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In the Arena: The Promise of Sports for Christian Discipleship
We live in a sports-obsessed world. From fans wearing their favorite team’s colors to high school soccer players practicing after school, we encounter sports every day. Nothing else in our culture produces so much passion and intrigue. Such obsession, for the Christian, must produce critical reflection. How should the Christian think about sports? What does Christ have to do with athletic competition? Can sports be redeemed? In the Arena will answer these questions so that
176 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
19 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
David E. Prince
6 books4 followersDavid Prince has served as the pastor of preaching and vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky since 2003. He served as an adjunct instructor of Christian preaching and pastoral ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky from 2006-2011, and currently, serves on the faculty as Assistant Professor of Christian Preaching since 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 28, 2022
excellent
After years of playing for the glory of Christ and coaching to mentor young men and women to do their best for the glory of Christ, this book is a great reminder that sports are actually beneficial in the life of a Christian young person. I am thankful for the current environment that I am in, where a true Christian culture is seen in our basketball program, from the coach to the players and into the bleachers. Praise God for His ability to use this medium to mold lives in discipleship.
After years of playing for the glory of Christ and coaching to mentor young men and women to do their best for the glory of Christ, this book is a great reminder that sports are actually beneficial in the life of a Christian young person. I am thankful for the current environment that I am in, where a true Christian culture is seen in our basketball program, from the coach to the players and into the bleachers. Praise God for His ability to use this medium to mold lives in discipleship.
July 8, 2020
I was excited to read this one, but I was deeply disappointed. Prince does offer some smart thinking and a good corrective to the mainstream approach to society, and he provides particular examples and not just general theory. However, he doesn't do the groundwork to be convincing in some areas. He takes the value of sports as a given (though he rightly notes that it's not inherently good, but can be if we approach it intentionally) largely on the basis of Paul using sports metaphors in the New Testament.
Most readers will likely be fine with his brevity there (or this likely isn't the book they'd pick up), but he boils everything down into an old-school approach. He wants to avoid legalism, but there are a lot of formal rules (get a haircut, don't play sports on Sunday, use only "Coach" + last name in addressing an adult). He wants to put the manliness back in sports, leading to a Victorian sort of muscular Christianity that doesn't entirely make sense. He loves catchers getting run over at home and one argument (oversimplified) boils down to the point that since cyclists often have head injuries, we shouldn't fuss so much about CTE in football. He doesn't quite know what to do with girls, who shouldn't compete against boys but can still learn to be gentlewomen in part through the physical risk of sports. The shadow of an uncomplicated Teddy Roosevelt (from the title-giving quote on) looms over Prince's whole approach to physicality and character.
One last note: Prince hasn't done the child development work to address the area where most of us will do the most work in sports (youth sports). He's (rightly) frustrated with participation trophies and he's thought through the value of learning to lose or to be a bench player, but he doesn't distinguish what age group(s) he's talking about in various areas. A four-year-old playing her first soccer game should get different specific treatment than a high school senior playing for a state championship. Understanding when to keep score and how to introduce winning/losing can be important, not for the modern self-esteem movement (and Prince rightly addresses the church's appeal to happiness and comfort) but for identity development, engagement in healthy physical activity later in life, etc.
Prince's thoughts about the church work well and his prioritizing of his faith is commendable, but with more serious (and still accessible) work being done on the intersection of faith and sports, this book doesn't keep up.
Most readers will likely be fine with his brevity there (or this likely isn't the book they'd pick up), but he boils everything down into an old-school approach. He wants to avoid legalism, but there are a lot of formal rules (get a haircut, don't play sports on Sunday, use only "Coach" + last name in addressing an adult). He wants to put the manliness back in sports, leading to a Victorian sort of muscular Christianity that doesn't entirely make sense. He loves catchers getting run over at home and one argument (oversimplified) boils down to the point that since cyclists often have head injuries, we shouldn't fuss so much about CTE in football. He doesn't quite know what to do with girls, who shouldn't compete against boys but can still learn to be gentlewomen in part through the physical risk of sports. The shadow of an uncomplicated Teddy Roosevelt (from the title-giving quote on) looms over Prince's whole approach to physicality and character.
One last note: Prince hasn't done the child development work to address the area where most of us will do the most work in sports (youth sports). He's (rightly) frustrated with participation trophies and he's thought through the value of learning to lose or to be a bench player, but he doesn't distinguish what age group(s) he's talking about in various areas. A four-year-old playing her first soccer game should get different specific treatment than a high school senior playing for a state championship. Understanding when to keep score and how to introduce winning/losing can be important, not for the modern self-esteem movement (and Prince rightly addresses the church's appeal to happiness and comfort) but for identity development, engagement in healthy physical activity later in life, etc.
Prince's thoughts about the church work well and his prioritizing of his faith is commendable, but with more serious (and still accessible) work being done on the intersection of faith and sports, this book doesn't keep up.
