Welcome & Vision | 5 Mins
Welcome everyone and particularly any newcomers this week.
Remind each other of the vision of CIS and the purpose of the weekly group meeting. (Consider using CIS videos and resources to keep this fresh each week).
Prayer & Evangelism | 10 Mins
In pairs look back on your week of sport and discuss how last week’s group meeting helped you. Follow up with anything people asked for prayer about.
In pairs share prayer points for the week of sport ahead and spend time praying for each other.
Some weeks pray more widely for other clubs and teams in your university which are not represented in the group. Alternatively, you can also use the CIS prayer diary to pray for the whole mission of CIS.
You might also want to use this slot to discuss and plan your evangelistic event for the term and pray specifically about it.
Reach the world of sport for Christ | 20 Mins
Week 13 | Sharing your story
Introduction
As we Pray Play Say Together as a group this session will encourage and equip you to share your story of faith with your sports friends.
Read
Read Acts 26:1-23 or John 9:1-34, 2 Timothy 1:3-8
Reflect
When have been the most significant moments in coming to know and trust Jesus for yourself?
Explain
In general, there are 3 helpful stages to talk about in your story of faith:
Benefits of upbringing or time before conversion
Point/process of conversion
Life after conversion
Here are two strengths for sharing your story of faith with your sports friends:
Its personal and you can speak about it passionately and engagingly
It can be relatable to the listener; ‘if God did this in me, maybe he could do something similar to you?’
Here are two dangers to avoid when sharing your story of faith with your sports friends:
We make ourselves the star of the story instead of Jesus and his saving grace.
We talk a lot about lifestyle things and make Christianity sound like ‘faith by works’ instead of explaining how Jesus is continually transforming us in all areas of life.
Discuss
What can often stop you from sharing your story with a friend in your sports club?
How can you ensure you make much of Jesus in the way you share your story?
Practice – to help prepare us for a conversation, turn into pairs and practice sharing your story of faith as if it was a ‘live’ conversation with someone in your sport.
Pray
Thank God for the way he brought you into a relationship with Him.
Ask God to provide opportunities for you to share your story of salvation with someone in your sports club this week.
Pray for confidence to talk about Jesus and the impact he has had upon your life.
Notices | 5 Mins
Update everyone on the key messages for the week. These might include:
Promoting your evangelistic event for the term
Plugging Sports Plus leader applications
Resources to share
Share these resources with your group at the end or immediately after the meeting to encourage them.
Listen
The Welsh Rugby World Cup Player | Christians in Sport interview Garin Jenkins
Watch
Tell your story of becoming a Christian | How to share your testimony with a sports friend