Week 9- In the Image of God
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.
Genesis 1:27
6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man, male and female he created them.
Genesis 9:6
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17
What does this passage have to say about honor?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) To this point our study has taught us much about why God is worthy of honor. Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 9:6 reveal a truth that helps us to understand why people are also worthy of honor. What is that truth, and how does it give value to a person’s life? Why is human life precious?
2) How should this truth impact the way you treat others? How can knowing that every individual is made in the image of God change how you view people that you “don’t like very much”? What relevance does this truth have upon your relationship with teammates, classmates, siblings, coaches, teachers, and others? Is there anyone who is not made in the image of God?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) Hmmm...this raises an interesting question. If every person is made in the image of God, what does that mean about a person’s athletic gifts and abilities? Are those just “extras” that God “threw in” when he created some people, or do they have significance? If God intentionally formed you in His image, do your athletic gifts reflect God in some way? Do you think God cares how you use those abilities? Even those of you whose athletic gifts are small or less visible should consider whether those parts of your being have importance. If you were carefully knit together by a loving God (your “daddy,” according to last week’s study), don’t you think He had some purpose in creating your physical abilities?
4) What is your purpose in playing a sport, or in being a part of a team? Look at the way you compete; examine your relationships with your teammates. Based upon your assessment of your own actions and habits, what is the goal for which you are striving? If you were created in God’s image, what model can you use to examine your own life? Do your athletic motivations reflect a similarity to the goals of Christ? What areas are “out of whack” with God’s design?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
5) 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 tells you to honor a particular group of people. Who are those people? Who are the leaders and authorities in your life? When they correct you, how do you respond? For what reason does God command you to “hold them in the highest regard” (v 13)? What does this indicate about God’s opinion of the work of leaders?
6) What leaders are “worthy of double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17)? This passage speaks specifically about elders within the visible church, but the intent can also be applied to those who teach God’s people (who are the church, the people of God) and share God’s Word with others. What people have fulfilled this role in your church and in your life? Have you made an intentional effort to honor them? Does your church show special honor to these people? Does your family do so? Does your student body do so? Does your team do so? Choose one or two such people in your life, and make it your goal to honor them more faithfully.
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.
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