Goal
Athletes need to realize that it must begin with faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord alone is able to forgive. They must have the wisdom to make the right decisions and have the strength to carry those decisions out. Athletes will be presented with the claims of Jesus Christ and will be challenged to make Him the Lord and Savior of their lives.

Key Scriptures
Hebrews 11:1-3; Hebrews 12:2-3; Galatians 2:20; James 2:17-19

Warm Up

Really, they were just beautiful women in dresses. But the fact that they were basketball players seemed to make all the difference in the world. Last fall, when Florida State University launched its new women’s basketball Web site, seminolehoops.com, they sparked a blaze of unpredicted controversy. It seemed that the concept of women athletes in glamorous attire was a touchy subject. Radio shows received calls, FSU’s media relations phone lines lit up, and Head Coach Sue Semrau found herself facing and responding to tough questions about beauty, identity and femininity in sports.

This is a music skit using the song ”Watch the Lamb” by Ray Boltz. Follow the lyrics of the song. You will need a hostile crowd, and man and two boys, Roman soldiers, two thieves (crucified with Christ), and Jesus. Act out the lyrics. This takes place at the time Jesus is going to the cross. It is a narrative of a Daddy talking to his boys about what is going on. Daddy is walking with his two boys, talking of the Lamb to be sacrificed. Thief #1 is led to the stage and put on a cross. Thief #2 is led to the stage and put on a cross. Jesus is led down, being kicked, mocked, etc. The Roman soldier gets the father to carry the cross while the boys just watch. Jesus is put on the cross. The Daddy and the boys watch intently.

Philippians 3:7-11 – Your desire is key! if you focus on the right desires, you’ll have the right goals to achieve true success. Becoming a successful competitor takes motivation and drive, so there’s got to be a payoff if we’re going to invest the sweat-equity into training and performing as a champion.

Ready

WOULD YOU RATHER … win a bunch of sports trophies or get $100 for each one?

1. Which of your trophies, awards, or achievements make you most proud? Why?
   
    
2. Jump forward 10 years in your life. What would your dream life look like? If you
   achieved that dream, what would be the point, the payoff, the “so what”?

Set

Becoming a successful competitor requires intense dedication and sacrifice. We sacrifice our hobbies, our social life, our time, and sometimes even our bodies in order to reach our goals. As legendary NBA Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once said, “I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.”

 ¹ Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. –Romans 12:1-2

Winning for Christ

Watch the video and walk through the questions below.

Key Verse: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus— Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

• Can you think of anyone that you know who has a winning-for-Christ attitude? Are you one of these people?
• How can you demonstrate winning for Christ as you play your sport?
• When you walk off the court or field, what will people say about you?
• Read Philippians 2:5. How are we supposed to act in relationships with one another?
• What would have happened if Case hadn’t acted with the mindset of Jesus Christ?