Week 12- Who is Worthy?

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team. 

   1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.    2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

   12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

James 2:1-10, 12-13

What does this passage have to say about honor?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) Verse 1 tells us that because we are in Christ, we are not to show          favoritism.  In this passage, favoritism is displayed in the honoring of one person over another, for the wrong reasons (v. 2-4).  Is favoritism common in athletics?  Do certain athletes gain honor ahead of others, for the wrong reasons?  What athletes are typically treated with more honor?

2) Do you show favoritism toward teammates?  You probably wouldn’t tell a teammate to “sit at your feet,” but do you ever treat particular teammates with less honor than others, for the wrong reasons?  Do the popularity, athletic abilities, outgoing personalities, or other qualities of certain teammates cause you to treat them better than teammates who are less popular, less skilled, or more shy?  Apologize to teammates that you have treated with dishonor.

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) According to verses 6 and 7, who is slandering the name of God?  Who is not doing so?  Why, then, are we often so quick to honor popular people (“the rich”) and treat the unpopular (“the poor”) with disdain?  Very often people are intimidated by a popular person, and that fear disables their willingness to stand up for themselves or others.  How should the command of verse 8 lead you to act in the face of peer pressure?

4) Who has God chosen to “inherit the kingdom,” and what quality of these people does God recognize (v. 5)?  When was the last time you honored someone because he/she is “rich in faith”?  Which of your teammates fits that description?  Could you recognize and encourage an opponent (or an opposing team) who is “rich in faith”?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Do you take seriously the truth that favoritism is sin (v. 9)?  If you treat others with favoritism, now is the time to repent and change your habits.  This behavior is sin, and you will be convicted by the law of God (v. 9).

6) However, there is something greater than the judgment of the law.  What is that (v. 12-13)?  God is merciful, and as you show mercy to others, what are you promised (v. 13)?  What does mercy look like, in the life of an athlete?  What opportunities do you have to treat teammates with mercy?  Why is it foolish to withhold mercy from others (v. 13)?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of honor, and pray together.

· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about honor this week, and to repeat some of those things.  (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about honor you’ve discussed, if necessary.)

· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about honor this week...What does an honorable athlete do?”  Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of an honorable athlete, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.

· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “honorable 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 honor — 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 honor or anything else), and pray together.