• 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 8 | Building Genuine friendships

Introduction

As Christian students worshipping Christ and witnessing for him in our university sports club this session will help us think about being genuine and intentional with those we train and compete alongside.

Read

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Reflect

What strikes you about Paul’s heart and desire towards the Thessalonians?

Explain

Despite not spending a great amount of time in Thessalonica (read more in Acts 8) Paul loved the Thessalonians and cared deeply for them (v8). Out of this heart of love, his actions flowed. Not only did he courageously share the gospel with them (v1-6), he was also genuine and intentional with how he shared his own life with them (v7-12).

To be a faithful witness of Jesus lets seek to build genuine care, time and energy into our friendships with those in our sports club; learn about them, what they like/dislike, have shared experiences with them. Our friends need to trust us if we are to expect them to explore questions of faith with us. Therefore, are your friendships superficial with those you train and compete alongside or are you seeking to build genuine relationships where you care deeply for them. And as you do this, are you being intentional with your actions and your words in order for them to see Jesus in you and hear the gospel for clearly for themselves?

Discuss

1. How does the gospel motivate you to live amongst those you train and compete alongside?
2. How can you grow in genuine love and care for your sports friends? And how might this overflow into your actions and words towards them?
3. Why is it important that our friends still hear the gospel alongside our genuine care for them?

Pray

• Praise God for those who have lovingly lived out and shared the gospel with you.
• Thank God for the relationships he has given you in your sport. And ask God to help you build genuine friendships that love and care for those you train and compete alongside.
• Pray that God can help you be intentional in your friendships and share your life and share the gospel with some one in your sports club this week.

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

E55 - Anastasia Chitty, the Team GB rower

Watch

How do I develop lasting friendships with sportspeople? | Sharing life & Jesus in sport

Read

How do I develop lasting friendships with sportspeople?