Week 9- Wisdom: The Foolishness of God
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:18, 25-31
1 "Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
22 "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, 23 tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
28 I look but there is no one – no one among them to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them. 29 See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion.
Isaiah 41:1, 22-23, 28-29
What does this passage have to say about leadership?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) What (or, rather, who) is the definition of wisdom, in 1 Corinthians 1:30? What is our world’s opinion of God’s wisdom (v. 18)? If you lead according to God’s wisdom, will you have an easy time — be popular and accepted? How does God use people who are willing to seem “foolish” for His sake (v. 26-28)? What should be the ultimate goal of your leadership (v. 29, 31)?
2) Do you ever complain or get frustrated because you don’t understand why your coach wants you to do certain things? What parts of your coach’s reasoning do you struggle to understand? In light of the fact that many believe even God’s wisdom to be “foolish,” do you possibly need to have a different attitude toward your coach?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
3) Are you, as an athlete, ever influenced by negative examples set by professional athletes? You may know those behaviors are foolish and worthless, but you are tempted by them, nonetheless. Why are we so drawn to that which is truly foolish? Why, then, is a godly leader’s role so important in today’s culture of athletics (1 Corinthians 1:18, 25)?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
4) This passage from Isaiah demonstrates the devastating effects of false wisdom — a dependence on idols, instead of the truth. What does a person who relies on false wisdom gain (Isaiah 41:29)?
5) An idol is anything that we allow to take the place of God in our lives. What idols exist in your life, and what choices do you need to make it order to live wisely? What idols exist for your team? How can you set an example of wisdom that can encourage your team to turn away from those idols?
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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