Week 8- Honor Begins at Home

 MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

 16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16     

   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. 19 Do 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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-19, 21

   14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Romans 8:14-16

What does this passage have to say about honor?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) Deuteronomy 5:16 is a part of the Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of God’s instructions to His people.  According to that verse, what does God command you to do?  How can you honor your father and your mother?  Obedience is important, but can you honor them in other ways, as well?   What is promised to those who keep this commandment?

2) Have your parents made a commitment (of time, money, or another sort) in order for you to participate in athletics?  How can you, as an athlete, honor your parents?  Have you honored them (recognized their sacrifice) with your words?  Can you honor them only with your words, or can you also honor them with the way you practice and play?  How so?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Some of you may not have parents who desire or know how to honor God; they may not have taught you that concept by their example.  How does Romans 12 speak to your situation (v. 17-18)?  Does God still expect you to honor your parents?  Does Deuteronomy 5:16 say, “Honor your father and mother only if they’ve been the best parents they could be”?  If you spitefully disobey or rebel against your parents, what will be the result  (Romans 12:21)?  What will you gain if you honor you parents, even when that is difficult (v. 18, 21)?

4) None of you have perfect parents, and none of you are perfect; all parents and their children will have some conflict and relationship struggles.  Who does Romans 12 say is your father (v. 15)?  When your parents let you down (or when you struggle to honor them as you should), who will love your unconditionally and teach you?

5) The term “Abba” (v. 15) can be translated as “Daddy.”  What does that familiar and loving term teach you about the relationship you can have with God?  What is involved in approaching God?  For those who have had safety in a “Daddy,” this is great news; and for those who haven’t, this is an answer to a long-sought desire. 

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

6) Because you are a child of God, what are you able to avoid (Romans 8:15)?  What difficulties does freedom from fear make you able to confront?  In your relationship with parents?  In other relationships?  In your work?  As an athlete?

7) This “Spirit of sonship” (v. 15) has great implications for your team.  If your teammates are also children of God, what does that mean about your relationship with one another?  Does your team resemble a family?  What does a family provide for each of its members?  If your team is a family, what comfort can that provide?  What role ought you to be playing in the lives of your teammates?

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.