Week Three

Striving and persevering - Games as training

Games and sports are often tests of our physical and mental endurance. Can we keep up, can we break ahead, can we push that last inch? This week our readings and prompts focus on the idea of sports and games as ways of training ourselves to persevere that bit further, to give that bit more. As we revisit this sporting theme it is compelling to think about metaphors of personal bests and pacing as we consider what it means to live in good times, with our loving God keeping time.

(This material is drawn from the Game On theme.)

Read Psalm 77

The psalmist, in a time of trouble, gets motivation by reaching out to God. Many of us when pushing against our limits when playing an intense sport or game find ourselves recalling past experiences to give us the strength to continue.

Can you think of a time when you had to ‘dig deep’ in the middle of a game, sport or another kind of competition? Maybe it was to push yourself over the finish line?

Remembering past experiences can help you dig deeper — in the middle of a game and in the middle of life. Can you think of a time when recalling memories from the past has helped you overcome an obstacle in your life?

Read Galatians 5: 13-25

Spending time working together as a team or striving graciously against an opponent in a game gives us ways of cultivating these fruits of the Spirit. How can playing games help you improve your self control? How can they help you to become more kind, generous and faithful?

What have you learned about yourself from playing games over the years? What kind of ‘player’ are you?

Read Hebrews 12: 1-3

Jesus is our pioneer, perfecter, and pacemaker! He helps us push that bit further. With Jesus setting the pace where might we end up?

Professional runners and cyclists have whole teams working obsessively to reduce any excess weight in their clothing and equipment to make them as aerodynamic as possible. Metaphorically speaking, what are some of the weights and distractions we need to leave behind so that we are better able to run along with Jesus?