Glory: Teamනියැදිය

Reflecting Glory I

WELCOME

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

God’s glory is reflected in my life as I become more like Him.

WARM-UP

Team Discussion: Does a mirror have its own image? When you look into a mirror what do you see? If you were a mirror, what image would you show?

WORKOUT

It’s fascinating how athletic programs are personified as being great, having good quality or producing athletes of a certain caliber. It’s as though the athletic program stands alone. However, every program is a collection of coaches, athletes and supporting staff working together to make that program what it is. When stellar athletes succeed at the next levels of play, glory and high expectations go back to the program from which those athletes came. Regardless of its current state, people will still it as the program that produced athlete John Doe. A program has no form, image or identity apart from the individuals at work within it. The program, in turn, bears the reputation generated by those who performed in its name.

I’ll never forget the words of my host teammate during my college recruiting visit. She said, “Get everything you can out of this university, because when you compete it’s not your name on your jersey, but the institution’s.” She made a great point. When I stepped on the track and the field, I reflected the institution, not myself. That means, what I did, the school did. In turn, I also reflect the glory and reputation of the school built by all those who came before me and succeeded under the banner of that same name.

Q. Reflecting on the idea that athletic programs are personified by the athletes who represent them, how can individual athletes contribute to shaping the reputation and identity of their program both positively and negatively, and what responsibility do you carry in representing your institution?

When Jesus was born into this world and lived among us, He did not take on His own form and identity. He was like a mirror tilted toward heaven. He came so that we could see the Father through Him. “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing” (John 5:19-20).

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are part of His team. You bear His name and therefore reflect His glory. At the same time, as your commitment, dedication and working well together as a team makes your athletic program look good, the way that you play and treat those around you on and off the field of play,gives glory to God. As the moon does not itself give off light, but reflects the light of the sun, in the same way, followers of Jesus Christ reflect the light of the Son as He (the Son) reflects the light of the Father.

Q. How can your team strive to reflect the character and values of Jesus Christ as a team.

Q. What impact might this have on the broader sports community?

WRAP-UP

Jesus reveals what true glory is. It is not about us or about making our name great. It’s about Him. We were not designed to absorb glory from other people but to give glory to God and reflect the glory He has given us. Neither do we need to seek glory from others or strive to glorify ourselves. As Jesus puts it, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—He is the one who glorifies me” (John 8:54).

"The one who speaks on his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him."-John 7:18

Q: In what ways have you seen God’s glory reflected through others?

Q: If you follow Christ, how do you reflect God’s glory?

Q: If you’re not ready to follow Christ, how do you think you’d reflect Him if you did?

Reflecting His Image will change the way you respond to others as you allow Him to produce the fruits of the Spirit within your life.