Week 5- The Corrections of Discipline

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

 20 My son, keep your father's commands
       and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

 21 Bind them upon your heart forever;
       fasten them around your neck.

 22 When you walk, they will guide you;
       when you sleep, they will watch over you;
       when you awake, they will speak to you.

 23 For these commands are a lamp,
       this teaching is a light,
       and the corrections of discipline
       are the way to life…

Proverbs 6:20-23

What does this passage have to say about leadership?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What is discipline?  What is your attitude toward discipline?  Do you desire it?  Do you seek it out?  Why is discipline important (v. 23)?

2) Why is it important for leaders to be disciplined?  To what will an undisciplined person lead others (v. 23)?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) In 2 Timothy 2:2, the apostle Paul tells the young pastor, Timothy, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”  What is Timothy’s responsibility to these men?  Why is it important for Timothy to be a disciplined person?

4) Where can you learn the things that God expects you to teach and model to your teammates (v. 20-21)?  Why is it important that you commit to learning these things (v. 22)?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Verses 22-23 state that the rewards of disciplined living, consistent with God’s teaching, are guidance, protection, wisdom, and clarity.  Are these evident in your team?  What does that say about your team’s discipline?

6) Do you need to apologize to your teammates for any undisciplined actions in the past?  Does your team need to corporately commit to avoiding particular behaviors that are contrary to God’s desires?  What one specific thing can you do, in order to help set an example of discipline 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.