WEEK 8- Greatness and Splendor of the Call
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
Psalm 45:1-7
What does this passage have to say about humility?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) What scene or storyline do you imagine, as you read this passage? If the king’s story was made into a documentary, what kind of music would be played while the story was told? Is this king the kind of person you would want to be? Are you inspired or motivated by him?
2) Is it realistic for you to strive to be known as “the most excellent of men” (or women), and to be elevated to a place of honor — as this king was? Is honor something you can claim by your efforts, or is it attained in another way (v. 2, 7)?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) As we learned yesterday, honor is a reward given by God. What qualities of the king caused him to receive honor from God (v. 7)?
4) Is the king’s story one of humility? (v. 4, 6-7)? Why or why not? Is it even possible for someone who has been “set above his companions” to be humble? What are the challenges that would exist for a king (or high-ranking public official, in our culture) who sought to be humble? What challenges exist for the leader of a team who seeks to be humble?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
5) What goals do you think motivate today’s sports stars? What motivates them?
6) What goals motivate you, as an athlete? For what reason do you participate in a sport? What do you hope to achieve?
7) What three purposes provide motivation for the king’s actions (v. 4)? Are these goals even “on the radar” for your team? Do you talk about these things at all? Maybe you could use these three words as reminders in your team’s huddle, or as a locker room cheer before and after your games, or simply as a way to remind each other of the purposes for which you play. (If you say them and don’t display them in action, you will seem hypocritical. Be sure to mean these things, if you are going to say them!)
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
