GO SPORT
How to read the Bible with a sports friend
Study 9
Ready
Why would you want to read the Bible with a sports friend?
God’s word will do God’s work in the lives of sportspeople. Our best thoughts, ideas, opinions or arguments, though useful, are still merely breathed out by humans. They cannot compare to the word of God in either power or influence.
The Bible is useful for all people, at all times, and remains God’s word across generations. It is still today our greatest tool for growing disciples in the world of sport.
Set
Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-15
What you need to know:
2 Timothy is the second letter written by Paul to Timothy, a younger leader of the church in Ephesus, who had been his travelling companion on some of his journeys. This is the last of Paul’s letters that we have in the Bible and the tone of it is that of an older leader ‘passing the baton’ on to a younger leader.
1. In verse 14 what is Timothy to do?
2. In verse 15 what are the ‘Holy Scriptures’ and what can they do?
3. What do you think these verses tell us about the potential impact of Scripture on our sports friends?
4. How does knowing this make you feel about reading the Bible with a sports friend?
It is exciting to read about what God’s word can do, and a great encouragement to think that by reading it and studying it with a sports friend, it can make them wise for salvation in Jesus Christ!
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
5. What is meant by ‘God breathed’? Why does this encourage you as you think about reading the Bible with a friend?
6. In verse 16 we see that God’s word is useful for four things. Go through what each one of these means and why these four ‘useful’ attributes are able to make you wise for salvation?
7. What does the word of God achieve according to verse 17?
8. What would stop you asking a sports friend to read the Bible with you? Can you overcome this?
So often we make a decision on our sports friends behalf: ‘They wouldn’t want to read the Bible!’ we say or think, and yet very often we have never asked them and may well be surprised! When we remember the power of God’s word from 2 Timothy 3, and see the impact it has on lives, why wouldn’t you want to give them every opportunity to fi nd out for themselves?
Go
To finish, spend some time writing down:
• Who are you going to start or continue to pray for, that you might be able to read the Bible with?
• What will you do from here? Who could you ask to read the Bible with you?
• Who can hold you to account for the things you’ve just written down? • How can I encourage any other Christians in my club to do this?
• What opportunities are coming up that I can pray and plan towards? training camps/tours etc
• Pray - remember prayer changes us and the world of sport we play in.
Mark’s Gospels
For most of us, the biggest issue of reading the Bible with a sports friend is knowing where to start! We have produced a Mark’s gospel with studies focused on sportspeople to help you. You can get this at sportsonline.training