Category — Sports Quotes

The Super Bowl is upon us once again, so how does that relate to the Bible? While watching the playoffs and some of the pre-bowl coverage this week, I couldn’t help but notice quite a few players quoting scriptures as encouragement and confirmation that God cares. (Does God really care about football?). The most outspoken of the group has been the Raven’s Ray Lewis, but others who will be taking the field this Sunday have tossed out a few of their own. Here are a sampling, enjoy!

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens, Linebacker

When Ray Lewis is not wearing his football uniform he seems to always be wearing his now famous Psalms 91 t-shirt. This Psalm begins with a message of trusting in the Lord.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” -  Psalm 91:1-2 KJV

Nevertheless, the verse that Lewis has been quoting most often for the past month is found in Isaiah. At nearly every opportunity, to give God the credit for the Raven’s run to the Super Bowl, Ray Lewis says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper”, from Isaiah 54:17.

Colin Kaepernik, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers created a stir in the NFL earlier in the season when coach Jim Harbaugh opted to to replace starting quarterback Alex Smith with second-year rookie Colin Kaepernick. Smith had suffered a concussion and so missed some games, but Kaepernick did so well that Harbaugh decided to make the move permanent. His rationale that he believed Kaepernick gave the team the best chance of getting to the Super Bowl proved to be right. During an interview this week, I caught the young quarterback quoting the Bible.

“For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.” - Psalm 18:39 KJV

Now for a blast from the past,  a notable Super Bowl winner, and Christian, is Tony Dungy head coach of the Super Bowl XLI winning Indianapolis Colts in 2007. Dungy in an interview revealed his three favorite Bible verses, clearly he is a fan of Matthew.

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” – Matthew 16:26 NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” – Matthew 7:13 NIV

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11 NIV

Have you heard any other players quoting the Word? If you have, please share with our readers by leaving a Comment.

Oh, yeah…and enjoy the game this Sunday!

Other Super Bowl Articles on Bible or Not
It Pays to Go All In
You Are What Your Record Says You Are

At the beginning of this week we had a post about Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos stunning overtime victory in their playoff game against the Steelers. In light of Tim Tebow passing for 316 yards and 31.6 yards per pass (John 3:16), the provocative question was asked, “Does God Take Sides in a Football Game?”. This question stirred a lot of discussion, some people saying yes, others saying no, and others saying that’s a stupid question. But there is a much bigger story here that reveals the heart and soul of America.

As the country is captured by what is known as Tebow-mania, the attention on him is not because of his unabashed faith. The Tebow story is what every red-blooded American loves – it’s the story of the unassuming hero, who against all odds and the criticism of a multitude of naysayers, finds a way to come out on top. Here we have a third-string quarterback, who was given no chance to win, and each time the Broncos won the media and the pundits called it a fluke. Even after winning 6 straight, and going 6-3 in the regular season, it was said that he could not compete in the playoffs. But he did, and his team won.

The heart and soul of America loves the underdog. We love to see someone with little chance, work and fight hard, climb the hill, and win the victory. This is one the the things that makes America great – we as a people like to see the little guy succeed.

And this is a Godly quality as the following Bible verses demonstrate:

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – Matthew 19:30 NKJV

“Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.” – Psalm 138:6 NIV

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

“He gives power to the weak,and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV

Another question: is Tim Tebow an UNDERDOG, or an UNDERGOD?

We’re into the thick of the NFL football season and there are many teams still claiming to be good, or claiming to have good players, but in the world of sports it’s all about wins and losses. At the end of the day, it’s about the walk and not the talk.

“You are what your record says you are.” - Bill Parcells, Former NFL Coach and Superbowl Winner

Although the world of professional sports is far from Biblical, we can often glean truths out of game principles and coach wisdom. And we can apply today’s Bill Parcells quote to our walk of faith. Didn’t even the Apostle Paul compare our faith to running a race, or fighting a fight?

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” –  1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7 KJV

But the Bible verses most relevant to, “you are what your record says you are”, comes from James.

“Even so faith [the talk], if it hath not works [the walk], is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” – James 2:17-18 KJV

 At the end of the day, if we talk a big game, but do not walk in the ways of God, then we are no more than hypocrites. At the end of the day our record stands for itself, and we are what our record says we are.

I hope you enjoyed the silly NFL “at the end of the day” clip. Thanks to Boomer & Carton for allowing downloads of their interview with New York Giants player Antrel Rolle. Go here to listen to the entire show segment.