Finish what you Start PERSEVERANCE:

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1 Sports Story: Lolo Jones Bible Story: Noah Key point I: Imagine the end result. Key point II: God will always be there when circumstances change. Introduction One of the greatest lessons of life to learn from a sporting environment is the concept of perseverance. Never giving up, staying on track, completing the task and not quitting; all these adages fit the concept of perseverance. Sports have beginnings and endings. The analogies to life are easily seen. Who has not heard, When the going gets tough, the tough get going? Saying you must persevere is easy, but it is much more difficult to do. God s Word is clear that the discipline of perseverance is something worthy of attaining. Through the true story of Noah, the key concepts are clear as to how to have perseverance in your life. Scripture Genesis 6-7 PERSEVERANCE: Devotional Thought It is hard to even imagine the faith that Noah had to have to build the ark. The shear size of the project was beyond even the wildest imagination of people at that time. The ship was probably over 400 feet long and 80 feet wide with three decks. A ship of that size was not built again until an English cruise ship company built one in 1884! Noah had to have an incredible imagination even as to where to get the materials and man power. On top of that, think of the ridicule and abuse he must have endured over the 120 years he spent building the ark. The perseverance aspect of this project is mind-boggling. He did not have a support system or a point of reference from which to build (no one had done this before). He only had faith in God and a great imagination. 8 Finish what you Start Self Examination How is your perseverance quotient? Do you do well at finishing strong? Do you need to work on your imagination of the end result or goal? Are the circumstances changing and is it discouraging you from persevering? Go to God. He never changes and is always there for you. Life Story Describe a time when you had to persevere through something and God helped you. Be vulnerable about how you wanted to quit. Maybe the circumstances changed and you thought it was not fair, but with God s help you persevered. Describe how you imagined the end result and how you stuck to a preparation that worked. Discussion Questions Have a child tell you a story of perseverance in their life. 1. What things do campers have to persevere through during the week of camp? (Heat, new rules, new friends, hard drills) 2. How does an athlete persevere? (Not quitting, keep trying, listening to the coach, encouraging teammates) 3. How does a Christian persevere? (Pray regularly, keep trying to please God with your actions) Situation Sadie has tried out for the Tigers Gold Cheer Squad for two years, but both years she has been placed on the Silver Squad, who does not go to the important cheer meets. She has a friend that has invited her to try out for the Gold squad of a new club: The Sun. The Sun squad is not as good, so she would probably make the Sun Gold Squad and get to go to the important cheer meets. What should she do? 9

2 RESPECT: Sports Story: Dara Torres Bible Story: Joseph Key point I: Treat others with respect whether you are first place or last. Key point II: God treats everyone with respect. Introduction In sports competition, athletes or teams are trying to prove to their opponents that they are better athletes; faster, stronger, better trained, etc. This competition aspect can lead to behavior that God does not like. It could lead to things like talking trash to your opponent, which is never acceptable behavior. (Thinking you are a better person because you are a better athlete is never right.) The Christian athlete needs to remember that it is only a game and that your personal behavior and attitude toward your opponent should always be respectful. God cares for every human the same (Acts 10:34). He respects everyone and so should we. Scripture Genesis 37, 39, Devotional Thought It is easy to respect those who treat you well. Likewise, it is difficult to respect those who persecute you, have power over you, or those you are in competition with. American culture is into the competitive, get-on-top attitude; the concepts of respect and humility are almost non-existent. Joseph was respectful to everyone he found himself under, and by doing so, he was rewarded with respect from those over him. Remember, he was falsely accused and forgotten in prison for two years, but he was lifted up because of his ability to respect those over him. Later he was even able to be respectful to his brothers who had betrayed him years before. The Foundation of Success Self Examination Do you have a task or goal which requires more than you can do alone? Are you trying to do it yourself or are you seeking God for his ideas and answers? Are you accessing the One who can see the big picture and knows the road blocks ahead? Life Story Talk about a time when you played or worked on a team where you either did your job or others did theirs, and the team or project was successful as a result. Or talk about how you were on a team and you submitted your will for the good of the team or project. Discussion Questions 1. Discuss the word teamwork. What does it mean? 2. What does this phrase mean: Your team is only as strong as the weakest link? 3. Who benefits when the team does well? 4. Who benefits when only one player on the team does well? Situation Beto played halfback on his soccer team. This meant sometimes he would be thinking offense and trying to score and other times he was back on defense trying to keep the other team from scoring. Beto loved to score, and in the first half of the championship game he got caught not coming back to cover his man on defense and the other team scored. For the sake of his team what should he do? Should he move forward and try harder to score or just stay back and cover his man so the other team does not score again? What is his role on the team? 10 7

