Cooper Message:
Good morning! How’s everybody?
Thank you, Mr. Mullis, for that introduction. Like he said, my name is Cooper Middleton, and I’m a sophomore at Christian Heritage. I play football, wrestle, and also play baseball. I’ve started on the football team and have played varsity for the high school football, baseball, and wrestling teams. I play linebacker and also travel for FCA. So you could probably say that sports are a big part of my life. Because of that, I’m going to be talking about how my faith in Jesus has helped me to be a better athlete and how playing sports has also helped me to be a better Christian.
First, I’d like to read Colossians 3:23, which says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." This is one of my favorite verses because it pushes me to work harder in the weight room, to never give up, and to have a better work ethic. If I’m doing something for the Lord and not for human masters, then I should do it with my best effort. But this verse applies to more than just my work ethic—it means that everything I do should be done at a higher level. Whether it’s listening to my coach, cleaning my room, or any other task, everything I do is a representation of God.
I can also use my work as a way of worship. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." This verse reminds me that everything I do can be offered as an act of worship to God. That means I should never do anything halfway because that would be worshiping Him halfway, and that’s something I never want to do.
This leads me to my first point: God has helped me to be a better athlete by giving me a reason to always push myself to be the best that I can be. A great example of this is the story of Cain and Abel. Abel gave God the best of what he had—his firstborn lamb—while Cain did not give God the best of his crops. Genesis 4 tells us that God looked with favor on Abel but not on Cain. This shows that we should always give our best because not only is that what God expects, but it is also a way we can worship Him.
My second point is doing everything for the glory of God. This allows me to play for something bigger than myself. Studies have shown that when you play for something bigger than yourself—whether it’s for God, your family, or a greater purpose—you perform better. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Even in something as simple as eating and drinking, we are called to give God glory. That means every part of my life, including sports, should reflect Him.
In the locker room, for example, if some guys are swearing or picking on a younger player, I have three choices: (1) join in, (2) do nothing, or (3) stop them in a loving way. If my actions are meant to praise God, then the third option is the right one. Similarly, on the field, I could choose to play dirty, trash talk, or criticize my teammates when they mess up. But instead, I should remind myself that my actions are a testimony to Christ. If someone trash-talks me, I respond with, "Jesus loves you, man," and walk away.
That brings me to my third point: the power of the tongue and peer pressure. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." I’ve seen firsthand how words can either tear a team apart or bring them together. Once, after a practice, some teammates were late to conditioning. The seniors got mad and spoke harshly to them, which caused division on the team. Our coach had to spend time addressing the issue to bring us back together, because, as Jesus said, "A house divided cannot stand." This situation taught me that words can either destroy or build up, and it takes far more effort to rebuild than to tear down.
My fourth point is sports are a great way to spread the gospel. I have seen countless people come to Jesus through sports, especially through FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). At my school, we have Testimony Tuesday after practice, where a player or coach shares their testimony. Sports provide a platform to witness to others who might not otherwise hear about Jesus.
Lastly, God gives us all unique roles to fulfill in the body of Christ. Just like a football team has different positions—quarterbacks, offensive linemen, linebackers—each of us has a specific purpose. If an offensive lineman tries to be a wide receiver, the team won’t perform well. Likewise, in the body of Christ, we each have a role to play. Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever." God has placed each of us where we are for a reason, and it is our job to glorify Him with the opportunities we’ve been given.
Before I close, I want to share a video about faith in sports. (Video plays.)
To wrap things up, I want to encourage you to use whatever gifts God has given you to glorify Him, whether it’s through sports, music, art, or anything else. God can use anything for His glory.
Let’s close in prayer:
"Lord, thank You for this day and for bringing us together. I pray that You bless the Super Bowl players with safety and that You be glorified in their efforts. Help us not to get too caught up in winning or losing but to always seek Your will above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen."
