WEEK 8- Waiting Quietly: The Posture of Face-Dusting

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

   25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.  28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.  29 Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.  30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.  31 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.  32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

Lamentations 3:25-32

   9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.   10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:9-10

   28 ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Matthew 11:28-30

What does this passage have to say about accountability?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) You may remember (from last week’s passage in James) that a necessary part of submitting yourself to God is to “grieve, mourn, and wail,” to “change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.”  What exactly are you commanded to do?  Why is such a humbling experience required in order for you to know God more fully?  (When you humble yourself before God, what are you recognizing about Him — and how do you compare?  What is the right reaction when you make this recognition?)

2) Pray together as a team.  If you are willing, confess aloud your need for God and the ways that you fall short of His holiness.  Trust in the truth of James 3:10 — “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Why is it good for a man to “bury his face in the dust,” “offer his face to the one who would strike him,” and “be filled with disgrace” (Lamentations 3:27-30)?  What can a person gain by these humiliating experiences?  What is God’s desire for you in times of trial and personal crisis (v. 25-26)?

4) What frustrations or difficulties are you currently facing in your athletic participation?  (Some of you may be willing and able to share these aloud.  Others may desire to answer silently.)  Do you feel victimized or treated unfairly?  Are you tempted to feel sorry for yourself?  If you trust God’s “unfailing love” and compassion (v. 32), are you willing to ‘wait quietly” and seek His purpose in allowing you to experience this hard time?  (Team leaders and others who have experienced growth through tough times in the past should be encouraged to share what they learned through those struggles.)

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Do you tend to “lose heart” in the midst of times of correction and discipline?  Why?  When God tells you to “take [His] yoke upon you,” what does He mean?  Why can you submit willingly to His correction and training (Matthew 11:28-30)?

6) Misunderstandings and conflict between players and coaches are likely to occur sometimes.  What do the lessons of this week teach you about how to face these struggles?  What is God’s ultimate desire for you when you face conflict with others (Matthew 11:28)?  Coaches, what do the lessons of this week teach you about being accountable in times of conflict and misunderstanding with your players?

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.