Week 14- Honor and Temptation

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

      16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

   1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

Matthew 17:1-6

   26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26

What does this passage have to say about honor?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

Matthew 3 and Matthew 17 describe two events in the life of Christ — at his baptism and during his ministry.  Both events are witnessed by other people, and both include a similar declaration of honor spoken by God.

1) What does God say about Jesus?  Why is he “well pleased” with His Son?  Certainly Jesus is worthy of honor, but it’s interesting that God doesn’t declare any reason for being pleased with Jesus other than the fact that He loves Him.  Can it be that simple for us?  Why is God pleased with you?  Because of your own actions?  What makes you worthy?

2) In what additional way does God honor Jesus in Matthew 17 (verse 5)?  By commanding the disciples to listen to Jesus, what does God teach them about His Son?  What was the reaction of the disciples (v. 6)?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) When Jesus was honored by his Father in this way, what do you think His reaction was?  Throughout this study, we have learned that Jesus lived in order to honor whom?  If you are honored in a public way, what is your typical response?  What attitude might you be tempted to develop?

4) Do you think it is ever appropriate to honor others publicly?  What are some right motivations for honoring others, and how can public recognition be accomplished in a way to avoid tempting the recipient to become proud?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Have you ever received a public honor or recognition for an athletic achievement?  If so, how did you react?  What is good about athletic recognition, and how can it be mishandled?  For what things do you think an athlete should be publicly honored?

6) Part of the difficulty involved in public recognition concerns the hearts of those who are not singled out.  How should a teammate react when another teammate is honored (1 Corinthians 12:26)?  How can you encourage teammates to share honors that you receive?  If a teammate feels dishonored, how will that impact the team (1 Corinthians 12:26)?  How can you lift the spirits of teammates whose feelings have been neglected or whose contributions have been overlooked?

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.