Aug
22
2012

Sports Funerals and Needing a Bigger Story

An article by Matt

The other day I came across a video about sports funerals on David Swanson’s blog. It started off somewhat goofy, but by the time the video was over, I was flat out disturbed. The video started off with a Baltimore funeral director sharing about the first sports themed funeral that he could remember being a part of. He thought back to 2001, the year the Ravens won the Super Bowl. From there, a bunch of people share stories of sports related funerals. If you have 8 minutes, the video is worth the watch:

Now, when it comes to sports my loyalties are well known. The Capitals, Redskins, and Orioles are pretty much the only teams worth cheering for, and if you don’t like them I pray for your soul. While I might be a little intense when it comes to my team, I don’t know that I would want to be identified with them ad infinitum. After I depart this terrestrial ball I would rather be known for my love of Jesus and Theresa, than for how I hugged a complete stranger at Buffalo Wild Wings in Orlando after Joel Ward scored the overtime game winner in the seventh game of the Caps-Bruins playoff series (though it was a cool moment).

Watching this, it is more clear to me than ever that the world around us is seeking to find something bigger than themselves with which to connect. There is a yearning to be a part of something incredible to which they can attach their story… something that will give them hope. In many ways, our role as church leaders is to help connect them with that hope. Our role is to help the world around us to connect into the bigger story that they so deeply yearn to be a part of.

I am convinced that there is no greater story than Christ’s blood, shed on my behalf to restore me to right relationship with my creator. This is a story far better than another Super Bowl win for the Redskins, or a Stanley Cup for the Capitals… this is a story with eternal significance, generational impact, and radical life change. If we can’t make that story more exciting than a baseball game, we are in the wrong business.

How do YOU communicate a bigger story?

About the Author: Matt Steen

Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.

http://www.jeffhoots.net/ Jeff Hoots

Growing up, sports were the idols of our family. We all played (even my mom played softball!), we watched the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks.

As a parent, I thought I’d coach little league and whatever else my kids would get into. As it turns out, work schedules, special needs, and perhaps God’s will led us to never participate in organized kids sports. Blasphemy!

Maybe it is God’s way of saying He has a better plan for us. While I strive to keep Jesus Christ as head of our household, Don’t think we are the ideal in-church-every-time-the-door-is-open family, though – I’ll take us on a weekend camping trip every chance I get! My campground family devotionals are not quite the same as our church home. And when the weather is nice, we hike, bicycle, even play disc golf together as a family.

Maybe there is a healthy balance somewhere?
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  I have often said that I grew up in a very religious home…our religion was Redskin football, and we worshiped every Sunday during the season.
  
  I think it is like everything else, it is great in moderation…
Pastor Sherry

Well, you are free to pray for me, as I’m not a sports fan I love playing them informally with friends, but that’s as far as it goes.

So not being in tune with sports fans, I’ve always wondered at the fascination I see in people, and have often thought that if we had that much enthusiasm for Jesus and what He’s done for us, the whole world would know about Him!

In New Orleans during Mardi Gras hundreds, perhaps thousands of people line Canal Street to watch the parades. Hands all around are up in the air for handouts, and maybe just in the air “because.” After I saw that I wondered why we were so somber, so un-enthusiastic in church. We have a MUCH bigger story to be part of than just sports or a parade — or anything here on earth.
- http://www.churchthought.com Matt Steen
  
  Tis better to be a fan of no sports than to be a fan of the penguins or cowboys.
  
  I believe a famous person said that.
  
  I LOVE the Mardi Gras comparison… that will preach.
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