WEEK 4- Reverence and Awe: More Than Just Tears
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:14-29
What does this passage have to say about accountability?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) If you desire a right relationship with God, when should you begin pursuing it? What example does Scripture provide (v. 16-17) that teaches the danger of prioritizing other desires or pursuits instead of relationship? Are you ever tempted to continue in sin because you’ve not yet had to face consequences? Why is this foolish?
2) If you want to develop good athletic habits, when should you begin pursuing those habits? What will likely happen if you delay?
3) Do you often ask your coaches what you can do to improve? Do you seek out extra opportunities for practice? Have you worked to improve your skills during the off-season? Which of your teammates sets such an example of accountability?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
4) What three marks of accountability are identified in verses 14 and 15? Do these things describe your team? What does “living in peace” with your teammates require of you? Have you invested effort in developing a stronger relationship with each of your teammates?
5) Many believe that disliking an opponent helps an athlete to perform better. Does God expect you to “live in peace” with your teammates only, or does that command also extend to your opponents (v. 14)?
6) Have any “bitter roots” (pride, animosity, rivalry, or anything else harmful to others) taken hold of your team? What have you done to confront the problem? What would be a helpful way for you to “speak up” in response to the issues? What opportunities can you find to help struggling teammates (in practice, in games, at school)?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
7) What kind of relationship does a believer not have with God (v. 18-21)? What type of relationship does a believer have with God (v. 22-24)? By what are we not judged (v. 19-20)? By what are we judged (v. 23-24)?
8) If you are in right relationship with God, that is not based on you (your actions, your obedience to rules), but rather on Jesus Christ (His sacrifice, His righteousness which has now become yours). What responses should that truth generate in your life (v. 25, 28)?
9) Do you engage in athletics as worship? If you believe that no part of your life should be separated from your relationship with God, what does that mean about athletics? Is worship only accomplished by what you say, or can you worship God with how you act? What, then, is a worshipful engagement in athletics? How can you express “reverence and awe” (v. 28) through how you practice, play, and relate to your team? What parts of your life as an athlete are you hiding from accountability?
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.
Not a member? Join Now
