Week 13- Honor Within the Body of Christ

 MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

   3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

   6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

   9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

   19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:3-21

What does this passage have to say about honor?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) How is the family of God “one body” (v. 5)? How does this body operate (v. 4-5)?  What does the fact that “each member belongs to all the others” (v. 5) mean?  For whose benefit are each member’s gifts to be used?  Can you understand your team also as “one body”?  For whose benefit are each team member’s gifts to be used?

2) Why does God give different gifts to each member of the body?  What would happen if all of the members had the same gift?  If you have a certain gift, what is your responsibility (v. 6-8)?  Are you ever jealous of the gifts and abilities of others?  What does verse 3 teach you about God’s expectation of you?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) How should we treat one another, within the body of Christ (v. 10)?  Do you do this with your own family members?  With your classmates?  Within your church?  Do you do this with teammates?  Do the accomplishments of the most skilled players typically garner more attention than the less flashy contributions of role players?

4) Some of the members of your team make their contributions in less noticeable (but critically important) ways.  Some of those roles within the body are identified in verses 11-16.  Review each of these, and discuss the impact that each of these could make upon your team.  Why is each of these things necessary?  Keep this passage in mind during your season (perhaps make a list of these necessary responsibilities!), and encourage others by noticing and thanking them for their contributions.

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) The final verses of Romans 12 continue to encourage you to live in a way that brings glory to God — not yourself.  When you honor someone, what will you not do, according to verse 19?  Has revenge ever motivated your actions toward teammates or coaches?  Toward opponents?

6) What does God say to do instead, even if you are in the right and someone has treated you without honor (v. 20)?  When you feed a hungry person or give a drink to a thirsty person, what are you recognizing?  Do you spend time learning the needs of your teammates and coaches?  Which of their needs are you currently seeking to meet?

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

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

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

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