--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The church today has been compared to a…" description: "\"“The church today has been compared to a football game with twenty-two people on the field in desperate need of rest, and fifty thousand people in the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg" --- # The church today has been compared to a football game with… ![“The church today has been compared to a football game with twenty-two people on the field in desperate need of rest, and fifty thousand people in the stands in desperate need of exercise.” quote by Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg) > ““The church today has been compared to a football game with twenty-two people on the field in desperate need of rest, and fifty thousand people in the stands in desperate need of exercise.”” [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern church resembles a sports event: few active participants, many spectators needing engagement. **In simple terms:** Church is like a game. Key Takeaway Invite active participation. Themes religion community engagement Mood critical encouraging Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - worship services - volunteer programs - faith discussions Key Concepts sociology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can churches become more participatory? - What role should congregants play? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-game/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-today/) [Field Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/field-desperate-3772120/) [Football game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-game/) [People Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-field-911037/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [If we can choose where to cry, at home or with a few people who will be fully understanding, perhaps we will feel easier.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-whitmore-hickman/if-we-can-choose-where-to-cry-at-home-or-with-a-few-people-who-will/) [Martha Whitmore Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-whitmore-hickman/) > [There were a lot of people on the other side of the field saying, 'Maybe he's doing this, not doing that.' It's good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-cano/there-were-a-lot-of-people-on-the-other-side-of-the-field-saying/) [Robinson Cano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-cano/) > [Business is a game, and as with all games, the team that puts the best people on the field and gets them playing together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/business-is-a-game-and-as-with-all-games-the-team-that-puts-the-best/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [But I feel like I have two personalities when it comes to being around people, and then being on the field is a totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquill-griffin/but-i-feel-like-i-have-two-personalities-when-it-comes-to-being/) [Shaquill Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquill-griffin/) > [I know a lot of people on the field - players, coaches, managers - are glad that I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-know-a-lot-of-people-on-the-field-players-coaches-managers-are-glad/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-wrong-turns-talk-to-strangers-open-unmarked-doors-and-if-you-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are 11 people on the field. Everyone can't touch the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/there-are-11-people-on-the-field-everyone-can-t-touch-the-ball/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [Working with people on a field turns me on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/working-with-people-on-a-field-turns-me-on/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [I went to a football game, and people were shouting my dad's name, and I was like, 'What? Oh my God.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-beckham/i-went-to-a-football-game-and-people-were-shouting-my-dad-s-name-and/) [Brooklyn Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-beckham/) > [Everybody owned stock in the Capone mob; in a way, he was a public benefactor. I remember one time when he arrived at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/everybody-owned-stock-in-the-capone-mob-in-a-way-he-was-a-public/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [I threw up before every single football game I played, and I did so up through my NFL career. It was good pressure. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kelly/i-threw-up-before-every-single-football-game-i-played-and-i-did-so-up/) [Jim Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kelly/) > [Trying to manage a project without project management is like trying to play a football game without a game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-manage-a-project-without-project-management-is-like-trying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My folks, I don't think my mom or my dad ever missed a little league game or a football game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/my-folks-i-don-t-think-my-mom-or-my-dad-ever-missed-a-little-league/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Sometimes a minute is really the difference between success and failure. There are times when you finish with ten seconds left, and one extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/sometimes-a-minute-is-really-the-difference-between-success-and/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) ## More by Greg Ogden > [“Leadership is about instilling urgency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/leadership-is-about-instilling-urgency/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Memory Verse Study Guide Jesus’ mission statement for the church is to make disciples. These pivotal verses (Matthew 28:18-20) are commonly referred to as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/memory-verse-study-guide-jesus-mission-statement-for-the-church-is-to/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“The Scriptures picture the church as an essential, chosen organism in whom Christ dwells; the reality is that people view the church as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-scriptures-picture-the-church-as-an-essential-chosen-organism-in/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Internalization cannot happen through a mass transference to an audience but must occur in an interpersonal environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/internalization-cannot-happen-through-a-mass-transference-to-an/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“There is a vast difference between being a Christian and being a disciple. The difference is commitment. Motivation and discipline will not ultimately occur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-being-a-christian-and-being-a/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Bill Hull has prophetically written, “The crisis at the heart of the church is a crisis of product.