Week 6- To Win the Prize
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12b-14
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Psalm 118:15-17
What does this passage have to say about gratitude?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) What is “the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)? Many people quote part of this passage (“I press on toward the goal to win the prize”) as a motivational concept for athletes — as if to suggest that the passage spurs them on to victory. How can a right understanding of this passage redefine your understanding of “success” in athletics? Again, remember...what value does athletics have (Week 1)?
2) Food for your thought and discussion … Is it wrong for an athlete to care about winning? Is winning an unnecessary and misguided goal that has been established in sport? Can a godly athlete pursue the ultimate goal of relationship with God, while also striving to win? Can an athlete engage in competition, while still “working for the Lord, not for men”? Can an athlete choose not to compete, but still “work with all his heart” in a sporting event? Is there ever reason to choose not to be competitive? Is it wrong for an athlete to thank God for athletic victories?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 describes a believer’s attitude toward his life in his earthly body, as well as his longing for heaven. How does Paul describe the believer’s attitude toward this life (v. 4, 8)? How does this differ from a non-believer’s attitude toward his life? Though a believer in Christ yearns for heaven, what does he still do (v. 9)? What motivates a believer to do so?
4) As a Christian athlete, are your purposes in competing different from the athletic goals of those who don’t trust in Christ? Do others see your gratitude to God in the way you compete? Consider your team’s impact on those people (opposing coaches and players, spectators, officials, etc) who watch your games; what could God accomplish in their lives through your team’s “different” example?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
5) When Christians celebrate “joy and victory,” in what do they take pleasure (Psalm 118:15-16)? Whose accomplishments are worthy of celebrating (v. 16-17)?
6) Do you take time to remember God’s goodness in your life? Are you intentional about doing so? Do you tell others about what God has done for you?
7) Do the “tents” of your team resound with “shouts of joy and victory”? When you do celebrate, what are you celebrating? Are God’s goodness and a passion for the right athletic goals at the heart of that celebration?
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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