do to engage the children in our ministries!" (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
In What Ways is the Christian Life Like the Olympics?
GotQuestions.org
http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-Olympics.html
"The Olympics represent the pinnacle of athleticism, training, and competitiveness, going all the way back to ancient times. The apostle Paul used illustrations from the world of athletics in several of his letters. In three Epistles, he used the image of all-out racing to urge vigorous and lawful pursuit of spiritual growth and service. Four times Paul spoke of his growth and service in terms of his own such race." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Kids Ministry Ideas with an Olympic Theme
By Mimi Bullock
http://ministry-to-children.com/olympic-ideas-for-kids-ministry/
http://ministry-to-children.com/
"Using themes for kids' ministry excites kids, teachers and volunteers. An Olympic theme is an especially good theme because it is a topic of excellence and endurance. Use an Olympic theme over an entire quarter or just a few classes in your kids' ministry. Teach kids about what God thinks about sportsmanship, working as a teacm and the importance of reaching spiritual goals." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Olympic - Inspired Games for the Classroom
By Ministry-To-Children
http://ministry-to-children.com/olympic-inspired-games-for-the-classroom/
http://ministry-to-children.com/
"If you are looking for an exciting theme for children's church this winter you can't go wrong with an Olympic theme. Using an identifiable theme is a fun way to integrate lessons games and crafts into a comprehensive unit…. Get the fun started right here with these Olympic-Inspired games for your classroom." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Olympic Medal Craft for Children
By Ministry-To-Children
http://ministry-to-children.com/olympic-medal-craft/
http://ministry-to-children.com/
"With the Olympics coming up, now is a good time to plan a special activities for your children's ministry or Sunday School class. Here is a great idea that I found on Cullen's Abc's." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Olympic Themed Games for Children's Ministry
By Ministry-To-Children
http://ministry-to-children.com/olympic-themed-games/
http://ministry-to-children.com/
"Adopting an Olympic theme into your children's ministry is a good way to encourage a spirit of excellence amongst your attendees and volunteers. An Olympic theme is the perfect backdrop for exciting kids' games that everyone will enjoy. Get your curriculum ready, decorate your children's facility and use these wacky Olympic-sized games." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Reach the World for Christ at the 2016 Olympics
By Ken Ham
https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/02/08/reach-world-christ-2016-olympics/
Millions of spectators and athletes from over 200 countries will be gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for this year's Summer Olympics. And that's in addition to the already over 6 million Rio residents! This is a tremendous opportunity to reach people from "all the nations" with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And you can be part of this outreach effort!" (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Top 5 Ways to Teach Your Kids Olympic Values
By Whitney Hopler
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/kids/top-5-ways-to-teach-your-kids-olympic-values.html
"As many of the world's top athletes gather in Rio for the 2016 Olympics, their incredible skills will capture the attention of people worldwide - including many children and teens, who love to watch young athletes in action. But what's even more compelling than the fastest boblsed race, highest ski jump, or most elegant figure skating program is the Olympic spirit that runs through the athletes' stories." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
Update About YWAM at the Olympics
YWAM
http://www.ywam.org/blog/2016/03/29/update-about-ywam-at-the-olympics/
"We are really amazed with everything God is doing here in Brazil with YWAM's Olympic outreach called Jesus 4 All. Since last year we have been training many churches in our country about how simple it is to share the gospel as a lifestyle." (Read more about this article, click on the link above.)
YWAM at the Olympics
YWAM
http://www.ywam.org/blog/2016/02/18/ywam-at-the-olympics/
"Jesus 4all One movement, is an idea of the Lord through YWAM Brazil to share about Jesus for everyone who will be here this year to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have been working since last year and our goal is to reach Rio and the nations with the Gospel. Every month we are praying together, YWAM, other mission agencies and many churches! We believe that we can change our country and the nations through this movement." (Read more abou this article, click on the link above.)
