Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 says,
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Let us pray.
Lord, we thank You for bringing us together as men who desire to know You through Your Word and to live that out, even here in this fellowship. Thank You for the time, the activity, and the relationships that You, in Your mercy, have given us. Use even this time, Lord, not just for this game, but to shape us as men who follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Brothers, this comes from the Apostle Paul, writing to believers who were being pulled back into relying on themselves. And here, we are reminded of our identity—that we have been crucified with Christ, and now live by faith in Him.

This shows us that the Christian life is not about improving ourselves, but about being united with Christ. In the same way, our identity is no longer defined by how we perform, even in this game, but by Christ who lives in us. This is not just about how we play outwardly—it is about who we are.

And we must be clear—this is not something we accomplish in our own strength. Because if we rely on ourselves, we will fall short, and not only fall short, it can lead to failure and even sin. But the Lord supplies what we lack. It is His grace that sustains us, and His strength that keeps us.

So this means that even as we play, we are called to live out our identity in Christ. Not just playing for ourselves, but being mindful of one another—encouraging, building up, and bringing out what is good in each other. In whatever situation God has placed us in—even here on the court—we live by faith.

Hebrews 10:24 tells us,
“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”

Yes, the game is physical—and it should be. We play hard, we compete, we engage.
But we must learn to keep the right balance.
We enjoy the game and its physicality, but we also remember that this is, first and foremost, fellowship. Every movement, every reaction, every word we speak should reflect the gospel.

We can be physical without harming—not just physically, but even in our words, our attitudes, and our responses.

We can endure the physicality of the game without retaliation or anger. And when we are hurt, instead of reacting in frustration, we respond in love—we talk, we reconcile, we build one another up.
Because we are proclaiming something—not just with our words, but with our lives.

Jesus said,
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And as we play here, we are being watched. People will see how we move, how we react, how we treat one another.

So what will they see? Will they just see basketball players? Or will they see Christians—loving one another and building one another up, as the gospel is at work in us even as we play?
Because the goal is not just to play, but to play in a way that faithfully reflects Christ according to the Word of God.

So even in this game, this fellowship God has given us should remind us of the life we are called to live. And we thank God for this fellowship—men who not only play together, but who gather around the Word and seek to live it out.

Let us pray.

Lord, thank You for this time, for this fellowship, and for these men. As we play, remind us of the life You have called us to live—a life of faith, dependence on You, and love for one another. Help us to live faithfully according to Your Word and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.