WEEK 7- Sorrow and Confidence

MONDAY — Read the passages with your team.

     8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.  Though I did regret it — I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while — 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.  For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  11 See what this godly sorrow has  produced in you:  what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourself, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what    readiness to see justice done.  At every point you have proved  yourselves to be innocent in this matter.  12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.  13 By all this we are encouraged.

  16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

2 Corinthians 7:8-13,16

What does this passage have to say about confidence?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) When you are sorrowful about your inconsistency in living in a way to honor God, what good can come of that sorrow? (v. 9-10)  Have you displayed a “Godly sorrow” in response to the parts of your life that do not honor God?

2) What qualities are produced in a repentant person? (v. 11)  Do these describe you?  Are you eager to do what is right?  Do you long for a deeper relationship with God and have a concern for others?  Are you passionate about justice?  Do these qualities carry over into all parts of your life?  What areas of your life are you refusing to subject to this standard of repentance?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) What is the difference between confession and repentance?  When you confess your sins to God (or apologize to another person), what do you have to do in order to demonstrate repentance?  Is your repentance genuine?  Is it only evident in your words, or is it reflected in your actions?

4) Is there any connection between being repentant and being confident? (v. 13,16)  Why?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) What is the end result of Godly sorrow and repentance?  (vs. 9,13)

6) How can your team take steps (which may produce short-term hurt and sorrow) to pursue repentance?  What difference could these actions make?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of confidence and pray together.

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

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

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