In the Arena: The Promise of Sports for Christian Discipleship

by David E. Prince

Overview

We live in a sports-obsessed world. From fans wearing their favorite team’s colors to high school soccer players practicing after school, we encounter sports every day. Nothing else in our culture produces so much passion and intrigue. Such obsession, for the Christian, must produce critical reflection. How should the Christian think about sports? What does Christ have to do with athletic competition? Can sports be redeemed? In the Arena will answer these questions so that readers:

• Understand how the gospel of Christ shapes our understanding and enjoyment of sports.
• Receive practical instruction on how to use sports in parenting and discipleship.
• Become confident in using the arena of sports for discipleship, parenting, and recreation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433690259
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2016
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

David E. Prince is the Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church (Lexington, KY) and a professor of Christian preaching at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY). He holds degrees from Huntingdon College (B.A.), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). He played baseball in high school and college and coached high school baseball and football after college. Additionally, he and his wife, Judi, have eight children that they have worked diligently to disciple toward faith and maturity in Jesus Christ through the context of athletic competition.

Table of Contents

Introduction: In the Arena 1

Chapter 1 Sports Matter 13

Chapter 2 Sports and Fandom 29

Chapter 3 Sports and Spiritual Warfare. 47

Chapter 4 Sports and Christian Discipleship 65

Chapter 5 Sports and Self-Esteem 85

Chapter 6 Sports and Safety 101

Chapter 7 Sports and the Church 117

Conclusion 139

Notes 145