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 Pray, Play, Say Together as a group this session will remind us that we have a God that we can pray to no matter how we’re feeling.
Read
Hebrews 4:14-16
Reflect
How do you feel about approaching God’s throne?
Explain
At the start of Chapter 4 the author teaches ‘that nothing in creation is hidden from God’s sight… and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account’. This is terrifying for everyone as the deepest and darkest secrets of our hearts will be exposed.
Yet, we can have confidence, because in Hebrews 4:14-16, we are shown to have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven and now sits on the throne of grace.
Jesus himself has died for our sin and in the throne room of heaven, he intercedes for us. We have been forgiven and he acts on our behalf. Not only that, Jesus has been tempted in every way but never sinned; he is able to relate to every emotion, pain and struggle we have ever experienced meaning he can sympathise with us in all of life.
Therefore, the author writes to encourage us to approach God’s throne with confidence, because that is where we find mercy and grace.
As we play our sports for Jesus, we have a God who we can approach at all times. Who will graciously listen to us in our times of need. When we get it wrong in your sport - getting angry with teammates, cheating when no one’s watching, allowing our sport to feed our egos – we can approach God’s throne. Even in the private moments of shame and guilt, we can still approach the throne of grace with confidence and speak to God himself because in Christ, you are forgiven.
Discuss
How does understanding God in light of these verses shape your view of Him?
How do these verses give you confidence to pray to him?
What could it look like to make prayer foundational in your life and sport?
Pray
Pray to God repenting for those times in your sport recently that you have not lived for him
Praise God for Jesus and all that he has done and is doing for you
Thank God that he is a God who can sympathise and listens to us
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
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.
