Week 1- The Source of Our Gratitude
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:14-29
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:8-9
What does this passage have to say about gratitude?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) What kind of kingdom are we receiving (v. 28)? Of what is this kingdom made (v. 27)? Does everyone receive this kingdom (v. 15)? Do all experience this kingdom as a “joyful assembly” (v. 22), rather than “darkness, gloom, and storm “ (v. 18)?
2) What enables a person to be part of the eternal (“that which cannot be shaken” - v. 22), rather than the earthly (“created things” - v. 27)? (Read verse 14 for the answer.) How can you obtain holiness (v. 23-24)? What warning is given to those who refuse God? Why should you not delay in seeking Christ (v. 16-17)?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) How does an understanding of the kingdom of God (eternal, not earthly) impact your priorities in life? How should this impact the priorities of an athlete?
4) Why does athletics possess any value at all? Is it not a created (earthly) thing? What is the only way in which athletics can have any value (Philippians 3:8-9)? This would be a good time for your team — players and coaches alike — to evaluate whether your current goals and pursuits are “rubbish” or are contributing toward the ultimate goal of “knowing Jesus Christ...that I might gain Christ, and be found in Him.” Are you “found” in your identify as an athlete, or in your relationship with Christ?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
5) What should be the response of a person who has received this “kingdom that cannot be shaken” (v. 28) and has placed his faith in Christ (v. 28)? What should thankfulness lead you to do (v. 28)? What is worship? Is it one morning a week at church? Or is it a way of life? A relationship? A commitment to honoring and proclaiming?
6) How will an athlete worship (honor) God with “reverence and awe”? How will this be displayed in actions, not simply thoughts and feelings?
FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of gratitude, and pray together.
· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about gratitude this week, and to repeat some of those things. (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about gratitude you’ve discussed, if necessary.)
· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about gratitude this week...What does a grateful athlete do?” Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of a grateful athlete, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.
· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “grateful athlete”, and be sure the list is displayed somewhere that is constantly visible, as a reminder to the team.
· Pray together as a team. Encourage your athletes to pray for your team’s growth in regard to the discipline of gratitude — especially in relation to some of the issues and challenges that you discussed together this week. Challenge them to also ask for forgiveness, when applicable. Give time for athletes to request prayer (regarding gratitude or anything else), and pray together.
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