WEEK 4- A Life Worthy of the Calling III

 MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

   14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:14-16

What does this passage have to say about integrity?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “Then we will no longer be infants.”  To what does the word “then” refer?  After what will we no longer be infants?   (Go back to last week’s passage and look at verses 12-13.)  Are we ever able to grow out of infancy?

2) What characterizes infancy (v. 14)?  Are you consistent in behaving according to what you believe, or are you tempted to do certain things because of peer pressure and the desire to be accepted by others?  Do these habits characterize your life as member of your team?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) What characterizes the mature (v. 15)?  Are you more interested in the truth than the acceptance of others?  Does this habit characterize your life as a member of your team?

4) What relationship gives a person the confidence to pursue the truth wholeheartedly, without worrying about the opinions of others (v. 15)?  Why does a right relationship with God make a person able to live in such a way?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) According to verses 15 and 16, why does the whole body (or, in your case, the whole team) grow, as a result of the team members’ commitment to the truth?  What is the cause of that growth, and what kind of growth is described here?

6) Can you just rely on God to cause you to grow, or do you also have some responsibility?  (See the end of verse 16.)  What implications does this have for a team?  Is your team committed to “doing its work” wholeheartedly?

7) You’ve been called and challenged to live a life of integrity (a life worthy of the calling), but in order to do this you must use your gifts.  What, specifically, can you commit to doing for your team, in light of the gifts that you have been given?

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

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

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

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