“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.

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.

Take comfort in knowing that God hears you. The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel tells of one woman’s personal heartache and trust in the One who could fulfill her desires. She poured her heart out to God, and He heard her. The Our Daily Bread devotions selected for this collection reassure you that God is with you, God is for you, and God hears you. The personal stories and Scripture passages lift you up and remind you that God is bigger than the trials you face.

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.

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.

“No football fan will want to miss this one.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “A searing character study…a breathless, can’t-put-it-down read.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES “As savvy, dirt-dishing expose.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS From nationally-acclaimed journalist and ESPN commentator Skip Bayless, the newly updated eBook edition of the classic bestseller GOD'S COACH. First published in 1990, this unforgettable expose tears the metallic blue shine off the legendary star, revealing the truth about ‘America’s Team’ and its beloved head coach Tom Landry, whose much-regaled Christian charity extended to strangers everywhere, yet stopped short of the team who labored under him. From the hangover that led Jerry Jones to buy the team, to the wild ride of the Staubach era, Bayless strips away the image of the team created by the most powerful PR machine in sports, revealed by insiders willing to break their silence. Packed with unparalleled insight into one of the most storied franchises in the history of sports, GOD'S COACH is a compelling revelation about a corrupt football franchise that dared call itself America’s Team. Skip Bayless appears daily as the host of ESPN’s First Take; his commentary appears regularly on ESPN.com. A former columnist for the Dallas Morning News, DALLAS TIMES HERALD, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, and sportswriter for the LOS ANGELES TIMES and MIAMI HERALD. In addition to GOD'S COACH, he is the author of THE BOYS and HELL-BENT.

Let the games begin! In their (overabundance of) free time, the gods grew bored and decided to create challenging battles of wits to spice things up! Their opponent? Humanity! A select few players called “apostles” meet the gods on the spiritual realm’s playing field to beat the deities at their own games. A former god named Leshea has woken after sleeping for thousands of years, and her first demand is to meet “this era’s very best player!” She is introduced to Fay, an acclaimed rookie apostle. Together, they plan to challenge the gods and win the ultimate prize, but no one in human history has managed to clear ten games—because the gods can be capricious, outrageous, and sometimes downright incomprehensible! In the face of absurdity, what can the apostles do but enjoy the contest to its fullest?

Like no other nation on earth, Americans eagerly blend their religion and sports. This book traces this dynamic relationship from the Puritan condemnation of games as sinful in the seventeenth century to the near deification of athletic contests in our own day.

Louie Giglio helps you find encouragement, hope, and strength in the midst of any valley as you reject the enemy voices of fear, rage, lust, insecurity, anxiety, despair, temptation, or defeat. Scripture is clear: the Enemy is a liar who will stop at nothing to tempt you into poor decisions and self-defeating mindsets, making you feel afraid, angry, anxious, or defeated. It is all too easy for Satan to weasel his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and your King. But you can fight back. Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table outlines the ways to overcome those lies so you can find peace and security in any challenging circumstance or situation. With the same bold, exciting approach to Scripture as employed in Goliath Must Fall and his other previous works, pastor Louie Giglio examines Psalm 23 in fresh ways, highlighting verse 5: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." You can find freedom from insecurity, temptation, and defeat--if you allow Jesus, the Shepherd, to lead the battle for your mind and heart. This spiritual warfare book for those who are leery of spiritual warfare books will resonate with Louie's core Passion tribe as well as with Christians of all ages who want to live a triumphant life in God.