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).
Remind those graduating to fill in this form using a non-university email address so Christians in Sport can stay in touch with them after they leave university.
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
Intro
As we continue to reach the world of university sport, this study will help us understand what the Bible says is true for every person around us and how it can help us to pray for the people God has placed around us.
Read
Genesis 1:26-30
Ephesians 2:1-8
Hebrews 9:27
Reflect
Reflect on each passage and ask this question; ‘What do we learn about the reality of being a human being from this passage?’
Explain
These passages show us three things that are true for every human being you have ever encountered. Your coach, your team mates, and you!
Genesis 1:26-30 teaches us that all people are made in the image of God. This is incredible. This means that all people are incredibly and intrinsically valuable. Every person is truly special because they have been made deliberately and carefully by a personal God who makes people in His image.
Ephesians 2:1-10 shows us that all people are or have been dead in sin. This means, that all of us, desperately need the gift of God’s grace. People don’t need to tidy up their act or be better. Our sports friends don’t need to be more like us. More than anything else in the world, people need Jesus.
Hebrews 9:27 shows us the truth that death is not the end. When we die, all people are sent to an eternal destination. Every person you meet is, in that fact, eternal. Every person in your sports team will one day be glorified in Heaven forever or will forever be tormented in Hell.
There are no ordinary people.
Discuss
Every person is made in God’s image and therefore are incredibly valuable. How can this truth impact how you view for your sports friends?
Every person need grace more than anything else in life. How does this truth impact how you live amongst your sports friends?
Every person will spend eternity in heaven or hell. How does this truth shape how you pray for your teammates?
Pray
Thank God that those in your club have value because He created them.
Ask God to help you to see your friends through these realities.
Pray that you would have opportunities to say something of God’s grace to them this week.
Notices | 5 Mins
Update everyone on the key messages for the week. These might include:
Promoting your evangelistic event for the term
Reminding people about carol services and other events the group can make use of.
Resources to share
Share these resources with your group at the end or immediately after the meeting to encourage them.
Watch
The weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis
Encourage group members to sign up for Back Pages Online to stay up to date with the latest videos, blogs, stories, podcasts and prayer content from Christians in Sport.
