Glory: TeamSample

Chasing Glory I

WELCOME

“Everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”—Isaiah 43:7

I’m created for God’s glory, not chasing my own.

WARM-UP

Each member of the team answers the questions: Who are you and what makes you special?

WORKOUT

Glory. Honor. Praise. Accolades.

The desire for these words runs through the core of the athlete’s DNA. Tiffany was a stellar athlete who thrived on the energy of the audience’s cheers. Her sport was the one place she felt able to experience the validation she craved. The attention offered her purpose, significance and meaning. She approached every competition with the expectation of her own glory on her mind. She hoped to be elevated, talked about, admired and remembered. She wanted all of these things that truly belonged to God.

The desire for glory is natural. We understand glory to be the praise, attention and celebration we’re immersed in when we accomplish something great or for just being who we are. Glory is said to also be magnificence and beauty.

We even see that in the Bible. In Genesis 11:1-6 mankind settled in a place called Shinar. They had one big goal for their team. They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.” They were not wrong to have a lofty goal for their team. The flaw was the motivation. The focus was not merely to come together and build a city, it was to make a name for themselves. They wanted to be seen, known and praised. They wanted glory.

Isaiah 43:7 reveals that we are created for God’s glory not our own. God made every one of us with the talent and gift that we use to pursue our goals and build our lives. The talents we have at varying degrees are special. Those gifts inspire, impress even encourage others in athletics and beyond. Pedestals naturally form because of the skills of athletes and the entertainment they provide. There are programs and entire industries built on and around them. These high towers can be used to promote many things from products to ideas. We can choose to display ourselves or the Lord from whom the talent came and to whom the talent already belongs. As it says in Revelation 4:11, “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”

The program that you are part of and building as a team will project many things as you build the brand and reputation.

Q. What values, ideals, behavior and examples will you display for viewers to see?

Q. When your program is elevated to what or to whom will you give the glory?

When you use your platform to elevate you, you find yourself trying desperately to satisfy an unfillable void. There will never be enough attention, followers, views or approval. You could instead choose to elevate the One hidden at the foundation of your success. The One who gives each member of your team the necessary skills and brings them together at just the right time to build an experience for each of you and those around you to enjoy. The glory belongs to God first and God alone, because He is the one who made it all in the first place.

Q. What are some things for which you can give God credit inside and outside of your sport?

Q. What is most challenging about directing glory to God instead of absorbing it yourself?

Q. What benefits do you see to giving God glory?

WRAP-UP

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”

We give praise, honor and glory to people who build successful programs. We put their names on buildings, write about them, tell their stories in the media, talk about them at the dinner table, model our programs after them and try to imitate their approach with the hopes of achieving what they have. We give them glory.

Q. What can you do individually and as a team to be like the Heavens and give glory to God who created everything?

Chasing My Glory —The natural desire for glory within athletes is a direct contrast with our creation to glorify God.