BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION
All great comebacks have:
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ry
our Glo possible
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2
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3. Bigge y
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4. Fly A
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5. No O
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Sports S
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Eric Ho
A go-to person
Theme Verses: John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe
in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has
many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told
you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
back and take you to be with me that you also may
be where I am.”
Scripture: I Kings 17:7-24
Bible Story: Elijah and the widow’s son
Key Points:
1. Comeback teams always have a go-to person.
2. In life, God is the best go-to person.
Lesson Focus:
In every great comeback there is usually a person
who plays a prominent role above the rest of the
team. There is usually someone you can count
on when it is a really tough situation. In sports
this person is called a go-to person. You go to
this person and expect him to perform above the
others in the face of a loss, and they often help
a team come from behind to win an important
game. In life, Christians have this same type of
go-to person - He is God.
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UW Sports Ministry
BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
OPENING RALLY
Opening Rally
Hello, my name is (insert your name) and welcome to (insert Church name) “The Great Comeback”
sports camp. We are going to have a great week, and I am glad you are here! This week you are going
to learn about the sport you have chosen, about God, and about the Bible.
What is our theme this week? (“The Great Comeback”)
Who can tell me what a comeback is in sports? (Coming from behind to win a game or event.)
Who can give me an example of a comeback in football? (A team is behind and the quarterback
throws a long touchdown pass to win the game.)
How about in basketball? (A team is down by two points with only a few seconds left. They
throw the ball to a player who is at the three-point line. He shoots and makes the basket just
as the buzzer sounds.)
What about a baseball example? (It is the bottom of the ninth inning, the batter’s team is
down by one, and the batter hits a walk-off, two-run home run.)
Life is full of many comeback examples. You may know of someone who was very sick and was
cured. Or maybe you know someone who did some wrong things but came back to make them right.
If you had bad grades in school one year but worked hard to make good grades the next year, this
would also be a comeback.
Comebacks are an exciting part of sports and life. Each great comeback has certain things that are
true about them. Each day we are going to highlight one of those things. Our first lesson teaches us
that all great comebacks have a go-to person.
Now, who can tell me what a go-to person is? (A person who comes through just at the right
time, scoring the winning touchdown or goal.)
Point of Emphasis
Every great comeback has a go-to person.
This week we are going to learn about comebacks in sports and in life. Each day we will tell you a
true comeback story from sports, as well as a true comeback story from the Bible.
Point of Emphasis
The Bible has some amazing stories in its pages. We believe that every story in the Bible is true. The
Bible is God’s Word. We can trust it completely.
This week we are going to tell you five stories from the Bible about comebacks. Each story is about a
person who had a comeback that is considered the greatest comeback anyone can have - a comeback
from the dead. God put these stories in the Bible so we can learn to trust Him no matter how hard
life becomes. We can always come back with God’s help.
Music:
Song #1: For Your Glory
Song #2: Imagine the Impossible
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BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
SPORTS STORY
Sports Story
Eric Hosmer
When a player is one of the top draft picks, he or she is expected to become a
go-to person for their team. In 2008, the Kansas City Royals took Eric Hosmer
(pronounced HOZ-mer) with the #3 pick in the MLB draft. The Royals were
struggling and had not made the playoffs in over 20 years! Hosmer was a
very good 1st baseman, and the Royals were hopeful that he would become
their go-to person for many years.
Hosmer advanced through the minor leagues fairly quickly and was called
up to the major leagues in 2011. Everyone was expecting great things from
Hosmer; he was the Royals’ most hyped prospect in almost 30 years! Hosmer
had a very good rookie year, but the Royals missed the playoffs yet again.
In 2014, the Royals finally made the playoffs and made it all the way to the
World Series, but ended up losing to the San Francisco Giants. Then in 2015,
Hosmer and the Royals made it back to the World Series. After losing the
season before, they were focused and ready to play. Waiting for them were
the red-hot New York Mets. The Mets had swept the Chicago Cubs in the
previous series behind fantastic starting pitching.
The Royals started off the series strong with two come-from-behind victories.
Although they lost Game 3, they pulled off another late comeback in Game 4
to take a 3-1 series lead. They only had to win one of the next three games to
be the champions.
However, in Game 5, things did not look good. The Mets had their best pitcher
on the mound and had a 2-0 lead going into the 9th and final inning. Would
Hosmer and the Royals be able to mount another comeback?
Our first key point today says that all comeback teams have a go-to
person. After the first batter was walked and stole 2nd base, Hosmer, the
Royals’ go-to person, came up to bat. The Royals were in a tough spot and
needed Hosmer to come through if they were going to have any chance to win
the game. Hosmer responded by hitting an RBI-double to bring the Royals
within one run. The next batter grounded out, but Hosmer advanced to 3rd
base. The Royals were only down 2-1 with one out, but would they be able to
score the game-tying run? Would Hosmer be able to come through for his
team once more?