3 Sports Story: US Bobsled Team Bible Story: Nehemiah Key point I: On a good team, everyone knows their role. Key point II: God knows exactly what role you are to play. Introduction Teamwork is the foundation of success in athletics. No person ever succeeds in sports or in life unless they have dealt positively with the discipline of teamwork. Even in individual sports like golf or tennis, those who reach the highest level of play understand the concept of teamwork and have a group of people they depend on to make them successful. In team sports it is obvious, teams who find the right roles for each member of the team achieve higher levels of success. As each player contributes in their particular role, using the gifts they have to invest in the team, the overall result is greater than anything the individuals could have accomplished by themselves. Scripture: Nehemiah 1-6 TEAMWORK: Devotional Thought Coaches and entrepreneurs have much in common. First they see the goal. Then they see the people and the resources that, when put together, could attain the goal. Finally their minds put the pieces together to make it work. This is all good and it could work if all the people could be convinced to do exactly what the coach or entrepreneur had in his mind, but it rarely works that way. Nehemiah had a goal (rebuild the walls of Jerusalem). The king he served had the resources (materials and money). The people had the ability. By asking God for wisdom and favor all along the journey, Nehemiah was able to get the resources, access the labor and deal with enemies and shortages. He knew which role each person should have and knew what should be done, but more importantly he knew God was the one who controlled those things and could help him achieve his goal. In 21 st century terms, his access to the Help Desk was always open. 6 On being Humble Self Examination Have you been mistreated by someone lately? Is a boss or person over you not taking your best interest to heart? Can you, by God s grace, still respect them and allow God to protect you? Life Story Share a story from your life when you respected others, even when it was difficult and talk about how you learned a valuable lesson in life. Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever been mistreated or dealt with unfairly? 2. Was it hard to treat that person with respect? 3. How can you show respect to your opponent? (Not running up the score, acknowledging good play on their part) Situation The Sharks are a terrible team. They have not even scored in their first four games of the season. The Thunder, with Wyatt and Anthony leading the way, have scored ten goals in four games and only given up one. It would be easy for the Thunder to make fun of the Sharks when they play them, as they will probably score five goals by half-time. How can the Thunder players show respect to the Sharks? 11

4 SACRIFICE: WEEKLY OUTLINE Sports Story: Lawrence Lemieux Bible Story: Abraham/Isaac Key point I: Sacrifice always cost someone something. Key point II: God s ultimate sacrifice was of Himself for us. Introduction Sacrifice. The word conjures up feelings of loss, pain and usually suffering. But many times it has conflicting positive concepts which go along with those negative words, like gain, it was worth it and value. In the world of sports, sacrifice is used many times in the context of giving up something in order to gain something of greater value. A batter in baseball will do a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. A receiver in football or a striker in soccer will many times run a clearing route to open up space, sacrificing themselves physically and emotionally so someone else on the team can get the ball and possibly score. The discipline of sacrifice is central to sports achievement as well as life fulfillment. It is one discipline which God demonstrated personally for us. Romans 5:8 says, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us. Scripture Genesis 22 DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY THEME: TEAMWORK: The Foundation of Success PERSEVERANCE: Finish What You Start RESPECT: On Being Humble SACRIFICE: Giving Up - In Order to Gain KEY POINTS 1. On a good team everyone knows their role. 2. God knows exactly what role you are to play. 1. Imagine the end result. 2. God will always be there when circumstances change. 1. Treat others with respect whether you are first place or last. 2. God treats everyone with respect. 1. Sacrifice always costs someone something. 2. God s ultimate sacrifice was of Himself for us. BIBLE STORY Nehemiah 1-6 Nehemiah Genesis 6-7 Noah Genesis 37, 39, Joseph Genesis 22 Abraham/ Isaac SPORTS STORY US Bobsled Team Lolo Jones Dara Torres Lawrence Lemieux Devotional Thought Sacrifice such a foreign thought to those of us from the Western World. We have it all and are not happy when we cannot have it all. So why would we sacrifice for someone else? Abraham was willing to give up what he had longed for and had finally received, a son. Those of you reading this who are parents understand how precious your children are. Imagine waiting 100 years for a child, receiving one by a miracle and then being asked to give it up. It seems like a torturous game played out by a god who is part sadist, with a major inability 12 FRIDAY STRATEGY: Building a Plan for Success 1. A good strategy doesn t always make sense at first glance. 2. God s strategy for you always includes help. 5 Exodus 17 Moses Tim Tebow

