The Wrestling Sermon

For the past couple of seasons, I have held a special Sunday service for my wrestlers and their families with a sermon I call the wrestling sermon. Below is a link to the sermon.
It shares how the sport of wrestling is much like living the Christian life.

Just thought I'd pass it on.


http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-wrestling-sermon-kelly-benton-sermon-on-sports-172939.asp

Thank you for the post Pastor Kelly.

A wise old man once told me during one of the darkest times of my life... son it's the third period and you're on your back. He didn't need to say anymore, because I knew what I was up against and what needed to be done. The first thing I focused on was "getting off my back". Let's just say I won in double overtime

I'm sure I will have many more tough matches ahead of me in the tournament of life. Win or lose as long as I think like a wrestler I will never give up.

Wrestling is life

Pastor Kelly:
I enjoyed reading your sermon(s). I am sure that your congregation and wrestling team are blessed to have you.

Pastor Kelly:
Thanks for the positive words. I hope it will inspire others to be wholly/holy committed to what is truly important in life.

that was a good word!

I used to pastor a church in Indiana - the idolatry of choice was BB.

I had to break it to the people that Wrestling is the true biblical sport.


Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord. He would not let go
even though injured. He held on until the Lord blessed him.
He walked with a limp after that but was blessed.

One of the 12 tribes of Israel is "Naphtali" which means one who wrestles or struggles.

And of course Paul writes in Eph 6:12
"we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorutues, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness...."

but here is the real kicker

In the old testament you hear about different religions - one was called "Baal" -
and they had poles set up in the temple called Asherah poles.

See Judges 6:28

One of the ways they worshiped this god was to toss their offerings through a circular attachment at the top of Asherah pole. If they made it through with their throw they considered themselves "free"! In sense the successful throw made them free. The priest of Baal were upset when Giddeon cut down their poles.


Over the Millennium‎, names have morphed until now we have a current form of this idolatry,

Today we know this as a "free throw" through the basket ball goal.

Which makes BB an ancient form of Idolatry.

Now I live in Kansas. At least Indiana had D1 wrestling!

I have always said that Wrestling is the oldest sport and the only sport that God mentions in the Bible. But much like Christianity is today with persecution and shunned in many circles of society, Wrestling seems to take a back seat to other sports.

Let's keep the good fight for Christianity and God's sport, WRESTLING!!