• 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).

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 5 | Identity in Christ

Introduction

As we connect our sport and faith this session will help us understand how our identity in Jesus transforms how we live in our sports clubs and teams.

Read

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12

Reflect

As Christian sports people, we may find ourselves conforming to the sports culture around us in order to gain the respect of our friends, or alternatively, we are tempted to withdraw because we feel like the ‘odd one out’. How do you find this dilemma?

Explain

As Peter writes to Christians scattered across modern day Turkey who are being opposed for their faith, he reminds them of who they are (v9) which comes as a result of God’s saving grace (v10). In light of this, Peter urges them to live out their new found identities because: ‘understanding who you are, shapes how you live!’

As a Christian you may feel like a foreigner and exile in your sports club, and feel the pressure to conform or withdraw. Peter urges you to remember your identity in Christ and therefore, abstain from sinful desires when the pressure is to conform. But rather than withdraw from them, remain amongst your sports friends, in the prayerful hope that they too may come to know Jesus through the way you live.

(Note – 1 Peter 2 proposes a general principle of what it looks like to live as a Christian in the culture around you however, there will be times where it is wise and Godly to withdraw. This is conversation to be had with the help and accountability of people from your church).

Discuss

1. How can you regularly remind yourself of your true identity in Christ?
2. How does understanding this identity encourage you to live for Jesus in your sports club this week?
3. Are you more tempted to withdraw or conform in the culture of your sports club? How can you find encouragement and support in your church and through your CIS group?

Pray

• Praise God for the truths found in v9-10.
• Ask God to help you not conform or withdraw, but wisely and boldly live for Jesus in your sports club this week.
• Pray that you can support one another as a group through the challenges you face in the culture of university sport.

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

• Sharing the student sign up link
• Promoting your evangelistic event for the term
• Plugging New Year Training
• Reminding people about carol services and other events the group can make use of.

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

Listen

How do I approach sports team initiations?

Watch

Our motivation to keep living for Jesus in the world of sport

Read

Who are you?