Week 15- Seeking First His Kingdom
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The singers also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem.
30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. 31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them.
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people.
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests.
42 The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Nehemiah 12:27, 28a, 30-32, 38a, 40-41a, 42b-47
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33
What does this passage have to say about gratitude?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) After the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt, the people gathered to celebrate and give thanks to God. However, before giving thanks, the priests and Levites performed a ritual of purification (v. 30). Though this purification was “ceremonial” and symbolic, what does it demonstrate about the Israelites’ attitude? What accompanied their gratitude?
2) In your gratitude toward God, do you take his goodness for granted (thanking Him in word and obligation only), or do you renew your commitment to Him? In what ways do your thoughts and habits need to be purified? Do your athletic attitudes and actions express a renewed commitment to please and honor God?
3) Coaches, this is a great time for you to evaluate your role in your teams’ habits of gratitude and commitment to Christ. Who did Nehemiah first send to the top of the wall, to lead the people in giving thanks to God (v. 31-32)? Do you set a consistent example of gratitude that motivates your team to do the same?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
4) Why did the people rejoice (Nehemiah 12:43)? Is this “great joy” simply a momentary thankfulness for God’s blessing of allowing the rebuilding of the wall, or do you believe this gratitude may have encompassed something more?
5) Do material blessings themselves bring deep and lasting joy? Are you wrong to thank God for material blessings? Are you wrong to pray about your physical and earthly needs? Does God care about these things (Matthew 6:32)? What are you commanded not to do (v. 31), and what should you do instead (v. 33)? What does it mean for you to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”? What should be the focus of your life’s efforts and the primary source of your joy? Is this true of you?
6) What are your deepest desires, as an athlete? Do these reflect an eternal perspective that “seeks first His kingdom and His righteousness”? What are the most common things for which your team prays? Are you as thankful for spiritual growth, tough challenges, hard work, and discipline as you are for victories, fun times, and recognition and praise from others?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
7) To whom did the Israelites specifically display their gratitude (Nehemiah 12:44-47)? In what ways did they display this gratitude? Does our culture deeply value the work of those who are committed to meeting the spiritual needs of others; and in what ways is that gratitude evidenced in our culture’s support of those people?
8) What people have performed services of meeting your needs or helping you to grow spiritually? How have you expressed your gratitude to them? In your life as an athlete, who has committed themselves to helping or serving you? Who has sacrificed for your benefit or growth? Who has helped you to maintain focus on your relationship with Christ, not just the sport itself? How have you expressed your gratitude to those people?
9) Which of your teammates especially commit themselves to serving others, rather than seeking their own desires or benefits? Does your team hold those members in the highest regard — not only in word (or token “thank you”s and nothing more), but in the way you commit to supporting and enabling them in their efforts? What might that look like, if you were committed to doing so?
NOTE: At this point in your life, you may not have the means of financially supporting the work of those who minister to others. However, please don’t miss the implications of Nehemiah 12:44-47. The people of God are called, as we are able, to use all that we have to support God’s work. At the time when you are able to do so financially, please don’t overlook that calling...but (now and throughout your life) also be sure to use your other abilities and resources to support that work.
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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