IN IT TO WIN IT. 1. Orientation Facing the Challenges of the Christian Race Never, Ever Trust a Snake Rules of the Race...

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2 IN IT TO WIN IT Contents 1. Orientation Facing the Challenges of the Christian Race Never, Ever Trust a Snake Rules of the Race Feelings, Facts and Faith Treating I Problems Personal Opinions Oh, Lonesome Me Feel the Power I Am Really Somebody Watching for Distractions A Bad Love Affair Sexual Purity Can I Do It? Don t Look at the Circumstances The Main Requirement To Be in It To Win It Looking for the Finish Line

3 Discovery Weekly Meeting Guide, Spring 2013 produced by Written by: Weeks DuBose EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase, Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand, Blake Tilton LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins, Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar, Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine, Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Cover Design: Blake Tilton Copyright 2013 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX

4 Weekly Meeting Guide Orientation/Lesson 1 In It To Win It Facing the Challenges of the Christian Race Semester Objective Discovery members will examine the challenges they face as they run the Christian race. Lesson Objective Discovery members will learn determine why the Christian race is a marathon and not a sprint. Bible Text Hebrew 12:1, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Evaluate Evaluating his situation and his understanding of passing opportunities, the writer of the book of Hebrews uses the figure of an athlete participating in a race and challenges believers to join him in running the Christian race (Heb. 12:1). He pictures this race by considering four things. The Motivation Verse 1 suggests the motivation for believers involvement, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. This statement is better understood in context with the previous chapter in which he recorded the exploits of men and women of the past in the chapter that can be called Faith s Hall of Fame. Some have read into this passage an implication that the saved dead are watching the actions and affairs of those on earth. This interpretation is pressing the figure too far. Christians who face the challenges of the Christian race are surrounded by an ample number of acts of faith and achievements by saints of the past. These godly examples should motivate believers today to run the Christian race with vigor. The Preparation Next, the writer list ways for believers to prepare themselves to run their race. Regardless of whether ancient or modern, the preparation for a footrace is much the same. Runners must rid themselves of as much weight as possible. Therefore, their running apparel and shoes must be of the lightest materials. Runners also DIRECTOR S OUTLINE This lesson opens the Spring semester of Teen Discovery. A new semester could possibly mean a new director and new workers. For this lesson, observations will be made to familiarize workers with the structure of the lessons. The Evaluate section of the lesson is specifically for the director. It contains material that supplies the director with background information that equips him for the lesson objective. The Evaluate section s style is not for Discovery members but for the adult director. Examining the Lesson In visualizing the Christian race, the writer of Hebrews considers four things. The Motivation Hebrews 12:1 suggests that an ample number of acts of faith 3

5 engage in exercise that tones and builds muscles and increases heart strength and lung efficiency. Another principle of preparation for the Christian race is described with the words let us lay aside every weight which implies things that hinder or deter. The writer then adds, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (verse 1) which things that hamper and cripple. To what is the writer referring? These things include the love of pleasure, unbridled ambitions that take control of people s lives. Certainly, the writer had in mind the hindering and debilitating love of money. While the writer mentions no specific sin, besetting sins would certainly be anything that interferes with an individual s growth in grace and with the process of winning the Christian race. Let us lay aside every weight, the writer said. The Participation After being motivated to the need of running the Christian race and then preparing for it, Christians must actually run the race and run it with patience (endurance) (verse 1). God expects His children to take positive action in pushing forward to the goal of successfully finishing the race. Participation involves at least two things. First, participation requires effort. Keep in mind that the Bible refers to Christian service as work. The Greek word is ergon and implies labor or expended energy. Remember, it is a race, and a race suggests effort. Sadly, the motto of today s society appropriately could be, Take it easy. People are enthusiastic about anything that saves time or makes a job easier. These time and laborsaving devices are good and should not be given up, but they should not be abused or used to distract us from the task of running the race. and achievements by saints of the past should motivate present-day believers to run the Christian race with vigor. The Preparation Preparing for the Christian race is described in Hebrews 12:1 with words that speak of consciously getting rid of sins and habits that hinder running a successful race. The Participation The Christian race must be run with effort and consistency. The Christian race is not an occasional event. It is a life time activity. The Power Jesus possesses all power in Heaven and earth. Therefore, He has the ability to supply the strength and power necessary for believers to stay in and run the Christian race. With this promise available to them, Christians can look forward to finishing the Christian race successfully. Second, participation requires consistency. Believers are to run the race with patience or endurance. The Christian race is not an occasional event, it is a lifetime activity. The Power In His intercessory prayer, Jesus mentioned that God had given him power over all flesh (John 17:2). Then, before Jesus ascended back to the Father, He reaffirmed this to His young church (Matt. 28:18). Because Jesus possesses all power, He is able to supply the strength and power His followers need to stay in and win the Christian race. Hebrews 12:2 admonishes believers to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Peter was able to walk on the water as long as his eyes were on Jesus. Paul said he could do all things through Christ. Jesus Himself reminded the disciples that without Him they could do nothing. Believers, then, can infer from His statement that with Him they can do all the things He commands them to do. Children of God do not have the power to run the Christian race successfully on their own, but by looking unto Jesus (verse 2) all things are possible. When a person is saved, he enters the Christian race and then takes the positive attitude that he is in it to win it. Get Ready... Games can be used to teach or illustrate or they can be played just for fun. This is a game to play for fun and to make new members feel part of the group. QUICK, I NEED A LIFE SAVER There is nothing like an ice breaker for the first Discovery meeting of the semester. For this activity provide a Life Savers candy for each team and a toothpick for each member. Divide members into teams. Line each team up so that the players are side by side. Instruct everyone to hold a toothpick between his teeth no Materials needed: A package of Life Savers A box of toothpicks hands allowed for this game! Put a Life Saver on the toothpick of the first player on each team. Team members must pass the Life Saver from toothpick to toothpick without using their hands. If a member drops a Life Saver, that Life Saver is picked up and is taken back to the start of the line. The first team to reach the end of the line with its Life Saver wins. 4

