Transformed Lives Sport Discussions

Format –

1)     Theme text to be read by the group leader – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2)    Prayer by a member of the group.

3)    Topic and sport definition (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)*

4)    Introductory Questions

5)    Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

a.     Example of a person displaying this quality.

b.     Example of someone lacking the quality.

6)    Summary to be read by the group leader.

7)    Prayer by a member of the group.

* http://web.mac.com/lmccown/_Site_1-360sports/Welcome.html

Marks of Excellence definitions used by permission of Lowrie McCown.

Love

1)     Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2)    Prayer

3)    Love - “sacrificial acts for the benefit of others.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4)    Introductory Questions

·      Think about your experiences in sport, what have been some of the demonstrations of love that you have seen?

·      If love is defined as “sacrificial acts for the benefit of others,” what would be the opposite of that?  When have you experienced such “anti-love” in sport?

5)    Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read John 13:1-17.

·      What do you see Jesus doing here that fits our definition of love?

·      How do his teammates respond to His loving service?

·      What does he instruct them to do in verses 13-15?

·      What might be a present day equivalent to washing feet for people in the world of sport?

·      How do we similarly love and serve our teammates today?

·      Read Luke 22:1-6 and 47-51.

·      What were Judas’ actions which were the very opposite of love?  List them.

·      Why would he do such things?

·      How does Jesus respond to Judas’ betrayal and the violence which accompanied it?

·      When have you encountered betrayal and violence in sport?  How did you react?

6)    Summary – Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Love by making sacrificial acts for the benefit of others.

7)    Prayer

Joy

1)     Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2)    Prayer

3)    Joy - “contentment regardless of circumstances.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4)    Introductory Questions

·      Tell us about a coach, a player or a team you have observed to have a sense of contentment regardless of circumstances?

·      If that is what joy is, what do we experience if we lack such contentment?

5)    Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Acts 14:19-23.

·      What was happening with Paul and his team which could have drained them of joy?

·      How did Paul respond to his adversity?

·      What role did his teammates play in Paul’s expression of joy?

·      When have you similarly responded to adversity with contentment and joy?

·      Read Numbers 13:30-33.

·      Who appears to have joy and who lacks it in this passage?

·      What would have caused these men to see their enemies and themselves as they did?

·      When have you encountered circumstances which caused you doubt, confusion, fear and a lack of joy?

·      How did you recover from them?

6)    Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Joy by displaying contentment regardless of circumstances.

7)    Prayer

Peace

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Peace - “mental calmness.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      Whom have you observed to have mental calmness in the midst of noisy, chaotic situations in sport?

·      What kinds of situations tend to rob some players or coaches of their mental calmness?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Luke 8:22-25.

·      What does Jesus do here that looks like peace or mental calmness?

·      What are the factors which could have caused Him to panic like the others?

·      What could a coach or a player do to demonstrate Jesus-like peace in a similarly chaotic situation in sport?

·      What do you see in the disciples which looks like the very opposite of peace?

·      When have you seen players or coaches panic due to a big play, a momentum swing or a losing streak?

·      How did Jesus restore the disciples’ peace?

·      How do you react when your teammates lose their mental calmness?

·      How can coaches and players act to restore peace to their teams?

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Peace by exhibiting mental calmness.

7.     Prayer

Perseverance

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Perseverance - “enduring difficult situations to become stronger.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      Tell us about a difficult situation you endured which made you stronger.

·      What would have happened if you had simply quit because things were just too tough?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Job chapter 1.

·      What were the harsh circumstances that Job endured?

·      How did he respond to such pain?

·      How would you handle loss like that?

·      What would be sport-world losses similar to Job’s experience?

·      How would perseverance like Job’s impact how a team handles adversity?

·      Read Genesis 16:1-6.

·      What was Abraham’s difficult circumstance?

·      How did he act to solve the issue?  Was that a good decision?

·      What were the consequences of his lack of perseverance? (Short term and long term consequences)

·      What happens when teams take shortcuts or lack perseverance?

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Perseverance by enduring difficult situations to become stronger.

