WEEK 2- Christ's Humiliation for Us
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:8-11
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:32-43
What does this passage have to say about humility?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to become a man? Imagine being a Lego-man in the Lego-city you have built. What limitations would you suddenly have? Then, imagine that the inhabitants of the Lego-city turn on you, suddenly thinking they are better than you. What do you want to do to them? What do you want to scream at them? What was Jesus’ attitude toward His people, who mocked and crucified him (Luke 23:34)?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
2) Name the humiliating things that happened to Jesus in Luke 23:32-43. When we are humiliated and people cannot see our “greatness,” we are often angered; we want to insist that they see what we really are. What motivation kept Jesus from doing so (Philippians 2:8)? When you are obedient in the discipline of humility, what kind of “death” is required of you? The death of what?
3) Will you commit to memorizing a short phrase from one of these passages, so that when you are tempted to lash out, you can be reminded of how Christ was silent in the midst of humiliation? Which portion of these passages will you choose to memorize, and why?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
4) Do you find it easier to be humble in the midst of victory or defeat? Why? When you lose or fail, how do you react? Do you blame others (teammates, coaches, referees, or even facilities or equipment) for your losses and failures?
5) What attitudes and habits can you seek to develop in order to keep yourself from this temptation to blame? Can the attitude of the “other criminal” (v. 40-43) help you to respond to disappointment more humbly? How? If you learn to see losses and your own athletic shortcomings more realistically, what difference could that make for your team?
FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of humility, and pray together.
· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about humility this week, and to repeat some of those things. (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about humility you’ve discussed, if necessary.)
· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about humility this week...What does a humble athlete do?” Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of a humble athlete, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.
· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “humble 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 humility — 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 humility or anything else), and pray together.
Not a member? Join Now
