50 Football Bible Verses That Shoot & Score! ⚽️

Here are 50 encouraging Bible verses related to football (aka soccer) in clever, and often hilarious ways! While there are no Bible verses about football (surprise, surprise!), there are tons of verses relating to it. These powerful football Bible verses are ready to brighten your day... and change the way you view the sport for life!

Stick around – some brilliant verses show up later on! 😊

Know any football fans? Why not share this Bible verse list to encourage them?

 

Bible Verses Related To Football:

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

In this Bible verse, Paul sounds like a footballer through & through, running toward the goal and winning the prize!

2 Corinthians 5:9

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (ESV)

The Bible verse that started this entire endeavour! It's too perfect.

Psalm 116:13

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD! (NIV)

Lifting up the cup is a sign of victory! We have absolute, ultimate, eternal victory through Christ! Can we not rejoice?

1 Corinthians 15:3

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. (NIV)

Picturing them passing the message to each other like a football is an excellent analogy of how the early church worked together to win souls!

 

Romans 3:24

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (NLT)

Picturing them passing the message to each other like a football is an excellent analogy of how the early church worked together to win souls!

 

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Philippians 1:27-28

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. (ESV)

Just as in a football team, we believers all share the same mission and are united in courage as we face the enemy.

Proverbs 24:16

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (NIV)

This happens several times in most football matches and is a wonderful analogy of the endurance of the righteous. Never give up!

 

Proverbs 24:16

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (NIV)

This happens several times in most football matches and is a wonderful analogy of the endurance of the righteous. Never give up!

 

Proverbs 22:23

For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. (NLT)

Defender's have a crucial role to protect you from losing! God will defend you against the enemies attacks while your faith and trust are in Christ!

 

Psalm 121:5

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. (ESV)

God keeps us and guards us and ensures we are eternally safe with nothing to fear in this life, or the next!

 

1 Corinthians 14:1

Let love be your highest goal! (NLT)

A footballer's goal is, of course, the goal. Our goal is love! We are to sprint, sweat, and give everything to love one another. And whenever we do, even in a small way, it's a win for which God deserves all the glory!

Acts 6:4

We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching. (GNT)

In the analogy of life as a football match, let's work for the Lord until full time, keeping our eyes on Jesus and enduring until the whistle blows!

 

Luke 19:37

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. (NIV)

Crowds gathered in Jesus' day, not just to see a ball fly into string, but to see the King of kings and Lord of lords among us! Let crowds raise their voices for Him, above all!

 

Matthew 4:20

And they left their nets at once and followed him. (NLT)

Just as the disciples left their fishing nets, footballers should be willing to leave their nets and follow Jesus, any day!

 

Zechariah 10:8

When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have redeemed them. From the few who are left, they will grow as numerous as they were before. (NLT)

God is our manager, we run to Him when He whistles with no time delay. We love Him and want (with everything in us) to honour Him and bring Him the glory!

 

Proverbs 4:25-27

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. (NIV)

This is the focus of a footballer. They aren't distracted by the crowds. They have tunnel vision for the ball and the goal it needs to enter!

2 Corinthians 6:14

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)

Choose your team wisely. You will be influenced by them. By all means spend time with sinners, like Jesus did. But let's not team up with them!

 

2 Timothy 2:5

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (ESV)

Football is no free-for-all. Nor is life. These are very clear right and wrongs. Everything would fall apart otherwise.

 

Psalm 140:4

Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. (NIV)

Just as in a game of football, we have enemies. They'll do all they can to trip our feet. Be ready for that, and trust in the only One who can keep you from falling.

 

Isaiah 5:26

He raises a signal flag for the distant nations and whistles for them from the ends of the earth. Look—how quickly and swiftly they come! (CSB)

This is a passage referring to the judgment of the nations! Just like a referee raising a signal card or flag and whistling to call players for their penalties, God sees and will call all evildoers who don't repent to pay the penalty for their sins.

 

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (NIV)

This is no game. Just as in athletics and sports, everything is given to win, we're called to run for our lives! To run as if it depended on us, though, it really depends on Jesus! There's no time to walk. We must sprint!

Hebrews 12:3

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

Jesus endured way worse opposition than an opposing football team. Those who were supposed to be on His own team accused Him, betrayed Him and crucified Him. But He endured. He willingly went through it all for us! Let that be your focus when faced with opposition!

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. (NIV)

Teams have the best chances of scoring goals when they work together. Passing is one of the most essential steps to winning a game. Making the most of each other's gifts and opportunities. And, of course, picking each other up through encouragement when they lose strength!

 

Proverbs 4:27

Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (NLT)

Every footballer must pay close attention to their feet. They are singleminded in their aim to progress towards the goal, and only move their feet in ways that are believed to help them achieve that mission. For Christians, we too must give full attention to our feet: where we go with our thoughts and actions on a daily basis. There is no time to be sidetracked. We have a mission and must give everything to see it accomplished!

 

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)

If a footballer finds a match easy, they didn't do their job. They must struggle! So must we! The main difference is: our battle is spiritual, and the victory, eternal.