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/bill-hull-has-prophetically-written-the-crisis-at-the-heart-of-the/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Inductive Bible Study Guide Jesus always lived with a view to the end of his earthly ministry. The preparation of a few who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/inductive-bible-study-guide-jesus-always-lived-with-a-view-to-the-end/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“The scriptural model for growing disciples is through relationships. Jesus called the Twelve to “be with him” (Mark 3:14), for their lives would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-scriptural-model-for-growing-disciples-is-through-relationships/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“It has been broadly observed that the first Reformation of the early 1500s placed the Bible in the hands of the people and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/it-has-been-broadly-observed-that-the-first-reformation-of-the-early/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Disciple making is not a program but a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/disciple-making-is-not-a-program-but-a-relationship/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Now in the new-paradigm churches, it is generally assumed that ministry is the province of the laos, the whole people of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/now-in-the-new-paradigm-churches-it-is-generally-assumed-that/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“The New Testament pictures the church as an every-member ministry. The “priesthood of all believers” is not just a Reformation watchword but a biblical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-new-testament-pictures-the-church-as-an-every-member-ministry-the/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“To be a follower of Christ is to understand that there is no such thing as solo discipleship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/to-be-a-follower-of-christ-is-to-understand-that-there-is-no-such/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“Instead of equipping the saints to do the work of ministry, those in pastoral leadership do it themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/instead-of-equipping-the-saints-to-do-the-work-of-ministry-those-in/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [“John Kotter in Leading Change says that a primary reason why change does not occur is that there is no sense of urgency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/john-kotter-in-leading-change-says-that-a-primary-reason-why-change/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) [Explore all 16 Greg Ogden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) ## More Ball game quotes > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [Sometimes a minute is really the difference between success and failure. There are times when you finish with ten seconds left, and one extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/sometimes-a-minute-is-really-the-difference-between-success-and/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I'm about winning football games and playing hard. That's all I care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/i-m-about-winning-football-games-and-playing-hard-that-s-all-i-care/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Kids are pretty resilient. You don't have to be at every volleyball game. We can't guilt ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/kids-are-pretty-resilient-you-don-t-have-to-be-at-every-volleyball/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [You might be a redneck if... your high school basketball game got rained out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-your-high-school-basketball-game-got-rained/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [My folks, I don't think my mom or my dad ever missed a little league game or a football game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/my-folks-i-don-t-think-my-mom-or-my-dad-ever-missed-a-little-league/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/that-s-all-i-need-i-say-well-i-need-the-lamp-and-the-astray-and-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the youth - that means the boys. And after you've been a boy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-this-baseball-game-of-ours-comes-up-from-the-youth-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trying to manage a project without project management is like trying to play a football game without a game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-manage-a-project-without-project-management-is-like-trying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We'll do anything it takes to win a basketball game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/we-ll-do-anything-it-takes-to-win-a-basketball-game/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [When I am working it is up early and coffee and 15 hours of being on the set. When I am not working, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-astin/when-i-am-working-it-is-up-early-and-coffee-and-15-hours-of-being-on/) [Mackenzie Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-astin/) > [Some coaches believed they could judge a player's performance simply by watching it. In this they were deeply mistaken. The naked eye was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/some-coaches-believed-they-could-judge-a-player-s-performance-simply/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) [Browse all 849 Ball game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-game/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The church today has been compared to a football game with twenty-two people on the field in desperate need of rest, and fifty thousand people in the stands in desperate need of exercise.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Ogden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a-football-game-with-twenty-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball game" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a-football-game-with-twenty-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/greg-ogden-31379_ball-game_the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a_2037164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The church today has been compared to a football game with twenty-two people on the field in desperate need…” — Greg Ogden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Greg Ogden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The church today has been compared...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a-football-game-with-twenty-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/the-church-today-has-been-compared-to-a-football-game-with-twenty-two/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```