Playing on God's Team


Book Description




The Christian Athlete


Book Description

The Christian Athlete is a gospel-centered guide that assists athletes who identify as Christians and are seeking to understand how to practically apply their faith to their sport. Athletes desire—and deserve—a more substantive expression of the Christian faith in the context of sport, but they don’t know what it looks like or where to turn to learn more. Author Brian Smith shares his story as an athlete and coach, and his experience working with high-level athletes in the last decade to help readers better understand how to integrate faith and sport by: Assisting those who want a wide-angled understanding of how to live the Christian faith in the context of sports Walking through the many questions Christian athletes ask about winning, losing, injuries, practice, and everything in between Moving Christian athletes from simply having clichéd spiritual sayings decorating their bodies or t-shirts to actually living out their faith through all the opportunities their sport offers them The Christian Athlete will show readers how to live out a biblical perspective on athletics and urge them to engage in the gifts they are given to glorify God whether they are the team MVP or riding the bench.




Don't Waste Your Sports


Book Description

“Why is it that sports seem to bring out the best and the worst in us?” asks author C. J. Mahaney. “Sports are a gift from God. But as soon as you introduce the human heart, things get complicated.” For the Christian athlete, sports are one of the key battlegrounds in which pride and self-glory are regular temptations. If sports are indeed a gift from God, why are playing fields and courts so often arenas for our egos? How are we to enjoy sports in a godly way? Self-described “pastor athlete” C. J. Mahaney looks to Scripture for principles that speak to the role of sports in our lives. This booklet outlines how Christian athletes are to play for the glory of God and model gratitude, humility, and service. With candor and humor, Mahaney recounts his own story with sports and through illustrations and practical applications exhorts athletes not to waste their sports. The booklet concludes with application questions and an addendum to parents. A great gift for Christian athletes, these booklets are also sold in packs of twelve.




Victory 365


Book Description

365-Day Devotional Encourages Athletes and Coaches to Take a Time-Out to Center on Their Relationship with God Even as they strive for victory on the field or on the court, athletes and coaches can make strides toward richer spiritual lives. Growing in faith helps athletes and coaches grow as positive influences on the teammates, coaches, opponents, and parents around them. This 365-day devotional encourages athletes and coaches to take a time-out to rethink and re-center on their faith. Each entry opens with an inspirational thought and a related Scripture. A reflection question at the end of each entry helps the reader apply the lesson to his or her life as both a believer and a participant in the competitive arena.




Playing God


Book Description

With Playing God, Andy Crouch opens the subject of power, elucidating its subtle activity in our relationships and institutions. He gives us much more than a warning against abuse, though. Turning the notion of "playing God" on its head, Crouch celebrates power as the gift by which we join in God's creative, redeeming work in the world.




The Pursuit


Book Description

T. C. Stalling, who starred as Tony Jordan in the hit faith-based film War Room, shares an amazing and inspirational story of courageously pursuing his God-given purpose. Then in 14 days he will equip and encourage you to do the same! The only thing that can stop the plan of God for your life from succeeding is you. This is not because you have the “power” to stop God. It’s because He does not force His divine will on anyone, and instead, graciously allows us to choose what we do with it. Stopping the plan of God for your life from succeeding only happens one way—by not choosing to accept and pursue it. Why would anyone not want God’s plan for their lives? Maybe doubt, fear, uncertainty? Some people do not even know that God has a specific purpose and plan for their time on earth. The Pursuit contains 14 days of 14 Scriptures with 14 inspirational devotions, combined with real-life examples of how to apply each pursuit principle. Knowing that the one and only all-powerful God of the universe has designed an unstoppable plan for your life should cause you to chase after this plan with everything you have! You are God’s creation. You have your own God-given purpose that is waiting to be pursued. Will you pursue it? Get ready. 14 days could change everything.




Of Games and God


Book Description

Video games are big business, generating billions of dollars annually. The long-held stereotype of the gamer as a solitary teen hunched in front of his computer screen for hours is inconsistent with the current makeup of a diverse and vibrant gaming community. The rise of this cultural phenomenon raises a host of questions: Are some games too violent? Do they hurt or help our learning? Do they encourage escapism? How do games portray gender? Such questions have generated lots of talk, but missing from much of the discussion has been a Christian perspective. Kevin Schut, a communications expert and an enthusiastic gamer himself, offers a lively, balanced, and informed Christian evaluation of video games and video game culture. He expertly engages a variety of issues, encouraging readers to consider both the perils and the promise of this major cultural phenomenon. The book includes a foreword by Quentin J. Schultze.




The Ideal Team Player


Book Description

In his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni laid out a groundbreaking approach for tackling the perilous group behaviors that destroy teamwork. Here he turns his focus to the individual, revealing the three indispensable virtues of an ideal team player. In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess, and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues. Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players. Whether you’re a leader trying to create a culture around teamwork, a staffing professional looking to hire real team players, or a team player wanting to improve yourself, this book will prove to be as useful as it is compelling.




True Competitor


Book Description

An experience so powerful it will transform your life on and off the field and impact teammates, coaches, and generations to come. Want an unstoppable faith that packs a punch in the gym, in the locker room, at home, and in all your relationships? True Competitor will ignite your passion to live intentionally for Jesus in everything you do so you will have maximum impact that will change the world of sports. It is time to get in the game! Fifty-two devotions for athletes, coaches, and parents will transform the way you think. Each devotional features an in-the-trenches sports story with Scripture and life application, Be a GameChanger! section, room to write My Game Plan, and a heart and mind transforming prayer.




The Home Team


Book Description

Using illustrations and analogies from the world of sports, The Home Team by Clint Archer presents the Christian family as a team. He highlights the one-flesh union of husband and wife as the fundamental team for God’s design of society, the family, and marriage. Facing challenges together this cohesive team must not allow division to weaken their union. As children are added, Mom and Dad play their unique and essential roles to strengthen the expanding team. The family must close ranks on opponents to God’s design, tackle obstacles, and fortify the bonds in their huddle. In the unity and synergy of teamwork each player is uniquely positioned to advance the team’s objective. The goal is to give God glory, and enjoy the blessings and joy that come with obedience.