The Christian Athlete is a gospel-centered guide that assists athletes who identify as Christians and are seeking to understand how to practically apply their faith to their sport. Athletes desire-and deserve-a more substantive expression of the Christian faith in the context of sport, but they don't know what it looks like or where to turn to learn more. Author Brian Smith shares his story as an athlete and coach, and his experience working with high-level athletes in the last decade to help readers better understand how to integrate faith and sport by: - Assisting those who want a wide-angled understanding of how to live the Christian faith in the context of sports - Walking through the many questions Christian athletes ask about winning, losing, injuries, practice, and everything in between - Moving Christian athletes from simply having clichéd spiritual sayings decorating their bodies or t-shirts to actually living out their faith through all the opportunities their sport offers themThe Christian Athlete will show readers how to live out a biblical perspective on athletics and urge them to engage in the gifts they are given to glorify God whether they are the team MVP or riding the bench. The Christian Athlete is a gospel-centered guide that assists athletes who identify as Christians and are seeking to understand how to practically apply their faith to their sport. Brian Smith ran track and cross-country at Wake Forest University, where he graduated with a Communications and Journalism degree. After two years of coaching track at the college level, he turned to working with Athletes in Action. For the past 10 years he has been helping athletes and coaches live biblically at the intersection of faith and sport through his website, thechristianathlete.com. Contents Introduction 9 Chapter 1: On Glory and God 13 Chapter 2: On Motivation 33 Chapter 3: On Pressure 43 Chapter 4: On Winning 60 Chapter 5: On Losing 76 Chapter 6: On Injuries 91 Chapter 7: On Practice 105 Chapter 8: On Teammates 115 Chapter 9: On Riding the Bench 129 Chapter 10: On Gray Areas 144 Chapter 11: On Coaches 155 Chapter 12: On Mission 170 Chapter 13: On Platform 181 Chapter 14: On Retirement 199 Conclusion 214 Appendix: How to Craft Your Sports Testimony 225 Acknowledgments 233 Notes 234 "Brian is contributing much needed biblical understanding to one of the most powerful, culture-shaping mediums in the world-sports and competition. For the athletes and coaches who allow this content to help them integrate faith and sport, their athletic experience will be greatly enhanced!" "This is the best book I have read in the realm of sports and faith. Brian does a masterful job of drawing us closer to our King in the context of our athletic endeavors. Our culture is in desperate need of a book like this, as we as believers so often fail to integrate our faith into sports. This should be a required read for any Christian athlete, coach, or administrator who is seeking to glorify God through sports." "For thirty-three seasons as the Detroit Lions chaplain (I know … lots of losses), I worked with hundreds of athletes who were all asking, 'How do I apply my faith on the field?' I wish I'd had this book. Brian lays out a comprehensive vision of how God wants to work in and through the athlete who is committed to Him. This is a vision we all need for life on and off the field." "One of the things I love about Brian's writing is that it comes from years of experience as an athlete and a minister to and with athletes. In this book, Brian draws on that experience to provide a thoughtful and practical guide to the questions, concerns, and issues that many Christian athletes wrestle with as they try to live out their faith in sports. The Christian Athlete

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