Coaching Points - 11 Sports discussions from the Epistle to Titus

Coaching Points

11 Sports discussions from the Epistle to Titus

Coaching Relationships – Titus 1:1-4

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      How does Paul describe himself in verse 1?  What might be coaching equivalents to such descriptions?

·      What seems to be Paul’s #1 focus for life?

·      How would you describe your life’s calling?

·      How does Paul describe his relationship with Titus?

·      With whom do you have a similar relationship in coaching?  How do you serve as an apostle or a mentor to him or her?

3. Summary:

·      Be intentional about your life’s calling – your vocation.

·      Be intentional about building your relationships with those who have been your mentor(s) and with those for whom you may be a mentor.

Coaching to Build Leadership – Titus 1:5-9

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Tell us about a coaching situation when you spent most of your time building leadership into your players and/or staff.

·      What leadership positions do you appoint within your teams?

·      What kinds of character qualities do you expect from those leaders?

·      How would your team be affected if its leaders demonstrated the character traits from verses 6-9?

3. Summary:

·      Invest your leadership skills with your staff and your team.

·      Work to build their character as well as their skills in the sport.

Overcoming Destructive Attitudes – Titus 1:10-16

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      How do the destructive attitudes described in verses 10 and 11 appear in your game or within your team?

·      How do you handle it when players begin to criticize and talk down the whole team like in verses 12 through 14?

·      What does it look like when a “pure hearted” player competes?  (See verse 15)

·      How is the game different for those with destructive attitudes?  (See verses 15 and 16)

3. Summary:

·      Watch out for destructive attitudes within your team.

·      Deal decisively with those attitudes when they surface.

·      Honor and reward the “pure hearted” among your players and staff.

Coaching Winning Attitudes – Titus 2:1-5

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Who are some coaches who do a good job of communicating values, character, attitude or wisdom?

·      Who are some coaches that fit the description found in verse 2?  Which traits do they exhibit?

·      If there are women associated with your program, which of the characteristics in verses 3-5 do they consistently display?  How are those beneficial to the team?

3. Summary:

·      Find ways to communicate values, character, attitude and wisdom as you coach.

·      Honor the women who faithfully serve your team and staff.

Coach with a Winning Attitude – Titus 2:6-8

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      What parts of the coaching lifestyle require one to be “sensible?”  How do you urge such sensibility in your staff?

·      What are some ways you can demonstrate the following attitudes and character traits for your staff and team?

o   Good deeds.

o   Purity in teaching.

o   Dignity.

o   Sound speech.

o   Being above reproach.

     3. Summary:

·      Urge your staff to live sensibly as they work hard in coaching.

·      Demonstrate winning attitudes and strong character for your staff and team.

The Power Source for Winning Attitudes – Titus 2:9-14

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Which set of people in your sport would be most like the bondslaves mentioned in verse 9?

·      How would these attitudes appear in how they approach the game and the coaching staff?

·      How important is the grace of God for living out those attitudes and behaviors?

·      How does one receive such grace from God?

3. Summary:

·      Receive the grace of God as a gift.

·      Apply God’s grace to all of your life in coaching.

·      Let God’s grace produce fruit in your attitudes and behavior.

Important Reminders – Titus 2:15-3:2

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      What are some ways coaches can speak, encourage and correct with all authority and without being disregarded?

o   How to speak?...

o   How to encourage?...

o   How to correct?...

·      To what rulers and authorities do your teams need to be reminded to obey and to be subject?

·      How do you remind them to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle and to show consideration for all men? 

o   Good deeds –

o   Maligning no one –

o   Being uncontentious –

o   To be gentle –

o   To show consideration –

    3. Summary

·      Remind your staff and team about their responsibilities.

·      Use all means at your disposable to guide them to proper behavior and attitudes.

The Coach Inherits Eternal Life – Titus 3:3-7

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Why is it important to keep our former ways of life clearly in view?  (See verse 3)

·      From verses 4 through 7, what appear to be the key elements of how God rescued us?

·      What is the result of our being rescued by Christ? (See verse 7)

·      What might you inherit as an heir of God through Christ Jesus?

3. Summary:

·      Commit your life to Christ and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

·      Live in relationship with God as the child whom He loves.

·      Realize that as God’s child, you’re also an heir to His limitless riches of grace.

Coach with Confidence – Titus 3:8-9

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      How confidently do you speak about matters related to your sport?

·      How confidently do you speak about your faith in Christ?

·      How consistently does your confident speech lead your staff and team to good and profitable actions?  How important is your confident speech to the process?

·      What are some foolish controversies that could distract your staff and team from their pursuit of achievement?

3. Summary:

·      Coach with confidence as you lead your staff and team.

·      Coach with confidence as you speak of your faith.

·      Coach with confidence as you avoid foolish controversies and other distractions.

Coach with Discipline – Titus 3:10-11

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Describe for us a coach or player whom you would describe as factious or divisive.

·      How does verse 9 suggest you should deal with such a person?  How would you do that within your team?

·      From verse 11, what is it that drives such a person’s actions and attitudes?

3. Summary:

·      Be alert for the divisive attitude that could arise within your team or staff.

·      Act strongly in response to that attitude.

·      Be aware of the root causes of such attitudes and address them directly.

Build your Coaching Network – Titus 3:12-15

1.      Read the text aloud

2.     Discussion Questions:

·      Who are your friends or mentors in coaching with whom you regularly correspond?

·      Who are some coaches to whom you’d like to direct some help, as in verse 13?

·      What are some good deeds in which to engage and some pressing needs that could be met by your team and staff?

·      What sort of fruit would be born by their doing them?

·      Who are some coaches or players from your past whom you’d like to send a greeting or from whom you’d like to hear?

3. Summary:

·      Make time to regularly correspond with your friends in coaching.

·      Offer and receive help from your coaching associates.

·      Look for opportunities for your team and staff to do good for those around you.