Bible Studies - Athletes in Action

The Lauryn Williams Story
Bible Study
Watch video (approx. 7 minutes)
LAUNCH
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How do you feel when you lose or don’t play well?
What is a time when you felt embarrassed by your performance?
What do you live for?
Has your athletic ability ever let you down?
What role did community play in Lauryn’s life?
Take a moment to pray for your time together in the Word.
EXPLORE
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-20
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Who receives new life from Christ’s death?
What does it mean to die to our old life?
What things do we die to when we “receive new life?”
If we were living for ourselves before we received new life, who does Paul say we’re living for after we
receive new life?
What is our role after we receive new life?
Why wouldn’t someone want to receive new life?
What does it look like to have a “ministry of reconciliation?”
What does it mean to be controlled or compelled by Christ’s love?
How does this new life give us meaning?
The Lauryn Williams Story Bible Study
APPLY
You may want to split into smaller groups to discuss the application questions.
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What would it look like for you to live for the Lord? On your team?
How can you “die to your old life” when it comes to your sport?
How does living for Christ take away the pressure to win?
Understanding that your identity is in Jesus and not in how well you play, how can you treat yourself and your
teammates differently when you fail?
14. What are ways you can come alongside your teammates and help them receive all the Lord has to offer?
ANSWERS
1. People who have a personal relationship with Jesus
2. Dying to our old life means the things that used to dominate us no longer have power like they once did. We
choose those things less and less
3. Our will, desires, pride, ambition, sin, the desire to glorify ourselves, etc.
4.Jesus
5. We are God’s ambassadors. We have the privilege of bringing God’s message of reconciliation to people
6. They don’t want to give up the old life, sin, etc.
7-14. Allow the group to discuss
The Lauryn Wiliams Story Bible Study
The Daniel Dias Story
Bible Study
Watch video (approx. 6 minutes)
LAUNCH
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When have you felt that life is unfair?
What do you believe about God in those times?
Do you question God?
What do you think your purpose is?
Do you ever doubt that you are loved and valued the way you are? If so, when?
Take a moment to pray for your time together in the Word.
EXPLORE
Read Ephesians 2:10, James 1:16-18
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What does it mean to be created in Christ?
What must Christians do to be seen as masterpieces by God?
After we are created anew in Jesus, how does our identity change?
How do our our struggles or disabilities change?
Why is it significant that God chose us?
If all good and perfect things come from God, what does that say about the way he created us?
What does it say about his character?
What do we read about God in James 1:16-18?
What are the good works Jesus prepared for us?
The Daniel Dias Story Bible Study
APPLY
You may want to split into smaller groups to discuss the application questions.
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What does it mean to be God’s masterpiece?
How can you think about yourself since you’re God’s masterpiece as a follower of Christ?
What does it mean to you that you are God’s “prized possession” (NLT)?
How do you feel being called God’s masterpiece?
Daniel used his situation and his position as a swimmer to share God’s love with people. How could you use your
sport as a platform?
ANSWERS
1. We are forgiven and receive Christ’s perfect righteousness. We surrender to God our sinful nature and give him
the right to shape us to look more like Jesus.
2. Nothing. We are seen as God’s masterpieces because he has created us anew in Jesus.
3. We are not defined by our struggles. Our identity, purpose and value are found in Jesus.
4. We still have our troubles, but they are not in vain. Jesus gives our pain purpose and value.
5. He knew what he was getting into — our struggles don’t surprise him. He knew all of the messiness we would
bring into relationship with him, and he wanted us anyway.
6. Even though we each have our own struggles, God created us with purpose, and we can trust him to use our
struggles for a purpose.
7. God is trustworthy, good and kind because all good and perfect things come from him.
8. He is Creator; he never changes; he chose us out of all creation; he gives good gifts; he is good; he knows exactly
what to give us.
9-14. Allow the group to discuss
The Daniel Dias Story Bible Study
T h e L i Ya n S t o r y
Bible Study
Watch video (approx. 7 minutes)
LAUNCH
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What is the most difficult part of being a leader?
What do you do when you experience conflict with a teammate or an athlete you coach?
Why is it hard to admit when our way of doing things isn’t working?
