Week 9- Thankful for What

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

   1 We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.

   2 You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. 3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.  4 To the  arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.  5 Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’”

   6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. 7 It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.  8 In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

   9 As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, 10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

Psalm 75:1-10

What does this passage have to say about gratitude?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) The psalmist, in verse 1, thanks God for his “wonderful deeds,” and then goes on (in verses 2-8) to describe those deeds.  For what does the    psalmist seem to be praising God?

2) Are you thankful that God judges the unrighteous for their sin?  When you personally experience God’s judgment (discipline), are you thankful for it?  If God were to bless you with a gift of righteousness and peace, would you be thankful?  Do you remember (from last week) what is promised through God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:11)? 

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) In what ways does an athlete typically gain praise and recognition?     Consider  today’s most prominent professional athletes; what do others admire about them?  How does Scripture (v. 6-7) tell us that honor is   bestowed?  Can honor be achieved, or must it be given?  After which of these means of pursuing honor do you model your athletic goals and    habits?  Whose honor do you seek?

4) Are you thankful for the gifts and talents that God has given you, or do you envy the abilities of others?  Are you pleased with the athletic abilities that God has given you, and are you using them fully to bless your     teammates, opponents, and those who watch you compete?  Are you thankful for your role on the team?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Can a wicked person avoid God’s wrath?  In fact, in their folly, what do the wicked do (v. 8)?  How does the psalmist respond when he sees God’s wrath upon the wicked (v. 9)?

6) What keeps you from being like the wicked, hungrily slurping down every last drop of sinful indulgence that brings God’s wrath upon you?  How are you able to be in a right relationship with God (v. 7)?  Is there anything that you can do to produce righteousness in yourself?

7) Reflect again on the purpose of athletics.  If you gain athletic victory and garner recognition (or even fame), but don’t have a right relationship with God, what do you have?  If you pursue personal gain and bask in the thrill of competition, but have not Christ, what have you gained?  If you know Christ, thank Him for what He’s given you.  If you don’t, seek Him.

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.