The Latest
Transferring isn’t new, but it’s never been this complicated. If you’re thinking about entering the transfer portal, or if you’re walking with a teammate who is, here are 11 questions to help you make a wise, grounded, and hopefully, faithful decision.
In Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller defines an idol as anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. For athletes, that description can hit close to home. Sports—though a good gift from God—can easily become the place we look for identity, meaning, and worth. In The Sports Idolatry Test, we explore ten honest questions designed to help you evaluate whether sport has crossed the line from passion to idolatry. Like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, the rich young ruler in Mark 10, and the man crying “Help my unbelief” in Mark 9, your answers may reveal where your hope truly rests—and invite you to reorient your worship toward the One who deserves it. Sports are meant to be a vehicle for worship, not a replacement for it. Take the test, see where you stand, and let God reclaim the throne of your heart.
Competition can bring out the best in us. Especially when teammates are striving together toward excellence. But Genesis 4 also shows us the dark side of competition.
For Athletes
Transferring isn’t new, but it’s never been this complicated. If you’re thinking about entering the transfer portal, or if you’re walking with a teammate who is, here are 11 questions to help you make a wise, grounded, and hopefully, faithful decision.
In Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller defines an idol as anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. For athletes, that description can hit close to home. Sports—though a good gift from God—can easily become the place we look for identity, meaning, and worth. In The Sports Idolatry Test, we explore ten honest questions designed to help you evaluate whether sport has crossed the line from passion to idolatry. Like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, the rich young ruler in Mark 10, and the man crying “Help my unbelief” in Mark 9, your answers may reveal where your hope truly rests—and invite you to reorient your worship toward the One who deserves it. Sports are meant to be a vehicle for worship, not a replacement for it. Take the test, see where you stand, and let God reclaim the throne of your heart.
Competition can bring out the best in us. Especially when teammates are striving together toward excellence. But Genesis 4 also shows us the dark side of competition.
What does Elijah’s showdown with Baal teach athletes today? Discover how divided worship in sports competes with God for your full allegiance.
For Coaches
In Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller defines an idol as anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. For athletes, that description can hit close to home. Sports—though a good gift from God—can easily become the place we look for identity, meaning, and worth. In The Sports Idolatry Test, we explore ten honest questions designed to help you evaluate whether sport has crossed the line from passion to idolatry. Like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, the rich young ruler in Mark 10, and the man crying “Help my unbelief” in Mark 9, your answers may reveal where your hope truly rests—and invite you to reorient your worship toward the One who deserves it. Sports are meant to be a vehicle for worship, not a replacement for it. Take the test, see where you stand, and let God reclaim the throne of your heart.
A stand-alone resource created by Athletes in Action staff member and former college Tennis Coach, Chad Simpson, to help coaches reflect on five key areas of life so they can experience their best season yet.
Discover how Christian coaches can shift sports from idolatry to worship, guiding athletes to honor God, find identity in Christ, and compete for His glory.
From stadium anthems to personal playlists, music influences athletic culture, unites teams, shapes athletes, and inspires faith.
For Parents
In Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller defines an idol as anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. For athletes, that description can hit close to home. Sports—though a good gift from God—can easily become the place we look for identity, meaning, and worth. In The Sports Idolatry Test, we explore ten honest questions designed to help you evaluate whether sport has crossed the line from passion to idolatry. Like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, the rich young ruler in Mark 10, and the man crying “Help my unbelief” in Mark 9, your answers may reveal where your hope truly rests—and invite you to reorient your worship toward the One who deserves it. Sports are meant to be a vehicle for worship, not a replacement for it. Take the test, see where you stand, and let God reclaim the throne of your heart.
Travel sports often pull families away from Sunday worship, leaving pastors and ministry leaders asking how to respond. Instead of viewing sports as the enemy, churches can leverage them as a mission field. This article shares 8 practical strategies—both inside the church and out in the community—to equip parents, disciple athletes, and turn sports into a teammate for spiritual formation instead of a competitor.
In cultivating the habit in our own lives, and modeling it to our kids, we are “imaging” our Creator. We are making a conscious effort to look and act like him. And when we align our thoughts and actions with his character, it brings him glory—and it best positions our kids to grow and flex their own “patience muscles'' when the moment calls for it.
What if, in our pursuit to help our kid be the best possible athletic version of themselves, we are contributing to a system that’s more likely going to lead to joyless play and them hanging up their cleats because of pressure from us?
When Skip Bayless questioned Travis Hunter’s decision to get baptized before a game, he turned a moment of faith into a debate about priorities. But Scripture paints a different picture—one where obedience matters more than optics, and spiritual surrender leads to greater freedom on and off the field.