This is an article to help a sport chaplain or sport mentor to deal with the issue of cursing and vulgar language among his/her coaches and players. It helps clarify the issues, deals with the weaknesses of various external approaches and directs the reader to consider the matters of the heart which come to light in one's speech. It also prescribes an inside-out approach to the issue.

“What did I just say?”

Goal
To help students gain a better understanding of true repentance and God’s forgiveness; and to help students get back on track if they have broken their commitment to saying “no” to alcohol, drugs or tobacco.

Key Scriptures
Luke 22:54-61; Acts 3:19

Warm Up
As the group comes in, ask each person to find one person and share his/her most embarrassing moment in sports. (i.e. dropping a pass in the playoffs, shooting a game-losing airball, etc.).

Watch
Show the Week 9 video — “Failure”

Workout

There is a lot of information to be digested in this lesson. Take your time to discuss the points where needed. Let the Spirit of God speak to your heart. Practically, it may be best to read the chapter first. Then, use the bullet points for clarification and discussion.

God Provides an Answer to the Vision
Read Daniel 11:2-12:13. The prophecy in this chapter is very detailed about events in the future. The accuracy and fulfillment of these events have led many skeptics to believe that this portion of Daniel was written by someone else after all the events occurred, but I am not a skeptic!

Here are some thoughts on the historical fulfillment of this vision:

Key Verse:

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 
Genesis 1:27

Key Verse:

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive]. Above all, [put on] love—the perfect bond of unity.  
Colossians 3:12-14

• Josh was amazed by how many people come up and encourage him about what he has gone through. Why do you think this is surprising to him?
• For as many positive comments he also received as many negative ones, too. Why would people bash Hamilton for how God has transformed his life?
• Josh only gives credit to God for his life-changing transformation. Is there an area in your life that needs to be transformed? If so, what area?
• Read Romans 12:1-2. What does it mean to present your body as a living sacrifice?
• How can you not be conformed to this world today?

This is a discussion written for groups of coaches and athletes to help them develop their lives in Christ. It is ideal for a group of very young Christian athletes or coaches. The goal is to help them learn their identity in Christ and to develop spiritual disciplines.

1 – Competitions like this one require tremendous team unity.  Each one must bring his/her best to make the team all it can be.

2 – Think for a moment about how diverse your team is:

• Size
• Strength
• Background
• Ethnicity
• Skill sets
• Personalities

3 – Think about how the team is diminished if any one of you is at less than 100%.

4 – Think about how the team’s personality on the floor changes with each substitution.  You are not interchangeable parts in a machine.

5 – Think about the factors which unify such a diverse set of people.  These are most important.

Goal
Being a champion is not easy. If it were easy, we’d all be champions. True champions do not just “rise to the occasion.” In actuality, their hard work meets the opportunity to succeed. When the competitor pays the price of practice, preparation and persistence, a champion is made. Here we discover the disciplines that define the champion, not just success in the contest but significance in a life of victory.

Key Scriptures
I Timothy 4:7-8; Acts 17:10; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Joshua 1:6-8; Psalms 119:9-11

Warm Up

Download the complete 21.5 Days with John study in PDF

1 – Why is selflessness so important to successful teams?

• Which would be more successful -
• 5 on 5?
• 1 on 5?

2 – Here’s another angle on this question from John 12:24-25 (read the text aloud).

1 – Today’s characteristic of Successful People and Successful Teams is Love.