Football is an exciting game.  It requires discipline, focus, hard work, self-sacrifice, and lots and lots of sweat.  The competition and excitement of the game is great entertainment to us in the stands, but only part of the story.  Jesus did not say that his disciples would be known for their great wealth, buildings or personal status.  He said that they would be known for their love for one another.

Sports provide a great opportunity for our players to learn the practical side of love.  The Bible even gives us the definition of love.  It is patient.  It is kind.  It suffers long.  It doesn't carry a grudge.  Just to name a few.  We don't learn patience in a vacuum. We learn it when things don't go our way or at the speed that we want.  We don't learn kindness in a vacuum.  We learn it when others treat us unkindly and we want to retaliate.  We learn long-suffering when things are not only difficult, but remain so, and we want to give up.

In sports there are opportunities to learn and practice those attributes, while also growing in the knowledge of the sport.  As these things are learned and practiced, characters are formed.