As a follower of Christ we are to do to everything for the glory of God, even playing basketball (if you play). The Apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthians saying “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV) .This statement is a good description of what the Christian life should look like. Everything is to be done with aim of honoring God, pleasing God and bringing glory to His name. There are many ways that we can do this even in the very details of our life. Paul’s exhortation was that in everything, even in our eating and drinking we would glorify God. No area of our life should be an exception to this pursuit of glorifying God, but we ought to think deeply and reflect on ways that we can bring God glory in all that we do, even in playing sporting, exercise and recreation activities. Here are some ways to play basketball for the glory of God:
Enjoy the gift of playing basketball. Every good gift that we experience in life is a gift from the Father (James 1:17), who richly gives us all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17, Ecc. 3:13). Sports, exercise and fellowship with others are all gifts from God and He gets glory when His children enjoy good gifts that He gives. As a father I know how it delights my heart to see my son enjoy gifts that I have given to him. Some young men that I have seen play basketball are so displeased and frustrated with their own performance or the performance of their teammates that they totally miss out on the enjoyment of just playing the game.
Thank God for the gift of basketball. We are to give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20) and when thanksgiving is directed towards God for the gifts He gives, then God is glorified (2 Cor. 4:15). It honors God when you pause to take the time to thank Him to be able to play basketball. Many people are not physically able to enjoy the exercise and fellowship of playing basketball with their friends. Too often we take for granted the simple things of life and don’t realize the blessings that we have until they are taken away. Be the most thankful person you can be for everything and in every circumstance. This is God’s will for your life (1 Tess. 5:16-18). I get together with a group of young men on Monday nights to play basketball and we usually come together for group prayer, giving thanks to God and pray that no one gets hurt (especially with the way we play).
Play basketball with integrity. No one likes to play ball with someone who cheats, manipulates, cusses is dishonest, or fouls the whole time. This does not glorify God nor is it doing any good to those who are playing. It’s interesting to me how playing basketball can bring out the real you, that is who you are on the inside. And this is not just with basketball but many other sports or board games can do this. I heard about a pastor who would take young men that were interested in becoming a part of his staff to play basketball. When he did this it helped see better what these young men were like in a different setting. When you do whatever you do with integrity it glorifies God!
Win with a good attitude. For many, there is a temptation to boast and become proud when they win. Boastful pride in no way glorifies God. The truth is God is disgusted with pride. It is the opposite of who He is and it is the very sin that led Satan to his fall from Heaven. The Apostle Paul exhorted the church at Philippi to “have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NLT). A humble attitude should mark the life of every person who names the name of Christ.
Lose with a good attitude. This may be the most difficult time for many to have the best attitude but it’s a way to give God glory. Actually, if someone has a bad attitude it reveals that something is out of order in their heart. It’s like a check engine light in the dashboard of a car that lets you know something is wrong under the hood. Respectfulness, kindness, and humility should mark every person who calls themselves a Christian. The fruits of the Spirit, which are: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22), are displayed through those who are truly born of the Spirit and led by the Spirit. If a person significantly lacks these fruits they should really consider if they are a genuine Christian.
Affirm good shots, passes & moves of others, even your opponents. I believe it is very honoring to God when you honor others. As matter of fact, the bible commands us to honor everyone and to outdo one another in showing honor (1 Peter 4:17, Romans 12:10). This certainly is countercultural in our day where words of affirmation and encouragement are not cool but verbally cutting others down is. The Bible says “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).
Be a team player. Pass the ball and don’t be a ball hog. The Bible says “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3-4 NLT). Christians especially should have the mindset of being a team player because we function as the body of Christ and are interdependent upon one another.
Do the best you can and don’t give up. The Bible says “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV). When you give our all in whatever you do, doing it as unto the Lord, God gets the glory. When we give our all and press through difficulties, perseverance, and endurance is developed in us, and this leads to the approved character in us (Romans 5:3-5). And this certainly honors God when we reflect the glorious character of Jesus Christ. Reflecting the image of Christ is what every Christian is called to be (Romans 8:29). Jesus endured the cross and persevered to do everything the Father had given Him to do. Jesus is the best example of endurance for us to follow (Hebrews 12:3-4). Use basketball as a means to develop relationships and share the gospel. Don’t value the game of basketball over people. Loving people is something that is very weighty and important to God and is His will for your life (Matthew 22:39). Basketball should be used as the means of loving people through developing relationships and sharing the gospel with them. The apostle Paul said “…I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them… I have become all things to all people by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV) Paul made himself a “servant of all”. He used the glorious liberty that He found in Christ not for selfish living but for service. The aim of the Apostle Paul’s service to others was to win them to Christ, see them saved, and experience the blessings of the gospel. Paul sought to meet people where they were whether they were Jewish, under the law, outside of the law, or weak. He didn’t wait for them to come to where he was but he lived outside of his comfort zone and related to people on their turf in ways that would be relevant to them. This was all done for the gospel’s sake. This is partly what it looks like to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Don’t let basketball become an idol– Always keep God first in your priorities, time, thoughts, and affections. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Everything and everyone was created for God’s glory (Colossians 1:16, Isaiah 43:7) and when we allow anything or anyone to get 1st place in our hearts, then we have failed to give God the glory He alone is due. Those who allow idols to have God’s place in their hearts will find themselves dissatisfied and heartbroken (Psalm 16:4). God knows that He is the only one who can rightfully receive all of our love and devotion and not disappoint us or let us down. We are made for God’s glory and relationship with Him. The chief end of man is to glorify God and fully enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism). Often we allow good things that God gives us to become idols in our lives. These gifts from God should always send our heart’s affection back to the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). The greatest gift that God has given us is the gift of Himself. He should be our greatest joy and treasure. He should be the one we give all our strength, thoughts, and affections.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Each of us has fouled and failed to live by God’s rules and for God’s glory. We were made in the image of God to reflect the glory of God and instead of bringing Him glory we have all dishonored God through our rebellion and disobedience. Because of disobedience and transgression to God’s law, we deserve death. The Scripture says that the penalty for our sin is death (Romans 6:23) But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ. Jesus became a man and brought glory to the Father while he was here on earth (John 17:4). Christ never sinned or fell short of the glory of God (Hebrews 4:15) but He perfectly reflected the glory of the Father (Hebrews 1:3, John 14:9). He not only displayed the glory of the Father here on earth and He did everything in perfect obedience to the will of the Father. Because of His finished work on the cross, you and I can be forgiven and made righteous through faith in Christ. If you want to live for the glory of God then you can start by repenting of your sin and placing your faith in Christ alone for salvation. And live each day by faith in Christ giving glory to God (Romans 1:17, 4:20).
