Week 6- Humility Before Honor
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:33
1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord works out everything for his own ends —
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
Proverbs 16:1-4, 7-9, 17, 28-29
What does this passage have to say about leadership?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) Before a person can receive honor, what must he possess (Proverbs 15:33)? How does this contrast with most athletes’ pursuit of honor?
2) Humility is, at its core, a wisdom to see ourselves truthfully. What produces this wisdom (v. 33)? What does it mean for a person to who does not know and trust God to “fear God”? What does it mean for a person who knows and trusts God to “fear God”? What should a fear of God motivate you to do?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) Proverbs 16:1-2 describes our tendency to make our own plans, without necessarily being certain they are in line with God’s desires. Why, if we claim to fear God, do we persist in trying to do things in our own way? Do we actually fear God?
4) Often our plans seem right to us, but we need to be sure they are in line with God’s desires. We are told that our motives are “weighed by God” (v. 2). Does your team consider its goals in light of God’s desires? Are you faithful to “commit to the Lord whatever you do” (v. 3)? In what specific ways do you do this?
5) Even when we are unfaithful in obeying God’s desires, is it possible for us to alter God’s plans (v. 4, 9)? How should that realization cause us to think about ourselves, in relation to God?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
6) When a leader is obedient to God’s desires, what is his impact on others (v. 7)? What is the reward of humble leadership for a team (v. 17)? What is the consequence of selfish leadership on a team (v. 28, 29)?
7) When an opponent is cheating, is it alright to do the same, in order to stay competitive? If you can foul without the officials seeing it, is that an acceptable strategy? What should a team leader’s attitude toward these things be (v. 8)? Why is it so important for a leader to insist upon integrity (v. 17)?
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.
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