Week 11- Wholehearted Leadership

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

     12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.   14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

What does this passage have to say about leadership?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What attitude is necessary, in order for you to be an effective leader (v. 6)?    How much energy and sacrifice are you willing to invest in learning the habits of leadership?  To what extent are you willing to serve your teammates, and what is your limit of patience?  Are you an enthusiastic leader, or are you stingy in your commitment?

2) God’s Word reminds us that an effective leader “sows generously,” yet we also learn that no one should feel pressured to give their efforts “reluctantly or under compulsion” (v. 7).  If you feel burdened by your leadership role, to the point where you resent that responsibility, what will be your impact upon your team?  How can coaches and leaders “work together” so that this doesn’t happen — so that you can remain a “cheerful giver” (v. 7)?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Do you sometimes feel “unable” or “ungifted” in the area of leadership?  Is this a legitimate excuse to choose not to lead?  Where can you find the strength and abilities necessary to fulfill this calling (v. 8-11)?  Have you asked God for these abilities?  Are you reading Scripture to learn more about how to lead?  Are you making an effort to apply the things that you have learned?

4) For what purpose does God make you capable of leading (v. 11)?  Are you generous in your leadership?  What exactly should that mean?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Verse 12 again draws us back to understanding leadership as service.  What two major goals should motivate your servant-leadership (v. 12)?

6) When you begin to understand that meeting the needs of others is one of the central roles of a leader, you will soon find that there are many ways in which you are able to lead.  Can you identify some specific needs of your teammates that you might be able to meet, and then begin to do so?  What needs might you be able to meet for you family, your classmates, at your church, or in your community?  Do you see how leadership is something that you can regularly do throughout your life, if you are sensitive to the needs of others?

7) Have you ever viewed leadership as a form of worship?  Verse 12 describes your service as “overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God,” and Romans 12:1 urges you to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”  How can you offer your body as a “living sacrifice”?  Are you regularly doing so for your teammates?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of leadership, and pray together.

· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about leadership this week, and to repeat some of those things.  (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about leadership you’ve discussed, if necessary.)

· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about leadership this week...What does a leader athlete do?”  Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of leadership, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.

· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “leader 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 leadership — 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 leadership or anything else), and pray together.