Guest post by Jenny Young
Recently, I’ve been reading C.J. Mahaney’s book, The Cross Centered Life. It has become evident in many ways how I, along with many Christians in the local church, have lost the message of the cross in our daily lives. We have lost the meaning to different methods and idols of our time. While methods are important in reaching others, the message of the cross should never be lost or compromised.
In the opening chapter, Mahaney shares his insight from scripture as it relates to us forgetting the most important truth, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:14 that we are to “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Mahaney says we don’t need a new truth, but rather Guard the one truth, keep the one message.
Paul lived a cross centered life because the cross had saved and transformed his own life. I desire my life and ministry to be lived out as cross-centered. I want to be reminded of how the cross-transformed my life and can impact the lives of others.
As sports outreach leaders, we have a challenge in our local churches to not get the methods mixed up with the message of the gospel. We are called to impart truth in a world that so desperately needs to hear it, feel it, and experience it.
Do we as sports ministry leaders fumble in the message of the cross as we interact with our leadership teams, coaches, or other leaders in the church? Have we lost the most important thing that’s so dear to us?
How are we actively seeking and guarding the message in our ministries? How do we share the message with non-believers in relational evangelism in our sports outreach ministries?
