• 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.

Week 21 | Finding joy in your sport as a Christian

Introduction

As we connect our sport and faith this session will help us consider how we can find and experience joy in our sport which helps us glorify God.

Read

Read 1 Timothy 6:17

Reflect

What emotions do you think God wants you to experience as you live on earth and play your sport?

Explain

As Paul writes to Timothy about leading God’s people in godliness he helps us understand a beautiful characteristic of God, namely, he wants us to experience joy on earth. Notice how Paul explains this: earthly wealth is uncertain and can lead to arrogance, and therefore it is not worth putting any hope in. Contrastingly, those who put their hope in God will experience rich joy. Why? Because it is far better to know the gift giver, than just the gifts themselves!

As you train and compete in your sport you experience one of the many gifts God gives us here on earth. The amazing feeling that comes when you push your body, work as a team, or win a medal all flow not just from sport but from God, who delights to give you enjoyable experiences. The danger is that we then idolise the gifts or fail to be grateful to God for them.

By keeping God as your hope in life this can free you to live a life of gratitude and worship to him. Delighting in him and the gifts he gives you will bring glory to his name and give you much joy as you do it.

Discuss

1. How can you keep putting your hope and trust in God and not the material things of this world?
2. How does seeing God as the giver of all good things help you train and compete in your sport this week?
3. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude towards God for all he has given you?

Pray

• Ask God to help you see his goodness and grace in all areas of your life
• Ask God to help you see his goodness and grace in all areas of your lifehip.
• Pray that as you delight in God and your sport your friends in your sports clubs might see something different in you and this will lead to gospel conversations.
  

Update everyone on the key messages for the week. These might include:

• Sharing the student sign up link
• Encourging graduates 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.
• Promoting your evangelistic event for the term
• Plugging Sports Plus leader applications

Share these resources with your group at the end or immediately after the meeting to encourage them.

Listen

Does God care if I win or lose?

Watch

Why it's brilliant to be a Christian in sport

Read

Unwrapping Joy