Training for Godliness
WEEK 1
Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. —1 Timothy 4:8
BODY • MIND • SPIRIT
In sports, it is not enough to only being good to one discipline. The Bible says that we have a body, mind, and spirit, which means we have physical, mental, and spiritual health. It is important we care for all three.
WEEK 2
we are all sinners
MISSING THE MARK
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. —Romans 3:23
"Shoot the basket instead of sinning" means choosing God's way over temptation—like lining up a perfect basketball shot with focus, practice, and reliance on Jesus instead of our own strength. We can't do it perfectly alone, but through Him, we improve our aim daily.
JESUS OUR SUBSTITUTE
WEEK 3
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. —1 Peter 3:18
HE TOOK OUR PLACE
In every game, few want to be the substitute and sit on the bench. A substitute is someone who takes the place of someone else. We will learn that Jesus became our substitute and took our punishment.
WEEK 4
FOLLOW JESUs
HE SETS OUR LIFE’S DIRECTION
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” —Matthew 4:19
A serve in a volleyball play does not just mean to hit the ball and hope that the wind will blow it to the right direction. The player must set the direction then hit the ball. Life is full of circumstances, people and things that try to set the direction for us, but we can’t live being blown around by whatever comes our way (what our friends want to do / what everyone else is doing / what problems we face). We need to set a direction for our life. We need to choose to follow Jesus.
WEEK 5
TEAM WORKs
PASS THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
You and many others have heard what I have taught. You should teach the same thing to some people you can trust. Then they will be able to teach it to others. —2 Timothy 2:2
There is no superstar in every team; every member is important and has a vital part of the play. We must pass on what we have received. Jesus calls us to pass on the message of the gospel.
WEEK 6
FAITH HURDLEs
WE ARE AN OVERCOMER
Everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. It is our faith that wins the victory against the world. —1 John 5:4
There is always going to be things that get in our way. The point is that we should not allow anything to get in the way of where God wants us. God always gives us the ability to overcome these things and be in the right place.
WEEK 7
TraNSFORMATION
PERSEVERE TO FINISH
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize, for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. —Philippians 3:14
The ultimate prize is not found at the end of the game—it is found in eternity with Jesus.
WEEK 8
aRMED FOR VICTORY
FIGHT THE BATTLE
Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. —Ephesians 6:12
We are in a real spiritual battle. We have an enemy who seeks to keep us from God and His will. We will talk about how God have given us the tools to fight.
