GO SPORT
Pray, Play, Say, Together
Study 1
Ready
Why does it feel like my faith and my sport are disconnected at times? We may believe in Jesus Christ and go to church, but often, when we enter our sports environment, whether training, coaching or competition, it can look and feel like we leave our faith behind.
What does it look like then to fully integrate our faith and sport as we seek to encourage sportspeople to believe in Jesus?
Set
Read: Colossians 4:2-4
1. How important does Paul consider prayer to be? How can you tell?
2. List what he asks them to pray for?
3. What do you learn about praying for sportspeople?
4. What can you change this week to be more ‘devoted to prayer’?
To pray is vital in reaching sportspeople. It is God who will open the eyes of sportspeople to see Jesus for who He really is, so let’s be committed to praying for them and each other as we tell them about him!
Pray
Play
Read: Colossians 4:5
5. What does it look like to be wise in the way you act in sport?
6. Why is this important as we play with those who are ‘outsiders’ to our faith?
7. What does it look like to make the most of every opportunity in your sport?
To play wisely is essential in reaching sportspeople with the good news of Jesus. How we act when we coach, train or compete is noticed by those we are in sport with and helps them see how what we believe changes how we speak and act.
Say
Read: Colossians 4:6
8. What is our conversation to be like according to Paul? What does he mean by ‘full of grace’ and ‘seasoned with salt’?
What you need to know:
When food is seasoned with salt it brings out the fl avour making it tasty. It also was used to preserve food. Here Paul uses this metaphor to describe our conversation with those who aren’t Christians.
9. Notice the ‘always’ and ‘everyone’, what point is he making?
10. How can you speak like this in your sports context?
To say something that is different and tasty and points people to Jesus is our role as a Christian in sport. Think through how this week you can speak like this when training, coaching or competing.
Together
Read: Colossians 4:7-18
11. In these verses is Paul alone in his mission? How do we know?
12. List some of the things Paul’s ‘team’ are like or do.
13. Paul wasn’t alone but worked together with others. Who do you have around you as you look to reach sportspeople?
