WEEK 12- Laboring for Something

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  17 But even if I am   being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.  18 So you, too, should  be glad and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2:12-18

What does this passage have to say about work habits?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What purpose motivates the work of a believer? (v. 13)  Does your work reflect your relationship with God?  Are you working to accomplish goals that bring glory to God?

2) When non-believers see you at work, do they ask themselves, “Why does that person work in such a different way than I do?”  What makes your work habits distinct from those of a non-believer?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) What is your attitude in the midst of your daily work?  Do you tend to complain or argue a lot?  How can those habits distract you from your ultimate goal of glorifying God (v. 14)?

4) If you commit to working without complaining and arguing, what result will that have on others that watch you work? (v. 15)

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) Are your work habits in practice and competition such that you can “be without fault” (v. 15)?  Does your team have work habits that cause you to “shine like stars” (v. 15)?  Does your example “hold out the word of life” (v. 16) to others that watch you?

6) In what specific ways do you need to pursue work habits (individually and as a team) to cause your work to more consistently reflect God’s glory?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of work habits and pray together.

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

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

Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “athlete with godly work habits”, 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 work habits — 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 work habits or anything else), and pray together.