Sermon Illustrations
HS Football Opponents Go Viral Kneeling in Prayer After Game
Good vibes have abounded over a viral video of two high school football players kneeling in prayer after the game. And while football players praying isn’t quite as novel a sight as it used to be, the jerseys told the story. Instead of teammates, the two young men had been opponents on the field.
Wide receiver Gage Smith had just led Sherman High School to a rousing victory over Mesquite West. But afterward, he knelt to pray with Mesquite’s Ty Jordan, whose mother was battling cancer. The two opponents had known each other from having played on a select 7-on-7 squad, and the final score was the last thing on either of their minds.
Smith said, “When you're playing the game, you're playing to win, and the other team is the enemy. But afterward, you still have respect for the other opponent. Football brings people together in so many different ways, and that was just one example of it that night.”
Following the game, Jordan’s aunt posted the photo to Facebook, where it’s been shared more than 150,000 times.
Possible Preaching Angle: We embody the love of Jesus when we can overlook petty differences to serve each other in times of need.