August 22, 2017
Sanctification and sports
I am a sports management major and I read extremely good(doctrinally sound) books about the christian faith. This book does a phenomenal job at finding applicable ways to connect sports and faith. He looks at each game as a mini battle field for sanctification. He breaks down all the elements and attempts to see our own sin in the game. Furthermore, he does it from a coaching perspective too. What questions do you ask bore the game to your players, after the game, and how do you portray Christ to those that sit the bench? Every word counts while coaching, especially for those who are over praising. Great book and highly recommend. He did lose a star for frequently comparing sports and war. Speaking as someone who is in the Army, you should never.. never compare the two. The brutality of war is devastating and nefarious. The sacrifices on the battle field should not be compared to laying down a sacrifice bunt in baseball.
Minus the war and sports section, great book!
I am a sports management major and I read extremely good(doctrinally sound) books about the christian faith. This book does a phenomenal job at finding applicable ways to connect sports and faith. He looks at each game as a mini battle field for sanctification. He breaks down all the elements and attempts to see our own sin in the game. Furthermore, he does it from a coaching perspective too. What questions do you ask bore the game to your players, after the game, and how do you portray Christ to those that sit the bench? Every word counts while coaching, especially for those who are over praising. Great book and highly recommend. He did lose a star for frequently comparing sports and war. Speaking as someone who is in the Army, you should never.. never compare the two. The brutality of war is devastating and nefarious. The sacrifices on the battle field should not be compared to laying down a sacrifice bunt in baseball.
Minus the war and sports section, great book!
September 11, 2019
Excellent Book
I had some reservations when I first picked up the book. Would the author be able to make a cogent argument? Would the author stretch Scriptures out of context? I'm pleased to say that the author did not push Scripture beyond it's meaning. He did a great job on executing the passages of the Bible and apply them very well. Furthermore he made his argument very well. Definitely a worthwhile book to read.
I had some reservations when I first picked up the book. Would the author be able to make a cogent argument? Would the author stretch Scriptures out of context? I'm pleased to say that the author did not push Scripture beyond it's meaning. He did a great job on executing the passages of the Bible and apply them very well. Furthermore he made his argument very well. Definitely a worthwhile book to read.
February 2, 2023
Interesting in so far as it could be. Limited subject. Author does a good job bringing truths and upholding the value or manliness. I’m sure those who disagree with the premise would find many faults in his analogies or theological connections, however I tend to agree with almost everything in the book.
A great light but motivating read.
A great light but motivating read.
February 19, 2018
This is a really helpful book for helping Christians think through the role of sports in their lives. It is especially helpful for Christian parents, coaches, and school administrators/teachers who aim to teach young people a biblical view of sports.
March 12, 2021
This book was recommended by and given to me by a good Brother in the Lord. I have not been disappointed. You got a great sense of how much he enjoys sports and using sports to reach people for the Glory of God and teaching valuable Biblical lessons through sports. I highly recommend it.
November 10, 2018
Great book! As a coach, pastor and dad I will be using this book for years to come. Highly recommended
Read
February 20, 2021This is a great book about ministry with heavy sports analogies, they are pretty good, and would definitely suggest it.
Want to read
July 23, 2025Using sports as a path for Christian discipleship.
January 9, 2017
This is a really good book. If you have children involved in sports or you are considering involving your children in sports, it is a very helpful read.
While I don't agree with everything the author says, he forces us to think critically about sports and our involvement.
While I don't agree with everything the author says, he forces us to think critically about sports and our involvement.
February 7, 2017
Very enlightening and one of the only treatments from biblical worldview that I've encountered on a subject that's a big part of my life: sports. If you're a Christian sports fan, athlete, parent, or coach, In the Arena is a must read. And especially if you're a baseball fan, run like you're stealing second to go get this book.
August 29, 2016
Disclosure: The author is my pastor and I have a high regard for him, his ministry, and his perspective on these matters, so I don't know how to be purely objective in this review.
Having said that, I will also say that this book has sharply improved my understanding of how sports are able to contribute significantly to my discipleship and that of those I might have an opportunity to influence.
Having said that, I will also say that this book has sharply improved my understanding of how sports are able to contribute significantly to my discipleship and that of those I might have an opportunity to influence.
September 19, 2016
Excellent resource for athletes, coaches, parents, and fans. Rightly places sports within a Christian Worldview - not to "cut down on sports" but to maximize our sports to make disciples and glorify God.
December 7, 2016
A really good book for any Christian engaged in sports. Recommended especially for parents and coaches.
January 1, 2017
This is a rather thought-provoking book. Pulling equally from Scripture and his own experiences, Prince makes a compelling case for the role of sports in teaching about the Kingdom and character.
July 22, 2018
Unique
I am giving it a full 5 stars because of the uniqueness of the topic. Not that it is unique to discuss and talk about in the church but there are few books out there completely dedicated to the topic. Parts can be a little repetitive but the logic, reasoning,and thoughtfulness were good and applicable. I highly recommend for parents who have children heavily engaged in competition who may not have been athletes themselves. Or for those frustrated with the current culture of our youth sports this text shows it much like the rest of our world and needs redemption from our sinfulness.
I am giving it a full 5 stars because of the uniqueness of the topic. Not that it is unique to discuss and talk about in the church but there are few books out there completely dedicated to the topic. Parts can be a little repetitive but the logic, reasoning,and thoughtfulness were good and applicable. I highly recommend for parents who have children heavily engaged in competition who may not have been athletes themselves. Or for those frustrated with the current culture of our youth sports this text shows it much like the rest of our world and needs redemption from our sinfulness.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews