I’ll admit it.  I don’t care for sports.  Whenever someone brings up sports my eyes gloss over and I stop listening.  I would say at some point my mind wanders to other subject….even physically sliding away from the conversation.

So it happens sometimes with devotionals and sermons.  The preacher or speaker, who also happens to be a sports fan, uses a football or basketball analogy.  I’ve heard more football analogies during my Christian life listening to sports sermons, compared to baseball and basketball.  I guess if I lived in Kentucky I might hear more basketball sermons, but its a moot point.

I guess the general public enjoys the sports.  People around here drive to Knoxville on Fall weekends to watch UT play (when they’re good).  Every office seems to have a Final Four office pool.  Fantasy Football is a thing.  NASCAR seems to be a topic of choice with a certain group of church members.

So it is no surprise that ministers try to appeal to a significant interest of their flock.  I guess I’m the lone man out being in the (perceived) minority that doesn’t enjoy sports.

I guess sports analogies have been happening since Biblical times.  As in 1 Corinthians 9:

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I ^[l]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Probably sports analogies (read races) might be in the top ten analogies in the bible with agricultural themes being first.  The Corinthian writer’s and preacher’s goal is to present a Biblical theme in a way that would make their audience understand.  Hence the sports perspective in today’s sermons.

I however wish there were other ways to present a lesson…in a more broader appeal.