Glory: Teamنموونە

Revealed Glory I

WELCOME

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14

God’s glory is revealed to me through Jesus, and I can have a relationship with Him.

WARM-UP

Read John 1:1–18. Discuss with your team what you think this story has to do with God’s glory being revealed.

WORKOUT

Athletes and fans love a big reveal. Some athletes have the privilege of being part of the early stages of their uniform process. They might have had the chance to preview the concepts and vote for their favorite design. But nothing beats seeing that uniform in person for the first time. And, what about the highly recruited athletes who have their choice of schools? National Signing Day is a lot of fun for the athletes and their supporters when they step on camera sporting the hat or logo for the university of their choice. Then, when the athletes show up for competition for the first time in the shiny new threads, the fans go wild!

We could imagine that is how certain Israelites felt when Jesus Christ whom His people had been waiting for generations, showed up. In Luke 2:25-35, we read about Simeon, whom the Holy Spirit revealed he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon took Jesus in his arms, praised God, and said:

“Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation.You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.”—Luke 2:29-32

Q. Reflecting on the anticipation surrounding uniform reveals and National Signing Day in sports, how does the concept of "the big reveal" relate to the arrival of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and what significance does it hold for believers today?

Q. In the context of Simeon's reaction to seeing Jesus in the temple, how do you think encountering the presence of God in our lives compares to the excitement and joy experienced in sports moments like uniform reveals or National Signing Day?

The big reveal of Jesus was the very reason John was baptizing people in the Jordan River. After so many years of waiting for the Messiah, John could finally say, “Look,” when he saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing people, “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” When John baptized Jesus, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended down on him like a dove. “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17). Talk about a big reveal!

Jesus Christ is the person of God who came into the world and lived among mankind. He professed that those who have seen Him have seen the Father and those who know Him will also know His Father (John 14:7-8; 8:19). Jesus made it clear that He and God are One and to know One you must get to know the other, also.

Q. Drawing parallels between John the Baptist's proclamation of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" and the concept of "the big reveal," how can athletes use their platform to point others towards the revelation of God's presence and purpose in their lives?

Q. What are the things that you would like God to reveal to you about Himself?

WRAP-UP

God has revealed Himself to you through Jesus Christ. Now you have a choice. You can accept Him as He is or you can choose to keep searching. If you keep searching, however, you’ll never find another God who not only created you but sent His one and only Son to die for you so that you may have a relationship with Him and spend eternity with Him in His glory.

If you have decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, in what ways have you seen Him revealed in your life?

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then speak with someone who has about why they made that decision and see if they can help answer questions you have.

God’s Glory Revealed: Jesus came to cover our sins so we could be in a relationship with Him. See John 1:14