WEEK 3- Revealing (and Healing) the Heart of Stone
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:1-2, 6-7, 12-16
What does this passage have to say about accountability?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) What are some of the rewards of being accountable to your coach? You will see that the real reward of this accountability is a deepening relationship, which will bring blessings of many kinds.
2) What is the reward of being accountable to (having a right relationship with) God? (Read verses 1-3.) What is this “rest” that is mentioned?
3) What are the results of disobedience (v. 6)? (We can understand disobedience as the enemy of accountability — as a rejection of God. It’s interesting, then, to note that the consequence of disobedience is a loss of relationship — just as the reward of accountability is a deepening of relationship.) Can you see this in your own relationship with parents, teachers, coaches, and others whom you’ve disobeyed? In your relationship with God? Why is loss of relationship with God a big deal?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
4) When your parents, teachers, or coaches give you instructions, by what means do they do so? If those instructions are spoken, what would be communicated if you plugged your ears? If those instructions are written, what would be communicated if you crinkled up the paper and threw it away — or altogether refused to read it?
5) By what means does God instruct you and tell you how to live in a right relationship with Him? How does He give His word to you? Is that an effective means of accountability (v. 12)?
6) In response to the gift of Scripture (God’s voice), do you “harden your heart” (v. 7)? Do you plug your ears or crinkle up the paper? Do you opt not to read it altogether? Do you read it only when required? Does your team read Scripture together regularly? Do you regularly share what you’ve learned from Scripture to encourage or challenge your teammates?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
7) Is it possible to hide any part of your life from God (v. 13)? Why is this a good thing? Why should this encourage you (v. 15)?
8) As an athlete, do you try to hide your shortcomings from others? Do you pretend you know everything? Do you take responsibility for your mistakes? Do you apologize when you don’t give a full effort? Are you the first to admit wrong and seek forgiveness when you set a poor example?
9) Think of a time when you have been discouraged, when you’ve failed, or when you’ve faced difficulty. Because you know that God understands and sympathizes with your weaknesses, are you confident in these times of need? What does God promise to provide for you (v. 16)? As an athlete, when times get hard, do you persevere, work harder, and learn from the situation? Do you see value in these times of struggle?
FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of accountability, and pray together.
· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about accountability this week, and to repeat some of those things. (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about accountability you’ve discussed, if necessary.)
· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about accountability this week...What does an accountable athlete do?” Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of accountability, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.
· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “accountable 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 accountability — 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 accountability or anything else), and pray together.
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