Ending #1
Show the following video: http://bit.ly/1OTulvH
Ending #2
The next batter hit a slow ground ball to the 3rd baseman. At first Hosmer
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Fast Facts
1. The World Series is
a best-of-seven series
in which the winning
team needs to win
four games to become
the champions.
2. The Royals had not
won the World Series
since 1985.
3. Prior to 2014, the
Royals had missed
the playoffs for 28
consecutive years!
4. The Royals had lost
the 2014 World Series
to the San Francisco
Giants in seven games.
5. In Game 7 against
the Giants, the Royals
had the tying run
on 3rd base in the
9th inning, but were
unable to score.
6. In 2011, Hosmer
finished 3rd in the
American
League
Rookie of the Year
ballot.
7. In Game 1 of the 2015
World Series, Hosmer
broke the Royals’
record for most RBI’s
in a postseason with
his
game-winning
sacrifice fly.
8. The Royals came
from behind in all
of their 2015 World
Series wins.
UW Sports Ministry
BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
SPORTS STORY
held at 3rd base, but took off as soon as the 3rd baseman threw the ball to first. The 1st baseman
immediately threw the ball to home, but it was a bad throw, and Hosmer scored the tying run!
The Royals would eventually win the game 7-2 in extra innings, but it was all thanks to Hosmer. Eric
Hosmer came through for his team when they needed him the most and proved why he is the go-to
person for the Royals.
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BIBLE CURRICULUM
LESSON 1
THE GREAT COMEBACK
COACH’S HUDDLE AND HALF-TIME RALLY
Coach’s Huddle
The primary purpose here is to relate a story from your own life. Your story
will deepen your relationship with your team.
Life Story:
Tell a life story about a time when you were the go-to person and discuss what
happened.
Discussion Questions:
The following questions should be used to supplement your personal story.
Do not use them in place of a personal story.
1. Discuss the term “comeback” to help the campers understand the
concept.
2. Have you ever done something wrong and had to come back and
make it right?
3. When you are sick or injured who is your go-to person at home?
Why?
4. How can God be our go-to person when we have problems?
Situation:
Sam had made seven out of ten free throws in the game. He had made 20 in
a row in practice. Whenever the game was close at the end, the coach would
try to get the ball into Sam’s hands so he would be taking the free throws.
With 20 seconds left Sam severely twisted his knee while making a steal. If
you were the coach, would you try to find another go-to person or leave Sam
in the game? Can the go-to person change from game to game?
Half-Time Rally
Object Lesson #1
Music:
Song #3: Bigger Than Big
Song #4: Fly Away
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Incorporate the
Theme
By using the theme as
coaches, you should
be able to demonstrate
and point out how the
theme works, not only
in our own minds, but
in practical ways on
the field or activities in
which we participate.
Looking for teachable
moments and living
the theme on the
field will reinforce the
concept more than
any classroom setting.
Many
times
the
concept will be better
demonstrated
the
day after the theme is
taught.
Here is a way you can
demonstrate today’s
theme:
Divide into teams
for a game of “Keep
Away.” Designate a
go-to person on each
team. Each time
a team passes the
ball to one of their
teammates they get
one point, but when
the ball goes to the
go-to person they
get three points.
After the game
gather the children
and discuss what
it means to be the
go-to person. Share
with them how God
has been your go-to
person.
UW Sports Ministry
BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
Items Needed:
OBJECT LESSON
Object Lesson
Rope-ometry
- Long rope (15-20 feet) tied together to form a circle (tying jump ropes together is an option
as well)
- Three blindfolds
Say: Who can remind me of our theme for today? That’s right, every great comeback requires a goto person. Right now we are going to demonstrate the importance of a go-to person. I need three
volunteers.
Select three volunteers from the audience.
Say: The three of you need to work together as a team. You each need to grab onto the rope and
position yourselves so that it forms a perfect triangle. Sounds easy, right? I forgot to mention that
none of you can talk to or touch each other, and all of you will be blindfolded.
Help them put the blindfolds on and get them ready to attempt the challenge. Have the crowd
encourage the team without giving them any help. After 30 seconds or so, pause their efforts.
Say: You guys are doing great, but it looks like you may need a little help. Our first key point today
says that comeback teams always have a go-to person. Let’s have another volunteer come be
your go-to person so that you can be successful in this challenge.
Call up another volunteer. (Note: You may want to pre-select this volunteer. You also may want to
choose an older camper or a volunteer coach.)
Say (to the volunteer): Your job is to help your team be successful. You are allowed to talk to
them and give them directions, but you cannot touch them or move them into position. Ready?
Let the team successfully complete the challenge and then have them sit down.
Say: Great job! That challenge was very difficult at first, but once the go-to person came to help, you
all worked together as a team and were successful. As I said earlier, comeback teams always have a
go-to person. Just like Eric Hosmer came through for his team at a key moment, you needed a go-to
person in this challenge. We also all need a go-to person in life, and God is the best go-to person
we can imagine. He always comes through when we need Him.
