Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul says: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess 2:8).
For those of you who are in sports ministry, ask yourself this question: Are you sharing your life with the people who you are trying to reach? I don’t think it’s sufficient to just preach at them or invite them to church (although those are good things–usually). Paul loved the Thessalonians so much that he was willing to invest and engage them–not just preach to them. What a remarkable difference.
How much more truth do our words have with non-believers when we live them out. Our lives are such a great apologetic!
Some questions to wrestle with:
Do I really love people enough to invest my life into them?
Am I engaging with non-believers and initiating a relationship? If not, why not?
Do I have enough patience to live life with a non-believer? If not, why not?
About the Author
Tim Briggs is the Creative Media Pastor at Church at Charlotte in Charlotte, NC. He blogs regularly at Church Sports Outreach. He also regularly writes about ministry, the church, technology, culture, and creative stuff. He is married with two children and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.