sports outreach
CHURCHSERVICES
WHAT IS IT?
Create "sports-theme" services during the Sundays of a major sports event such as the Olympics or World Cup. Learn how to include prayer, sports-based sermons, create a sports theme environment celebrating the diversity of Christian faith.

This programme outline is designed to give you some suggestions, outlines, resources and information for your "sports-theme service". These suggestions should be adapted to your own church environment in your unique, creative way thus achieving our final goal, namely to celebrate the diversity in the Christian faith when planning for your Major Event.


AIMS
  • Build bridges between the community and the church through creating a free, family-friendly atmosphere
  • Empower your congregation into outreach
  • Pray for local, community, or nationwide athletes involved in the event

STEPS TO IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY
God through Jesus has communicated to the world the message of his love and forgiveness. If the church is to be "the body of Christ", it must continue to show the world God's heart for mankind. But the world is so diverse with different cultures, creeds, traditions, skin colours, values and practices. How on earth could one message penetrate all these barriers? The church, if it is to have a message for all mankind, must use mediums of communication that transcend religious, cultural, and geographical barriers.

Sport is a universal language and the eyes of the world will be on the Event. If we are to be "good news to the world", take this opportunity to show, through sport, the relevance of Christ to as many people as possible. You want to be sensitive to others' values and beliefs and promote common values rather than differences. We will consider Paul's attitude and example communicating Christ to a non-believing culture.

Here are some of the ideas that you could you utilize to make your service a little bit more special:

Create the basic outline for the sermon (utilises some of the scriptures)
  • Have a MTG/TUG Resource Table in the foyer of the church with tracts, books or booklets of the faith of athletes.
  • Give each member appropriate sports ministry resources to share with others.
  • Make the More than Gold/Ultimate Goal Worship services the first step. Your church can host big screen parties for the Opening or Closing ceremonies or many other of the evenings or weekend days.
  • You can invite youth, men, families on different nights providing food or snacks. The youth can sell drinks and food at the Big Screen parties to fund mission trips and other programs. (See Big Screen Television Parties for more details.)
  • Be well prepared - make sure all leaders are well informed of the nature of the services.
  • Try and get a few creative people together to brainstorm new and inventive ways of visually making the service "FUN"
  • Have a table at the end of the meeting for people to sign up whatever level of involvement they can offer.
  • Have invitation cards printed and arrange for these to be handed out in local shops, schools, business and sports clubs.
  • Display posters and even take an ad in the local newspaper. Remember we have a message that is worth saying, one that's worth more than gold.
  • Use video, power point or acetates - creatively communicate the opportunities.
  • Pray for the preparations
  • Decorate the entrance, and other parts of the church with sports gear, flags, sports posters and other displays to create a MTG/TUG major event feel.
  • Select music that is upbeat yet respectful. Use choruses and hymns with a sporting or victory theme.
  • Ask your young people or drama group to prepare and perform a short sketch on a sporting theme.
  • Preach from scripture emphasising values relating to sports and competition.
  • Pray for the countries taking part, for the athletes and officials.


NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED
Try and identify who's passion it is to be involved in the different areas. Some people love to be involved to make-up the church where other people would like to work at the resources tables. The idea is to get people to be involved in their passion field. This will keep them involved.

Create your own props to get members involved in the service.


RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR EVENT OUTREACH
Scriptures that can assist you in preparing and sharing with your fellowship include:
  • I Corinthians 9:24-27 "Run to Win"
  • Ephesians 6:10-20 "The Right Equipment"
  • Galatians 6:9 "Do Not Become Weary"
  • I Timothy 4:7-8 "Training"
  • I Timothy 6:11-12 "Fight the Good Fight"
  • II Timothy 2:5 "The Victory Crown"
  • 1 Peter 1:7 "More Than Gold"
  • 1 Peter 1:13-16 "Prepare for Action"
  • 1 John 5:4b "Victory that Overcomes"

Literature Resources
TV & Video Resources