5 INTRODUCTION Giving Up - In order to Gain strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Paul says to live your life as though you would win. Then the disciplines you have built into your life, in the attempt to serve God successfully, will serve you throughout your whole life. The disciplines which make an athlete successful, applied in our daily lives, are the valuable things which lie Beyond the Gold. The Beyond the Gold series takes a look at five key disciplines: teamwork, perseverance, respect, sacrifice and strategy. Utilizing five Bible stories, as well as five anecdotal sports stories and various other teaching methods, these disciplines will be illustrated to the students in a way that will make them applicable to their lives. Each child who will hear these lessons has a need to develop these disciplines in their physical life, as well as their spiritual life. They need to understand that life is about the journey and not just the destination. Through music, role modeling, teaching, kinesthetic learning, object lessons and the written Word, the Christian child will be given guidance from God s Word in how to build these disciplines into their life. The non-christian child will be challenged and shown how trusting God with their life will bring help in the production and maintenance of these disciplines and will produce a life that will be abundant, fruitful and fulfilling. We pray that as you read and live the lessons in your preparation for teaching, God will give you insights on how to share your own applications of these concepts. We also pray that you live daily in a way that will find you enjoying the journey that lies Beyond the Gold. to feel any compassion. Abraham, who walked by faith, must have been able to put those feelings aside and trust God, even with his most prized possession. He knew God had compassion and was not a sadist. He obeyed, so those thoughts and feelings did not even linger in his head. Early the next morning, Abraham Self Examination How well do you know God? Do you know Him well enough to give up something for Him, to sacrifice for Him your most prized possession? What is your most prized possession? What is something right now you could sacrifice for someone? Life Story Share a story of sacrifice in your life. What did it cost you? What did you gain? Share how you accepted Christ s sacrifice for your life. Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever given anything up for a friend? 2. Has anyone ever given anything up for you? 3. On a team how does one player sacrifice for another? Situation Louie has never played football before. Coach Calhoun told Louie that he wants him to play fullback and block for Wyatt, who is playing running back. Coach told Louie that he would have to give up himself to block for Wyatt so Wyatt could possibly score and help the team win. Louie is not sure he wants to do this assignment. It sounds like getting hurt for nothing. If Louie understood sacrifice better, how would it help? 4 13

6 Sports Story: Tim Tebow Bible Story: Moses Key point I: A good strategy doesn t always make sense at first glance. Key point II: God s strategy for you always includes help. Introduction Every battle needs a strategy. No general, soldier, coach or athlete has ever planned to go into a battle or athletic contest without a strategy. Circumstances left to happen without a strategy have a good chance of turning out against you. A good strategy can make up for a lack of talent and can help a dire situation until help arrives or circumstances change. A good strategy can reduce the mountain of a task into a hill of opportunity. Scripture Exodus 17 STRATEGY: Devotional Thought Moses must have thought God lost his mind. Raise my staff and we win, lower my staff and we lose? That strategy seemed a little strange to say the least. But there were times when raising that staff had done things. It had parted the Red Sea and it had turned into a snake. By the time Moses reached this point, it would not have seemed like a bad strategy, just strange. He was willing to obey, but as the passage showed, he was not able to do it on his own. God knew this too and allowed help to bring about the desired result. God s strategy for His purposes is never on our backs alone, but it does include us! We must be ready to do the strategies He has designed. 14 INTRODUCTION In 1980, Eric Heiden won five gold medals in speed skating. He not only won five gold medals, but he set five world records as well! After the competition, at the height of his fame, Eric had a chance to cash in on his hard work and glory of the moment. He could have signed endorsement deals worth millions of dollars. But Eric Heiden knew there was something Beyond the Gold that was worth much more to him than money. The disciplines he had practiced in preparation for his historical moment would serve him in different ways than just making money. Eric Heiden stands in a small crowd of people who know that the journey is as important as the destination. Eric Heiden epitomized the quote from the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team in the movie Cool Runnings: A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you re not enough without one, you ll never be enough with one. We as Christians need to stand in the same crowd as Eric Heiden. We need to realize that the journey is as important as the destination. We need to remember that the disciplines of the Christian life bring about a sweet journey with our Creator as we move toward our destination - eternal life with Jesus Christ. In our lives away from sports we need the same type of disciplines that top athletes have used in order to be successful in what they wanted to accomplish. God, in His wisdom, gave us the Bible as a guide and His Spirit as a teacher so that we can find the inspiration and faith to build these disciplines into our lives. Striving for a gold medal is a lofty goal. But not everyone who tries for the gold wins one. In fact, the Apostle Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 9:24-25, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into 3

