WEEK 5 - Rewards and Curses

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

     32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.  33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 15:32-33

     12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12

     4 Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4

What does this passage have to say about humility?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) According to these Biblical proverbs, what are the curses that come with pride?  Which of these — disgrace, despises himself, downfall — have you experienced?  How might an attitude of humility help you to avoid these consequences?

2) What are the rewards of a humble life?  Would you rather possess these (wisdom, understanding, honor, wealth, life) or the curses identified in the previous question?  What should motivate you to humility — the promise of these rewards, or something else?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) These passages state that “humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33, 18:12).  How does this command relate to the habit of “trash talking.”  What is the motivation behind “trash talking”?  Is it just a “part of the game” that we should accept and overlook, or is it a problem?  What intentional habits can your team use, to replace or help you to avoid “trash talking”?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

4) In light of these warnings about pride, is “school pride” or “team pride” something that should be encouraged in athletics?  Should we allow ourselves to be “pumped up” in these ways?  Should athletes be encouraged to “play for pride”?  Can we clarify these concepts to serve a godly purpose, or would we be better off discarding them altogether?

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.