WEEK 7- The Work of God

MONDAY — Read the passages with your team.

1 As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth.  2 His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this  happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.  4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.  5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.  7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.”  So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

John 9:1-7

What does this passage have to say about work habits?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What was the purpose of the man’s blindness? (v. 2-3)  You may not have experienced a miraculous healing, but how has the work of God been displayed in your life?  (Spend some time sharing these things with your teammates; this is one of the best ways to get to know one another better — one of the best means of team-building.)

2) Can you accept that God has a purpose even in the difficulties in your life, as well as in the experiences that cause you to wonder, “God, why have you allowed this to happen?”  How can you and your teammates pray for one another in the midst of these things?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) What work are you called to do? (v. 4)  Throughout each day, do you tend to focus more on the work that God wants you to do, or on the things that you want to do?

4) Is your team committed to competing according to the goals that God calls you to achieve, or have you created your own purposes?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) What must be present in order for effective work to be done? (v. 4-5)  If you seek to accomplish your work through your own strength and stubbornness, what will be the result?  Do you sometimes rely too much on yourself (not the Lord) for strength to do your work?  How can you help your team to focus less on themselves and more on the power of Christ throughout the season?

6) What specific goals of your team need to be re-evaluated?  How can your team’s efforts more closely match the desires of God?  If you’re not sure what the desires of God are, what steps do you first need to take in order to better understand what your team’s goals should be?  What source can you consult to better understand the desires of God?

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.