Youth Ministry Take-Aways From The Super Bowl

By Todd Pearage | New Hanover UMC | Gilbertsville, PA | toddp@newhanoverumc.org

Tension, controversy, and questionable performances — there was also a football game.

Whether you tuned in for the game, the commercials, or the halftime show, chances are good you watched the biggest sporting event in the free world. So, what did we learn and how should we, as pastors for this next generation, interact with what we just watched?

As you undoubtedly know, Lady Gaga was the halftime entertainment, and opinions on my Facebook wall ranged from “incredibly entertaining” to “worst halftime ever.” While you won’t find a Lady Gaga song on my iPhone or any Spotify playlist, I was glad to see it was less sexualized then previous halftime shows.

I thought the commercials as a whole were disappointing. I did like the Terry Bradshaw (it may be because I’m a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan) and the “stuck” one – the kid flipped over on the big wheel made me laugh. The Melissa McCarthy “eco warrior” one was my favorite. So while they provided some great conversations in my house, I have to say the T-Mobile one sparked the most controversy. Between the marijuana jokes and inappropriate 50 Shades of Gray and S&M references, I thought they really crossed the line.

Now that the game is over and the Lombardi trophy has been given to the New England Patriots, what’s next? Let me encourage you to take advantage of the incredible opportunities we have to initiate meaningful conversations with students about things that matter most. I love football, but at the end of the day it is a game.

This year you can talk about never giving up, overcoming impossible odds, teamwork – the list goes on and on.

So don’t miss your chance to impact the lives of your students!

PS. Weren’t the hundreds of drones amazing?