God is alive and at work in the lives of many people that you and I come across daily and we may not even recognize it. There are many opportunities that God gives us to participate with Him in reaching the lost with gospel. The work of evangelism is all about partnering with God, to speak the good news of what Christ has done for us at the cross and call people to repent and place their trust in Christ. Henry Blackaby said in his book Experiencing God “Find out where God is working and join Him there”. This is what the life of Jesus looked like when He walked the earth as a man. Jesus said that he only did what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19). He was always in step with the will of the Father and the work of the Father. The Father had ordered the steps of Christ while he was on the earth and Jesus followed everyone of them.
This past Spring Break of 2013 a group of students from Valley Creek Church came to Dallas for an inner-city mission trip. I took them out on the streets to do evangelism and invite people to a basketball tournament we were hosting. There were two young ladies who began to feel a bit discouraged after they had knocked on about 7 doors and got no answer. Then they had a divine appointment. The Lord directed them to this woman named Regina who was ready to come to Christ. Regina was weary, distressed and in despair. She had lost her children to CPS due to her drug addiction and had experienced some devastating events. The father of her children had committed suicide right in front of her children. She too had been contemplating suicide. But in her pit of despair God sent two of His daughters to share His love and the hope of the gospel. These two young ladies came and told me about her and I also was able to share the love of Christ and hope of the gospel with Regina. As we spoke words of life and hope over Regina tears were streaming down her cheeks. We prayed for her and we began to sing the song How He Loves Us over her. As we were ministering to Regina I was reminded that Jesus came not only to preach the gospel to the poor but to heal the broken hearted (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). And this precious woman was brokenhearted and God brought healing and hope to her heart when she seemed to need it the most. That evening Regina showed up for the outreach event we were hosting and she got loved on by all the students from Valley Creek and heard a message about the blessedness of being being forgiven out of Psalm 32.
Two days later on Sunday morning she showed up at City Church and we happened to be doing baptisms that morning. During the service when I asked for those who were getting baptized to come forward she came up to the front of the congregation. Now I took eight people through a baptism class a week prior to that and she was not one of those eight people. Nevertheless I felt great about baptizing her because it was obvious that God had drawn her heart and brought her to a place of dependence upon Christ. Regina had heard the gospel and she responded publicly to declare her faith in Christ. So we baptized her there on the spot. It felt like something out of the book of Acts. Indeed God was at work in the early church as we see displayed in the book of Acts. And He is also at work in our day drawing people to Himself for salvation. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV). 
For many Christians the hardest part of sharing their faith with others is breaking the ice and initiating a conversation. They feel intimidated & awkward going up to a stranger saying “do you know Jesus”. Well, there are many ways to overcome this intimidation & awkwardness of breaking the ice with strangers, in order to share the gospel with them. First of all, you don’t have to start with a statement about God, Jesus, the Bible, Heaven, Hell or sin. Actually a simple greeting, such as saying “hello” works just fine. Or “hello how are you doing today”, “Hi my name is…” or “Howdy”(if your in the south). I have made it a habit to greet strangers everywhere I go. I often make eye contact with strangers, giving a wave and a smile. And I’ve found that it is great way to break the ice and often lead to a conversation.
The Love of Christ is another reason that every Christian should share the gospel with others. The Apostle Paul wrote “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV) 
May we be those who are compelled by the love of Christ to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. May the love of Christ move us out of apathy concerning the lost and into active evangelism.
account. We know that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31 ESV). This holy reverence and fear of God moves the people of God to action, namely the action of persuading others of gospel truth. This was something that Jesus exhorted and commanded of His disciples before sending them out on a mission trip. “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 
Another reason Christians should share the gospel with others is simply that Jesus has commanded us to do it. “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV) Evangelism isn’t something that God has merely called some Christians to do. Every redeemed saint has the responsibility to share the good news of how they became forgiven, free and brought into right relationship with God. Simple obedience to this clear command must be put to practice by every person calls Jesus their Lord. Our obedience to Christ displays our love for Him and His lordship in our lives. Jesus said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15 ESV). And he said “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (Luke 6:46-48 ESV).
gospel. …it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.(1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14-17). It is a glorious privilege and responsibility that we have been given by God to be able to share a message that brings eternal salvation to those who believe and receive it. Let us not neglect faithful stewardship of the gospel message. Beware of getting weighed down and distracted by good activities while forgetting the God-given task of evangelism.
For The Gospel's Sake 