Why is pride such a hindrance to being a good coach or teammate?
How did humility shape the way Li Yan interacted with her athletes?
How did her humility affect the way athletes like Wang Meng viewed her?
Take a moment to pray for your time together in the Word.
EXPLORE
Read Colossians 3:12-17
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Who is Paul referring to when he writes “God’s chosen ones?”
What do Christ-followers need to do in order to be seen as holy in God’s eyes?
What do these things Paul instructs believers to “put on” have in common?
What does it mean to forgive other people “as the Lord has forgiven you?”
What is the most important piece of “clothing” Paul encourages believers to “put on?” Why?
How does having a heart ruled by peace lead to being thankful?
What does it mean to admonish someone? How is admonishing in wisdom different from what usually
happens in conflict?
8. Is it possibly to “admonish one another in all wisdom” without having first “put on” the attributes in verse 12?
Why or why not?
9. How is outward worship a reflection of a thankful heart?
10. What does it mean to do and say everything in the name of Jesus?
The Li Yan Story Bible Study
APPLY
You may want to split into smaller groups to discuss the application questions.
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What does would it look like for you to do “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus?”
What might you need to change in order to “let the word of Christ dwell in you?”
Do you need to change the way you interact with others during conflict?
How can you move toward “admonishing” others instead of trying to make them feel stupid?
What can you do today to start cultivating an attitude of thankfulness?
ANSWERS
1. Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus
2. Nothing; we are already seen as holy in God’s eyes because of what Jesus has done on our behalf
3. They’re not our natural bent; we can only be and do all of these things because of who we are in Christ. He has
made us holy and gives us His power to be compassionate, kind, humble, etc.
4. God forgave us completely and totally, even while we were still hurting Him
5. Love; love is what puts the other puzzle pieces together
6. Allow the group to discuss
7. Admonish: to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner
(Merriam-Webster); in our flesh, we want to prove others wrong and make them feel stupid
8. Nope; to admonish in wisdom, we have to have compassion and patience and be kind, humble and gentle
9-15. Allow the group to discuss
The Li Yan Story Bible Study
The Wilson Kipsang Story
Bible Study
Watch video (approx. 6 minutes)
LAUNCH
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How did Wilson use his gifts and abilities well?
What abilities do you have?
Do you think your abilities can be used for the good of others?
What would happen if Wilson chose not to help people?
Take a moment to pray for your time together in the Word.
EXPLORE
Read Matthew 25:14-30
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Why did the master give the first servant five talents, the second two, and the third one?
What does the master expect the servants to do when he entrusts them with talents?
How does the master react to the first two servants who earned more talents?
Why does the master give the first two servants more responsibilities when he returns?
Why do the first two servants choose to invest the master’s talents?
Why doesn’t the third servant invest the talent he is given?
What does the third servant believe about the master?
What is the difference in how the master reacts to the servants?
Why does the master give the talent from the third servant to the servant with five talents?
Do you think the master was right to cast out the third servant?
The Wilson Kipsang Story Bible Study
APPLY
You may want to split into smaller groups to discuss the application questions.
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How does your athletic ability relate to the talents?
How can you make sure to use your gifts and abilities well?
What does it look like as an athlete to use your abilities faithfully?
Have you ever not fulfilled a responsibility because you were afraid that your effort would go to waste? How can
you prevent “burying” your talents because you’re living out of fear?
15. What do you believe about God? How does that affect the way you use your abilities?
ANSWERS
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He gave them the amount of talents they were fit to handle based on their abilities.
He expects them to take the talents, invest them and earn more to give back to him.
The master told them, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and gave them more responsibilities
They were faithful with the little responsibility he gave them, so he knew he could trust them with more.
They are faithful servants, doing what the master asked because he told them to do it. They invest the talents
because they trust the master and believe him to be good.
6. He is operating out of fear and doesn’t trust the master.
7. He believes the master is harsh and takes but doesn’t give back.
8. He gives the first two servants more talents, but he takes the talent back from the third servant. He praises the
first two, but he rebukes and punishes the third.
9. The servant with five talents has shown the master that he is faithful and responsible with what he is given.
10-15. Allow the group to discuss
The Wilson Kipsang Story Bible Study