It takes a lot of training, endurance, discipline, and teamwork to succeed in professional sports. Sometimes, it can be challenging to find the inner strength to wake up and keep going. During such times, we are called not to give up, but to ask God for guidance and strength.
While the Bible does not specifically mention sports as we understand them today because organized sports, as we know them, did not exist in ancient times, there are some general principles in the Bible that can be applied to sports.
These Bible verses about sports can help to motivate and inspire sportsmen and women in their journey.
Here is a list of Bible Verses About Sports
Bible Verses About Sports for Physical Training and Discipline
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Proverbs 15:32
“Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”
Proverbs 14:23
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
Hebrews 12:11
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Psalm 144:1
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
Hebrews 10:36
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
1 Timothy 4:8
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Proverbs 10:17
“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”
Bible Verses About Sports for Teamwork and Cooperation
1 Corinthians 12:20-25
As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
Romans 12:4-5
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
Read Also: 56 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up
1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
1 Peter 4:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Read Also: 50 Illuminating Bible Verses About Guidance
Galatians 6:2
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:16
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Philippians 2:2
“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Bible Verses About Sports on Fair Play and Integrity
Proverbs 11:1
“The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.”
2 Timothy 2:5
“Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.”
Proverbs 2:7
“He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.”
Read Also: 50 Bible Verses about Time – Timeless Wisdom
2 Corinthians 8:21
“For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
Proverbs 10:9
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Proverbs 21:3
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
1 Chronicles 29:17
“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
Proverbs 20:23
“The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.”
Read Also: 60 Bible Verses About Trials
Proverbs 28:6
“Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Bible Verses About Sports for Being strong and courageous
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 28:7-8
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 118:14
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
Read Also: 56 Bible Verses About Hope in Hard Times
1 Corinthians 16:13
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
1 Samuel 17:45
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'”
1 Chronicles 28:20
“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.'”
Psalm 138:3
“When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.”
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
1 Chronicles 16:11
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
Psalm 20:7
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Habakkuk 3:19
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Bible Verses About Sports for dealing with defeat
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 24:16
“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”