Tonight at our ‘Little Big Church’ service we looked at the Olympic Games and learned about being part of God’s winning team. The Olympic Games feature many individual and team sports (32 in the current Olympics), but every contestant is part of a team representing their country. The Games in their current format have been going on since 1896, and the Paris Olympics happening now is the 33rd modern Olympics, but the origins of the games lie in the Greek events which went on in Olympia from the 8th century B. C. to the 4th century A.D. Then, winners used to receive a crown made of laurel leaves; now, the top three contestants in each event receive gold, silver and bronze medals in an awards’ ceremony where the national anthem of the winning country is played.
We are all individuals, but when we experience and receive the love of God, we are born again into His family and become part of God’s team! The children worked together to colour in Ephesians 3:17-18, reminding us that together, we all need to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God. Children were then awarded medals urging us to ‘be part of God’s winning team’ as we listened to the Phil Wickham song ‘Hymn of Heaven’ and reminded ourselves that victory has already been purchased for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
‘And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice, a thousand generations
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.”
“Forever He shall reign.”
So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven.
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar.
Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave.
Holy, holy is the Lord.’ (‘Hymn of Heaven’, Phil Wickham)