7.     Prayer

Kindness

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Kindness - “using words and actions to encourage others.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      What are some situations in sport where using words and actions to encourage others makes a real difference for you?  How do they help?

·      What kinds of words and actions have the opposite effect?  How do those words and actions discourage others?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Ruth 1:16-17, 4:7-17.

·      How did Ruth show kindness to Naomi?

·      Why was such kindness unusual?

·      How did Ruth’s kindness work to her benefit a little later?

·      Who has shown you kindness during your life in sport?

·      How can you do the same with words and actions?

·      Read Matthew 18:21-35.

·      In Jesus’ story, who was kind and who was not so kind?

·      What did the unkind slave do to the other slave who owed him money?

·      How much was the unkind slave owed in comparison with the amount he was forgiven?

·      Have you ever encountered a situation like this one?  Tell us about it.

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Kindness by using words and actions to encourage others.

7.     Prayer

Goodness

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Goodness - “doing the right thing.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      Tell us about a time when you made a decision simply because you knew it was the right thing to do.

·      Have there also been times when you balked at such a decision or made a poor choice?  Tell us about it.

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Genesis 39:1-23.

·      In what ways did Joseph do the right thing in this passage?

·      What were the results of Joseph’s actions?

·      What evidence is there that he continued to act in goodness?

·      Who demonstrates goodness around your team?

·      Read Genesis 25:27-34.

·      What seems to be at the core of Esau’s decision making process?

·      How is that contrary to a life characterized by goodness?

·      What does Esau’s decision cost him?

·      Tell us about an Esau-like player or coach you have known.

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Goodness by doing the right thing.

7.     Prayer

Gentleness

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Gentleness - “emotional control.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      What are some situations in sport which require emotional control from you?

·      Tell us about someone who totally lost his emotional control, his gentleness during competition?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read John 8:1-11.

·      How did Jesus demonstrate gentleness toward this woman?

·      How could he have responded otherwise?

·      How was Jesus also gentle with her accusers?

·      How could he have dealt with them that would have shown less emotional control?

·      Who has been similarly gentle with you?  Tell us about him or her.

·      Read Genesis 34:1-29.

·      How gentle were Simeon and Levi in this story?

·      What did they do which demonstrated a lack of emotional control?

·      How could they have acted with more gentleness?

·      How has God’s gift of gentleness improved your life in sport?

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Gentleness by displaying emotional control.

7.     Prayer

Faithfulness

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Faithfulness - “being responsible for your actions and accountable to others.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      For what kinds of things are people in sport responsible and to whom are they accountable?

·      What happens when we fail in our responsibilities or are unaccountable?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Hosea 3:1-5.

·      What are the circumstances which make Hosea’s faithfulness remarkable?

·      From what you read, why was it important for Hosea to be responsible and accountable?

·      Tell us about someone you know who has been responsible and accountable in spite of difficult circumstances?

·      Read 2 Samuel 11:1-17.

·      What are some factors which lead to David’s lack of faithfulness?

·      At what points in the narrative does David’s responsibility and accountability break down?

·      What are the consequences of his unfaithfulness?

·      What are the consequences when you or a teammate are irresponsible or unaccountable?

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Faithfulness by being responsible for your actions and accountable to others.

7.     Prayer

Self-Control

1.      Theme text – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” HCSB

2.     Prayer

3.     Self-control - “to hold oneself in.” (from Marks of Excellence – 360ºsports)

4.     Introductory Questions

·      What are some situations in your sport which require you to hold yourself in?

·      What happens when coaches or players lose their self-control?

5.     Narrative Bible texts and discussion questions

·      Read Matthew 4:1-11.

·      Where do you see evidence of self-control in Jesus as we read this text?

·      Against what sorts of factors did He hold Himself in?

·      Against what kinds of factors do competitors have to exercise self-control?

·      Read Judges 16:1-21.

·      What is there about Samson which looks out of control?

·      Samson fails to hold himself in regarding several passions and appetites, what are they?

·      What were the consequences for his lack of self-control?

·      What happens to competitors in your sport when they lack self-control?

6.     Summary - Demonstrate the characteristic of a transformed life – Self-control by holding oneself in.

7.     Prayer