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 help us to consider how and why we can prioritise praying for our sports friends.
Read
Read Matthew 6:5-8
Reflect
How would you reflect on your attitude towards prayer over this past year?
Explain
Prioritising prayer can be a challenge in our daily routines. Often our prayer life can be dictated by how we are feeling, how busy our timetable is or how we view our relationship with God. Before teaching his followers what to pray, Jesus teaches both how and why we can prioritise time praying.
1) We pray because of who God is
Our Father in heaven is the One who controls all things. He is the all powerful, all wise, all loving author of human history who sustains all things. And He is our Father. Our prayers are not heard based on our performance, but on our position as children of God. And our Father delights to hear His children’s prayers.
2) We pray because we are in relationship with God and can speak to him 24-7
God called you out of darkness to Himself. He spoke to you and continues to speak to you through His Word and through His Spirit. God speaks; and speech is the audible form of a real and living relationship. Therefore, we speak to God through prayer because we are in relationship with Him and because he knows what we need.
Discuss
In your own words, explain why we pray.
How do these truths encourage you?
In what ways can these truths shape how you pray for your sports friends this week?
Pray
Give thanks that we can call out to God in prayer at any time.
Ask God to grow your dependence on him in prayer as you understand more of who he is and the relationship you have with him through Christ.
Pray that God would supply all that you need as you seek to worship and witness for him in your sports club 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
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.
