Week 2 - Steps to a Teachable Spirit

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     9 How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.  13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.  14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119:9-16

What does this passage have to say about a teachable spirit?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) The writer of this psalm is a young man, who is asking how he can keep his way pure.  How can a young person keep his way pure (v. 9)?  In order to live according to God’s Word and not stray from His commands (v. 10), what knowledge must a person have?  What  must a person consistently do in order to gain that knowledge?  In order for this young man to declare that he is seeking God with all of his heart (v. 10), what must his habits of reading Scripture be like?  Are you faithful in reading Scripture, and (when doing so) seeking God’s message to you with all your heart?  If not, will it be possible for you to keep your way pure — by your own efforts?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

2) Read verses 11-16, and pay close attention to the statements that tell what the young man does.  What do these actions say about his desire to learn about and live a godly life?  Read through each of these actions again, and evaluate your own habits — Do your habits demonstrate a desire to learn about and live a godly life?  Which of these habits do you most need to learn to imitate?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Can you identify a player on your team who demonstrates a great desire to live according to God’s Word?  Which of that person’s habits and actions make that evident?  How is that commitment displayed in that person’s athletic participation?  How is that commitment displayed in that person’s habits of listening and learning?

4) If you have never made those kinds of habits a part of your life (but would like to do so), what should you do?  From what godly person would you be willing to accept advice?  Who would help you to learn and grow?  Do you have the courage to ask for that help?

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

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

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

· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “teachable 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 a teachable spirit — 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 teachability or anything else), and pray together.