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 for Christ this session will encourage us to make the most of the compelling community God has given in His Church.
Read
John 13:34-35
Acts 2:42-47
Reflect
What were some of the marks of the early church?
What impact did that have on others?
Explain
Church is a space where God is alive and active through His word being read and preached, through sung worship and prayer, and visible in the love and fellowship of his people, serving Him and one another. There should be something distinct and beautiful about church communities that draw visitors to Jesus.
Why wouldn’t we want our sports friends to experience that? Even if they find it a bit weird - they’re probably expecting that! Maybe that will be the thing that draws them in.
Acts shows how the gospel spread through the early church, not just the Apostles, but through every believer as they prayed for boldness, welcomed strangers, invited neighbours and spoke faithfully of Jesus. Every day they saw lives transformed by the Gospel!
The same Spirit who lived in them lives in us today, so that same radical culture that compelled many to follow Jesus, is a culture that we can build in our Churches today.
Discuss
How might you be able to display the love of Christ present in His church, to your friends in sport?
How might you talk about your church in a way that sparks curiosity in those you play your sport with?
How could you help ease social barriers they may have to coming to a Sunday service?
Pray
Thank God for His Church and the powerful witness that it produces.
Pray that God would help you to display this radically compelling community.
Pray that there would be opportunities to introduce your sports friends to Church.
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.
Read
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.
