Devotional 1
Scripture Focus: “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” Hosea 6:3
Theme: Knowing Your Head Coach
Just like basketball needs a great head coach, so does life. God is truly life’s best Head Coach. We want to encourage you to take time these coming weeks to know and better understand God, your Head Coach in life. Just as your coach during this league will help you to be the best player you can be, and help you better understand the sport you are participating in, God wants to help you be the best person you can be and help you better understand the game of life.
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
Today’s Drill (application/prayer):
Coaches – Pray for a “successful” season, for safety, and that we can know God, our life’s Head Coach, better during this season.
Devotional 2
Scripture focus: “Before I formed you… I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
Theme: The Head Coach knows his players well! (God knows you)
While a coach needs time to get to know his players, the Bible says that God knew us even before we were born, and that He knows us better than we know ourselves! In the Scripture focus above, It also says that God “consecrated us”, which simply means that God highly values and loves us. So while some coaches appreciate their players based mostly on their players’ performance, you can know that God’s love for us, and SMG’s coaches love and appreciation for you, goes far beyond your performance on the court. While He wants us to do our best every time we play and practice (Colossians 3:23), He loves us regardless of our performance or the game’s outcome. He wants us to feel the same way about ourselves.
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
Today’s Drill (application/prayer):
Coaches: Pray that during this league, we would learn to know and understand God more, make new friends, and help others know God as well. Pray also that we remember that if we ever feel lost in life, we are not alone, because God knows us, loves us, and is always here for us (through his word, through church fellowship, through prayer, etc.).
Devotional 3
Scripture focus: “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for good not for evil, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Theme: Game Plan (God has a plan for our life)
A coach may have the best game plan in the world, but if his players don’t follow the plan or trust the coach, the team will lose its direction and face additional challenges that will keep the team from succeeding.
The same is true in life. God, our Head Coach, has a game plan for our lives. His plan is that we know Him, share Him, become more like Him, and spend eternity with Him in heaven. If we choose not to follow His plan, we will lose our direction in life, and miss the eternal goal that God wants for us…spending eternity together with Him.
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
Today’s Drill (application/prayer):
Application - If you (players) have experienced God’s presence in your life, find one friend during the league that you can share it with.
Prayer – Thank God that He wants us on His “team”, and that He, who created us in His image, loves us unconditionally. He wants nothing more than for us to spend eternity with Him.
Devotional 4
Scripture focus: “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuilding, correcting, and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Theme: Playbook (Bible)
Every sport has a playbook which teaches the players rules, techniques, conduct and strategies. A playbook’s purpose is to give players the best opportunity to understand the game they are playing, so they can play it to their fullest.
In life, God also gives us a playbook known as the Bible. It helps us reach our full potential as a person. The Bible helps us to learn the difference between right and wrong, how to make good decisions, and to avoid situations in life that can hurt us. The Bible helps us understand who God is, and how we can have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. His word also teaches us that when we choose not to follow His word, our relationship with God is affected and life can become more difficult.
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
Today’s Drill (application/prayer):
Application - Coaches: Challenge your players to begin and end their day by reading their Bible.
Prayer - Pray that just as a sports playbook can help us have a better understanding of our sport, each person can and should take time to read life’s “playbook”, the Bible, in order to increase understanding of God and how they can develop their relationship with Him through His Son Jesus.
Devotional 5
Scripture focus: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15
Theme: Perfect Teammate (Jesus)
Compassion is one of the characteristics that stands out the most when reading about the life of Jesus, and was one of His greatest attributes. He was filled with compassion for people, and has compassion for you and me in our times of need. Even when tired, Jesus never turned anyone away. He is the perfect teammate!
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
The Bible says that Jesus was often very tired and worn down from traveling with His disciples and from always having large crowds follow Him around. Yet He always showed an amazing compassion for sick, hungry, and lost people. Seeing Jesus’ compassion should inspire us to pray for and seek to have a greater compassion for others.
Scripture focus: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if I only finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:22-24 (NIV)
Theme: Finish What You Started
Paul modeled the quality of perseverance in Acts, and as we see in Acts 20:22-24, he did it even in the face of physical harm and uncertainty. Paul also had incredible endurance for spreading the Gospel. At one point he lectured for two years to spread the Word (Acts 19:10).
Jesus is waiting on the other side of the finish line of life, and He doesn't care about our times during the race. He does care about our character and our perseverance when the race gets tough. Do you have what it takes to start and finish the race with Jesus?
Time Out (reflection/discussion):
Today’s Drill (application/prayer):
Coaches: Pray that each player has the strength to finish what they started. While it is important to persevere and finish the season, it is even more important to persevere life with Jesus by our side. It is not just about finishing, but also reaching that goal that was set at the beginning. Our finish line is with Jesus in heaven.