WEEK 5- Work and Respect

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team

11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own    business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.  Live in peace with each other.  14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, 5:12-15

What does this passage have to say about work habits?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What does 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 teach us about what our focus should be, as we work?  Do you ever catch yourself worrying too much about others’ affairs and forgetting about your own work?  How can you find a balance between “minding your own business” and helping others?

2) Should your purpose in working be to “win the respect of outsiders”? (4:12)  What should be your purposes as you work (4:11), and why should you care whether others respect what you do?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Which of your teammates is a hard worker?  Do you show that teammate respect?   Do you respect your coaches? (5:12)  How do you do that?

4) Do you hold to a high standard of work habits, and do your teammates see that?  How do your work habits impact your teammates?  Do you spur on those teammates who are not working hard?  Do you encourage those who are not confident?  Do you help those who are struggling?  Are you patient with everyone?  (5:14)

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) What does 1 Thessalonians 5:15 teach regarding retaliation?  Do you and your teammates easily grow frustrated with one another?  Does your team struggle with a negative attitude toward another team?  What actions do these attitudes cause?  What impact do these attitudes have on your focus and your work habits?  How can your commitment to God-honoring work habits help to overcome negative attitudes?  If you are focused on working hard, do you have time to retaliate?

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.