 

1 Timothy 4:8

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (NIV)

The Bible doesn't look down on sports or physical training. Here, it clearly acknowledges there is value in these things for the benefit of the body. Yet, the word 'some' should stand out to us, especially compared with 'all' used to emphasise the value of godliness! Always keep football, and all sports, in their proper place: way below our goal of being Christlike!

Proverbs 19:2

Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way! (NIV)

In a game of football, players often need to slow down and sometimes stop to take note of their surroundings and plan their next move. Rushing into every move would be unwise. We, too, must take time to pause, pray, and seek wisdom before we take steps in life.

 

1 Timothy 1:5

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (NIV)

What's your aim when you wake in the morning? What spells a good day for you when you lay your head to sleep at night? Is it productivity, happiness, social time? Football players know their main goal and keep it number one. So must we! Ours is to love with a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. That should be what drives us, every step!

 

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. (NIV)

Hard work and sweat are part of Adam's curse. While footballers are often well-paid, it is by no means easy money. Few acknowledge the extent of discipline required to make it as professional football players. We can learn from them to work hard, stay focused, and glorify God in the process!

 

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (NIV)

This is another verse that helps us to keep perspective: feet that bring the ball to the net are no way near as beautiful as feet that bring good news to the lost!

 

1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (NIV)

Once again, we have a strong encouragement to learn from sportsmen! Sacrifice is essential for them. They require discipline and full devotion to gain the skills they need to succeed. Knowing that our rewards is eternal, how much more should we strive?

1 Corinthians 9:26

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly. (NIV)

Our life should be purposeful. Whatever we do for God's glory should be done with clarity of mind and the intention to magnify God and honour Him!

 

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

The nature of two teams against one another fires us up! The crowds love it! No wonder football is the most popular sport worldwide, with over 3.5 million fans. Why is this battle so exhilarating? Well, largely because it reflects reality. We're at war. And praise God that through faith in Jesus we have ultimate protection, as this verse reveals!

 

Psalm 23:2

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. (NIV)

The green football pitches remind us of life and vitality. As this verse highlights, the green of grass brings its own reminder of the vibrance and joy of our abundant life in Christ! The next time you see a vibrant green football field, be reminded of this.

 

Psalm 37:31

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (ERV)

Football boots are specifically designed with studs for this very purpose: that no step shall slide. God establishes our steps and upholds us by His Word, keeping us steady! Let's aim to be rooted in the Word to stay as upright as we sinners can possibly be.

 

Psalm 33:3

Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy. (NIV)

Don't just play. Play skilfully. Do your very best for the Lord's praise! And raise your voices, not just to put down the other teams, but to life up the name of Jesus!

2 Corinthians 6:7

We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defence. (NLT)

A football team needs both attack and defence. So do we! Praise God we have that through God: the Word of God as our sword, and the shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation etc. for our defence!

 

Romans 9:31

but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. (NIV)

Picture the people of Israel seeking to cross the field and score by means of the law, but miserably failing every time. Praise God, it is only by His grace that He saves us!

 

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)

Energy and stamina are vital for a 90-minute match! Often, football teams lose energy in the second half, costing them the match. Praise God, He renews our spiritual stamina as we hope in Him, enabling us to run without weariness!

 

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. (ESV)

The limited reach of a goal keeper is a reminder that our hands are often shortened. Yet, this verse reminds us that God is not limited. He can always reach into any life and bring salvation. He is mighty to save!

 

Psalm 49:5

Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? (NLT)

Fearlessness is another trait we can learn from footballers! They run, with a great deal of pressure, through a field of opponents, risking potential injury for their team. They don't run away from their opponents. They run toward them, and do so with their heads held high! So must we.

Romans 12:11

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. (NIV)

We have this much to learn from footballers and their fans! If only believers were all more zealous than they are. If only we were sold out, unashamed, fully devoted, and passionate at all times! Yet sadly, we could learn a thing or two from sports players.

 

Exodus 40:18

Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts. (NLT)

This one's just a bit of fun.

 

Psalm 18:33

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. (NIV)

Here is another verse that describes our feet being made swift. This is a wonderful reminder that God alone deserves the glory for every step we take! And through Him, our limits aren't so limited.

 

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Ecclesiastes 9:11

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant, but time and chance happen to them all. (NIV)

In football, we see this all the time. Both teams and players can be down one minute, and up the next. This is a reminder that we should never decide we can or can't do something based only on the past. God can cause yesterday's weak to be tomorrow's strong!

 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (NIV)

Aspiring footballers take great inspiration from the likes of Ronaldo and Messi. We as believers are encouraged to do the same in Hebrews 11, considering the faith and perseverance of those who've gone before. We're also encouraged to follow in their footsteps by lightening our load! Just as footballers wear lightweight T-shirts, shorts and boots, we are to rid ourselves of the weight of sin to sprint at full speed!

 

Romans 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (NIV)

What matters most in a football game? The result. A player can do exceptionally well, but if their team loses, it will be forgotten. But the result is what counts in the long run. And for us as believers, we already have the result of this match called 'life'. Eternal life!