WARM-UP
Let’s review!
Who is the vine? (Jesus)
Who is the gardener? (God)
Who is the branches? (we are)
WORKOUT
When you listen to your coach, do you play better or worse? Why do you think that is?
You’re right. Most of the time we do better because our coach usually knows more and wants to help us. Jesus tells us that if we remain in Him, we will produce fruit. The more time we spend listening to the coach and doing what he or she says, the better athlete we become. The more time we spend listening to Jesus the more fruitful our lives will be. Fruit is the proof we listened and obeyed Jesus.
What might be some fruit/skills that grow in our sport? (better ball handling, better shot/hit %, less fouls/penalties, better emotional control)
What could be fruit in our lives? (nicer, calmer, more grateful, welcoming)
We talked last week about how it would be confusing if we didn’t have a coach. Remembering our role on the team is important for the team’s success. It is important to also remain coachable – someone who willing to keep learning. Sometimes we have to change some things to get better at our sport and life.
What is something you need to stop doing to be a better athlete or teammate?
Our verse for this week talks about the idea of pruning or cutting back to get more. It seems backwards but it is proven to work. In sports, pruning looks like a coach giving you feedback on your performance or a certain skill. If you follow that feedback, you will improve. Athletes who are coachable and listen to the different areas where improvement is needed grow faster just like a branch that has the extra cut away.
WRAP-UP
It isn’t always easy to hear the things that we need to improve. But knowing that the heart behind it is to make you more fruitful should change your attitude. God’s heart is the same for our lives. He prunes our bad habits so we can grow more in His ways.
Let’s pray!
“Lord, thank You that You want us to be fruitful. Thank You for taking the time to show us what we need to change in our lives. Give us hearts to receive that without taking offense. Help us to change so we can produce a lot of fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Let’s break Huddle. Hands in! 1-2-3- Proven!