7 Dear Coaches, INTRODUCTION In this booklet you will find a 20-minute daily format for your spiritual preparation to be a volunteer at your church s sports camp. You can do this devotional in your own quiet time before your summer camp begins or each day before you arrive at camp. It is vital that you come prepared each day. The ten minutes you spend with your team during the Coach s Huddle may be the most important time you have each day with your kids. Preparing early will allow the Holy Spirit to direct you into a fuller understanding of the theme so you can be a more effective leader. The important thing is that you prepare before you come to camp each day. Here is a guide for your 20-minute preparation time: 3 minutes Work on the memory verse for the week. 3 minutes Reflect on the theme, Bible story, key points and introduction for the day. 5 minutes Read the Scripture passages from the Bible story. 3 minutes Read and reflect on the devotional thought and discussion questions. 3 minutes Pray for your kids, as well as yourself, for what to say. 3 minutes Review your personal life story for the day s coach s share time. I Corinthians 9:24-25: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 2 Building a plan for Success Self Examination Are you afraid to do something God has asked you to do because it seems strange? What would others think? Does it seem like you are the only one considering this request? Remember, God has many servants and He will not leave you alone. Let s raise a few staffs! Life Story Share a time in your life where God s strategy seemed strange, but in the end it was right. Or share a time in your life where you were tired or hurt and your Christian friends held you up. Discussion Questions 1. Who tells the team the strategy? 2. Did you ever have a coach who gave you a strategy that seemed strange, but you won because of it? 3. Where do we find God s strategy for us? Situation People kept flubbing their lines in practice at the dress rehersal. It was clear everyone was nervous and not performing well. Mrs. Gresham did not get stressed. She stopped everything and brought everyone into another room and turned on a video of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, who could never say his r s. It was so funny everyone relaxed and when they went back to the rehearsal, things went better. Was the strategy done by Mrs. Gresham strange? Maybe she should have made everyone sit down and read their lines fifty times and start over. 15

8 Coaches Notes Camp Schedules Team Name: My Team Members: Memory Verse Morning 9-12:15 Evening 5-8:15 Monday-Wednesday 8:15-8:55 9:00-9:15 9:20-9:55 9:55-10:05 10:05-10:40 10:40-11:05 11:10-11:40 11:45-12:15 8:15-8:55 9:00-9:15 9:20-9:50 9:50-10:00 10:00-10:30 10:30-10:55 11:00-11:30 11:35-12:15 Thursday 4:15-4:55 5:00-5:15 5:20-5:55 5:55-6:05 6:05-6:40 6:40-7:05 7:10-7:40 7:45-8:15 4:15-4:55 5:00-5:15 5:20-5:50 5:50-6:00 6:00-6:30 6:30-6:55 7:00-7:30 7:35-8:15 Camper Arrival/Registration Opening Rally Instructional Block #1 Coach s Huddle Instructional Block #2 Half Time Rally Instructional Block #3 Bible Time Rally Camper Arrival/Registration Opening Rally Instructional Block #1 Coach s Huddle Instructional Block #2 Half Time Rally Instructional Block #3 Bible Time Rally 8:15-8:55 9:00-9:15 9:20-9:55 9:55-10:05 10:05-10:40 10:40-11:05 11:10-11:40 11:45-12:30 Friday 4:15-4:55 5:00-5:15 5:20-5:55 5:55-6:05 6:05-6:40 6:40-7:05 7:10-7:40 7:45-8:30 Camper Arrival/Registration Opening Rally Instructional Block #1 Coach s Huddle Instructional Block #2 Half Time Rally Instructional Block #3 Bible Time Rally/Camp Closing 16 1

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10 Beyond the Gold cover!