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BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
BIBLE STORY
Bible-Time Rally
Song #5: No Other Name
Just like the true story about Eric Hosmer and the Kansas City Royals,
there are true stories about great comebacks in the Bible. The Bible actually
contains eight stories about people who died and then came back to life. This
week we will look at several of those stories with a very amazing ending story
on Friday. Today our story is about a man named Elijah.
Do you remember when I said earlier that every great comeback has a go-to
person? In the first part of the Bible, called the Old Testament, most of the
stories are about a group of people called the Israelites. They were the chosen
people of God, and He made sure their stories were written down so we could
see how God dealt with His people. This can help us know how God deals
with us today.
The people of Israel had drifted away from God and were not doing what
God wanted them to do. They were doing some very bad things. One of those
things was worshiping other gods. The Israelites were in need of a comeback.
God had chosen His go-to person. He was Elijah. Everyone say “Elijah.”
We also want to learn some key points this week. Here is our first one:
1. Comeback teams always have a go-to person.
Point of Emphasis
God chose Elijah to be His go-to person a long time ago. If we obey God and
do what is right, God could choose us to be His go-to person for a difficult
task today.
When we pick up our story about Elijah, the land where he lived was facing
hard times. It had not rained for a long time and there was very little food
for the people to eat. A widow and her son who lived in a nearby town called
Zarephath will play a part in today’s comeback story.
Who knows what a widow is? That is right. She is a woman whose husband
has died. This lady was very poor and was about to run out of food. There was
a possibility they would starve to death very soon without food or the money
to buy food. Things were probably better when her husband was alive, but
now they were worse. She was in need of a comeback.
God had chosen Elijah to be His go-to person. He sent Elijah to the widow
with a very strange request. God told Elijah to go to the woman and ask for
food, the very thing she did not have. When Elijah met the woman, he thought
about what God had asked him to do. This was crazy! This lady was poor and
had no food. How could she take care of him? However, Elijah always did
what God told him to do.
Fast Facts
These are some facts
that will make the
story interesting. Use
them as background
as you prepare the
lesson.
1. Elijah was one of
the most famous
prophets in the Old
Testament.
2. Elijah was a very
emotional
and
passionate person.
3. Elijah predicted a
drought that would
only stop on his
command.
4. The drought
lasted three years.
5. Elijah was taken
care of by ravens (1
year) and by a poor
widow (2 years)
during the drought.
6. The widow’s flour
and oil never ran out
for two years.
7. The widow’s son
died suddenly otherwise she would
have asked Elijah to
help when he was
sick.
8. God used the
dead son to bring
honor to Himself
and to His prophet.
Point of Emphasis
The go-to person always does what the coach asks him/her to do.
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UW Sports Ministry
BIBLE CURRICULUM
THE GREAT COMEBACK
LESSON 1
BIBLE STORY
Elijah asked the woman for a drink and some bread. The woman said, “I do not have any bread, only
a handful of flour and a little oil. I am gathering some sticks to take home to make a meal for myself
and my son, and then we will die.”
Elijah told her not to worry, to make bread for him first, and then the flour and oil in her house
would not run out as long as the drought lasted. If the woman trusted Elijah, God’s go-to person, she
would never run out of what she needed to make bread.
The Bible tells us that she did what Elijah asked, and for the next two years the jars of flour and oil
never ran out. The jars were full every time the widow went to make bread. She and her son, along
with Elijah, never went hungry.
God’s go-to person was doing his job and the widow was having a comeback. You see, Elijah was her
go-to person. What about Elijah? What if he faced a difficult situation and needed a go-to person?
What happened next gives us the answer.
Read I Kings 17:17
Elijah was facing a difficult situation. He needed a go-to person for a big-time comeback. This brings
us to our second key point:
2. In life, God is the best go-to person.
Read I Kings 17:19-23
Elijah went to the best go-to person ever. He went to God. Elijah took the boy in his arms, took him
to his room, and laid him on his bed. Elijah then went directly to God, his go-to person. God is the
Creator of everything, the Person who had the power to bring the boy back from the dead. Elijah
laid down over the boy and prayed three times. Suddenly, the boy came back to life and was healed!
Application
None of us will probably ever bring someone back to life or face this kind of situation. Many times,
however, we will face difficult situations. The situation might be an illness or injury. It could be
something we have done wrong and need to make a comeback to make it right. When a comeback is
needed, God is our best go-to person. He can give us strength to do the right thing. He can give us
the peace to get through tough times at home or school. God has the power to change anything in
our lives if He thinks it is best for us.
Remember our key points from today:
1. Comeback teams always have a go-to person.
2. In life, God is the best go-to person.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, help us to trust You more and more and to be a go-to person for You, just like Elijah.
Thank You for being our go-to person. It is comforting to know that when we face a big comeback in
our lives, we have You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song #6: My Best Friend
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