How watching the big game can be the most spiritual thing you do all week
Jason Farr
There’s a major sporting event this weekend, and even if sports aren’t your thing, I’m betting you know what it is. That’s right, I’m talking about the Super Bowl.
Everybody wants to watch the Super Bowl, even Christians. We don’t need to feel bad for wanting to be part of one of the biggest events in American culture. There is nothing sinful about watching football. Having friends over not only makes watching the big game more fun, it could also be one of the most spiritual things you do outside of church all week.
5 Reasons To Watch the Big Game With Friends
1. To make new friends
Think about who watches the Super Bowl. Everyone! Even people who don’t like football will tune in for the ads. The Super Bowl is an opportunity to interact with a variety of people.
It’s a chance to build new relationships and deepen existing ones. And building relationships is how the Gospel spreads.
2. To reconnect with the world around you
Paul, a church leader in Acts, had a knack for using the questions people were already asking about life to connect them to the truth in the Bible. The Message summarizes one of Paul’s letters this way:
“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23, MSG).
Maybe you’ve been buried in work, chasing after kids or living in Christian world so long, that you feel out of touch. When we don’t know what’s happening in the world around us, it’s harder to share our opinions intelligently and thoughtfully. Watching the halftime show and the ads are a great insight into what our culture values.
Entertaining is a great way to serve others and to show hospitality.
3. To serve others
Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Following Jesus’ example to serve others is a deeply spiritual experience.
Whether you’re hosting your own party, or helping with someone else’s party, entertaining is a great way to serve others and to show hospitality.
Sharing experiences — even the experience of watching football together — creates bonds. Regardless of whether your NFL team is in the Super Bowl or not, the next time you meet you will talk about the game. Especially if it’s a nail-biter. So why not get your Group together to watch the game and create a bonding experience you will all remember.
These sort of experiences can bring long-lasting relationships close enough to give you opportunities to share how you met Jesus, to serve, or to pray for someone.
5. To celebrate
Celebrating together brings people together. People celebrate different things; touchdowns, wins, or someone asking Jesus into their life. Begin a relationship celebrating touchdowns and passes together. It could make for good practice in celebrating a new friend’s salvation down the road.