6 Get Set... Make enough copies of the list in the sidebar to give one to each Discovery member. Have them pick four things which, if they give up, would help them run the Christian race. Take up the lists from four members at random. See what choices these four members made. Ask: What choices were picked more frequently? Why? Which choices were not picked by anyone? Why? Which ones would be the most difficult to give up? Say: There is no promise that running the Christian race will be easy. However, there is no need to make it more difficult when avoiding some things will make it less difficult. WHAT TO DO WITH GET SET Get Set is an inter-active exercise in which the activity involves members individually or as teams. Because Get Set is an optional activity, it may be used at anytime in the session. If time becomes a factor, the director may choose not to use it. Materials needed: Copy this list: Give up gossiping Give up jealousy Give up going to questionable movies Give up Facebook Give up DS s, Game Boys and so forth. Give up bad language Give up wrong kind of friends Give up sleeping late on Sunday morning Examining the Leaflet Hand out the leaflets. Leaflet 1, Page 1. Go... Have members read the paragraph on page 1. Read Hebrews 12:1. Ask: What is a metaphor? Allow time for members to answer. If there are no volunteers, give the definition. (See sidebar.) Why is a marathon a better description of the Christian race than a sprint? Leaflet 1, Pages 2 and 3. WHAT IS GO ALL ABOUT? The Go section involves the members in interactive discussions and examination of the lesson subject using the student leaflet. Consider handing out the leaflets only after an overview of the lesson objective is presented. Leaflet 1, Page 1. Metaphor: a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable to suggest a resemblance Leaflet 1, Pages 2 and 3. The apostle Paul used a number of metaphors to illustrate spiritual principles to those to whom he wrote. The exercise UNDERSTANDING THE SERIES asks members to identify the metaphor found in Hebrews 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 9: Ask for volunteers to share their responses. The exercise COMPLETE THE VERSES calls for members to read the Scriptures and find the one that allows them to complete the verses by filling in the blanks. Ask for volunteers to give their answers. Say: This spring s series focuses on running the Christian race. Members will discuss the qualifications for entering the race, the right motive for running it, how to prepare for it and the prospect of finishing it. The discussions also will include what running the race with patience means and an examination of the source of a Christian s strength. UNDERSTANDING THE SERIES The answer is a runner. COMPLETE THE VERSES 1. fought, fight, course, faith, 2 Timothy 4:7 2. press, prize, Philippians 3:14 3. bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, put away, Ephesians 4:31 5

7 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS There are godly examples in ages past who should motivate believers today to run the Christian race with vigor. Leaflet 1, Page 4. WHY? 1. Jeremiah 17: Samuel 7:28 3. Hebrews 13:5 Director s comments If you were a runner, would you run a sprint or a marathon? Would you start like a rocket and perhaps end up like a rock? Or, would you be like the tortoise in the fable and faithfully plod along to the finish line. In the Christian race there is something that can be said for both speed and faithfulness. The Scriptures suggest there is need for urgency in the Lord s work because the night is coming when all work will stop (John 9:4). However, in Hebrews 12:1 is the command to run the race with patience which suggests perseverance, that is a steady staying on the course regardless of the circumstances. At this point in your lives, how are you doing? The exercise IMPORTANT QUESTIONS asks members to read Hebrews 12:1, 2 then answer the four about the Christian race. Ask volunteers to share their answers. If the director chooses to use the, this could be a place to use it. After taking up the lists from four members at random. The director will read the choices these four members made. Use the questions in the Get Set section for a short discussion session. Leaflet 1, Page 4. The teenage years are energetic ones. School activities increase, new friends are made and life in general gets busier. Christian young people must be careful not to lose sight of the importance of keeping their focus on what is important in their Christian lives and in running the Christian race. In the exercise WHY? members will circle the best scriptural answer to each of three questions that begin with the word why. Say: What a person thinks about the most is a fair indicator of what is most important to him. That is one reason the apostle John warned believers not to love the world (1 John 2:15-17). One event that should be an inspiration and en couragement to believers of all ages to faithfully run the Christian race is the prospect of Jesus return. The exercise ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 calls for members to place an X on a scale to indicate how often they actually think about the Lord s return. Members also are asked to translate the place that they placed their X s into a number between 1 and 10. Ask for volunteers to share their responses. At this point see sidebar for Director s comments. The exercise WHAT ARE YOU? asks members to tell how they would describe themselves by circling one of the animals. Call for volunteers to share their responses and if time permits to explain their choice. Closing Closing Discovery workers should be available during this time to help members with their leaflets and to answer any questions they might have. This can also be a time to enjoy fellowship and refreshments. In the next fifteen meetings Discovery members will examine subjects related to running the Christian race. Whether or not they realized it, when they became children of God, they became involved with a spiritual growth process that the New Testament refers to as a race. The prize for winning the race is not salvation, but, rather, it is the reward for faithful service and for the joy of hearing Jesus say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:21). Close the meeting with a prayer for a successful semester. 6