Thought for the Week 23 August 2026

The few New Testament verses that directly reference sport speak of running and boxing specifically and these are used to illustrate the point that the Christian life requires training and discipline and a determination to endure hardship.  St Paul could have used the popular gladiator battles to make the same point, but he doesn’t. Could it be that he felt these bloody and often fatal contests were the worst examples of what passed for sport and entertainment?  Following on from last week’s reflection on the dark side of sport, today we consider if all sports are created equal. Are some sports more noble and moral than others and what criteria do we use to judge this?

I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am. Last Sunday it was inspiring to hear from Michael Pugh who has run 3 ‘Comrades’ ultra marathons and is preparing for his fourth. The Comrade is a true test of endurance being run over 12 hours and 90 km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, RSA. Hearing your stories has been one of the best things about this series; thank you to those who have shared. We also had a record number of views for our online service- 59; it seems to be striking a chord!

I want to give a wee shout out to our treasurer Janessa McCallum who presented her first budget last Sunday. She did a great job, and the feedback was very positive. It is not easy to stand before a room of strangers and explain numbers, but Janessa took it in her stride and many commented that her presentation was clear and easy to follow. Well done!

Nga mihi nui, Brent