Greater Fuel

WELCOME

“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.’” — John 6:35

As an athlete, you might be looking for nutritional and healthy ways to unlock your full potential. But with God, there is a greater fuel that will empower your body, mind, and spirit!

WARM-UP

GOOD FUEL, BAD FUEL

Your ability to compete at a high level is often determined by how you fuel your body. There’s good fuel, and there’s bad fuel. Good fuel works perfectly with all your natural systems—nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, etc. Bad fuel might give you a temporary boost but will run out quickly and can cause long-term damage.

Q: What are some good fuels that you consume that help you do your best (fruits, vegetables, natural or organic food, etc.)?

Q: What bad fuels drag you down and keep you from doing your best (energy drinks, pre-workout, illegal substances)?

WORKOUT

NATURAL FUEL

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge, and now more than ever, the sports world emphasizes what you put inside your body. Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix is a prime example of an elite competitor who extended her career far beyond the norm—and now many others are following her lead.

Unfortunately, many athletes are still tempted to take unethical and even illegal shortcuts that might have an immediate benefit but end up causing long-term and potentially life-threatening problems.

Q: What are some natural ways today’s athletes try to get the most out of their bodies and extend their careers?

Q: What shortcuts have you seen athletes take that might be beneficial for a time but bad for them later?

SPIRITUAL FUEL

The world has fuel for your body, mind, and spirit—drugs, alcohol, godless entertainment, false religions, and self-serving ideologies—that can keep you from getting closer to God. The world’s fuel can also have damaging, long-term effects on your mental and spiritual health.

But when your life is consumed with Jesus (the bread of life), His fuel will bring peace, freedom, and joy, and you will have a greater ability to share those fruit with others. The apostle Paul taught there are three most important spiritual gifts:

“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” —1 Corinthians 13:13

Your access to God’s greater fuel will change your identity as a competitor and empower you to fulfill the greater purpose to which He has called you.

Q: What are some things the world has to offer as fuel for your mind and spirit?

Q: What are some of the differences between the world’s fuel and God’s fuel?

WRAP-UP

GREATER FUEL

God is your Creator, and He knows (and through Jesus has given) what you need most to glorify Him. Here are three ways that Jesus’ greater fuel will impact all areas of your life:

1. Jesus fuels your faith. While the world offers fear, God offers belief in something bigger and better that goes beyond confusion and doubt.

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1

2. Jesus fuels your hope. While the world offers hopelessness, God promises a better today, a brighter future, and an unimaginable eternity.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13

3. Jesus fuels your love. While the world offers anger and hate, God offers unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless love that can flow to you and through you.

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” — 1 John 4:16

OVERTIME

Review some of the things the world has to offer as mental and spiritual fuel. Write some of them down in the spaces provided below and then use the other column to list God’s greater fuel that counters each of those things:

The World’s Fuel | God’s Fuel (Example: Fear | Faith)

Q: In what ways can you begin eliminating or limiting access to the world’s fuel?

Q: How can you begin to spend more time and energy receiving God’s fuel?