In this message from the Controversial Christianity series, we tackle a topic that hits close to home for many families: youth sports culture. While sports can be fun, meaningful, and even formative, they also carry powerful influences that can shape our values; sometimes in ways that conflict with our faith.

We explore why this conversation matters, especially in a church filled with parents and kids deeply involved in athletics. Sports can be an incredible tool for character formation, relationship building, and living out our faith in everyday life; but only if we approach them with intention.

The challenge? Modern youth sports culture often promotes values like:

Winning at all costs
Performance as identity
Overcommitment and pressure

Left unchecked, these values can take priority over what truly matters.

Instead, we’re called to a greater “why”:

Moral formation – shaping character and Christlikeness
Family mission – using sports as a platform to love others and share Jesus
Personal joy – enjoying the gift of the game without letting it define us

Through practical guidance, we’re reminded to:

Put identity in Christ, not performance
Prioritize character over results
Choose healthy team cultures
Stay rooted in faith, even during busy sports seasons

And one truth we can’t ignore:
The odds of going pro in sports are incredibly small; but the reality of standing before God someday is 100%.

So the question becomes:
Is our “why” big enough?

Let’s reorient our lives, our parenting, and our priorities around Jesus, using every field, court, and game as an opportunity to reflect His love.