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Week 4: God Gives Everyone Salvation

Coach's Corner

Warm-Up

“[God] gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.” — Ephesians 2:5b

I’m going to pass out bracelets that will help you remember the Bible’s truths about something we call “The FOUR.”

There are four icons that surround the bracelet:

  • The heart will help you remember that, “God Loves You.”
  • The division sign will help you remember that, “Sin Separates You.”
  • The cross will help you remember that, “Jesus Rescues You.”
  • The question mark is there to ask, “Will You Trust Him?”

When I point to each icon, say the words that go with each picture. Each time, say it louder!

Workout

When you’re playing sports, you can make plenty of mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes might cost you the game or the feeling of letting your team down.

Let’s break into groups of two or three and ask each other the following questions:

  1. What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made during competition?
  2. How did you feel after you made that mistake?

Let’s have three or four people share what they’ve discussed so far in their groups.

Making a mistake during competition is never the end of the world even though we’ve all felt like it is at some point.

But in your life, when you disobey what God wants you to do, that’s called sin. Sin damages your relationships with other people and with God. It keeps you from experiencing the fulfilling life that God intends for you. The result: you are eternally separated from God and the life He planned for you.

Take a moment to think about the biggest mistake/sin (intentional or not) you have ever made in your life.

Now, to yourself, think about your answers to these questions:

  1. How did you feel immediately after you made that mistake/sin?
  2. How do you feel now when you think about that mistake/sin?

Sometimes, we feel remorseful immediately after we sin. It may take a while before we truly understand what we have done. And sometimes, it takes a long time before we can forgive ourselves for our mistakes.

But here’s the great news. Sin doesn’t stop God from loving you. Because of God’s great love for us, He sent His Son Jesus to give His life for you. At the cross, Jesus took your place and paid the penalty of death that you deserve for your sins. Jesus died, but He rose to life again. Jesus offers you peace with God and a personal relationship with Him. Through faith in Jesus, you can experience God’s love daily, discover your purpose, and have eternal life after death.

Because sinning is natural to humans, you are inclined to make mistakes, every day. But with God, we don’t have to worry about feeling worthless or undeserving of love when we sin because of what Jesus paid. When you believe in Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, you are saved! How cool is that?

In the Bible, we learn that “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23

God raised Jesus back to life so you can have a personal relationship with Him. You can discover your true purpose and have eternal life in Heaven one day. We see this truth in the Bible:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16

What an awesome gift of salvation that God has given us!

Wrap-Up

Here are a few questions I’d like you to ask yourself between now and the next time we meet:

  1. Why do you think God would send Jesus to die for your sins?
  2. Do you feel like you deserve that sacrifice? Why or why not?
  3. What do you feel like God is asking you to do in response?

Now, let me leave you with one final question this week: If you believe that God created you because He loves you, and you also believe that through Jesus Christ, we are saved from our sins, will you trust Jesus with your life? As you compete this week, don’t hesitate to talk to one of your coaches or another mature Christian you trust about these questions.

Let’s take a moment to close our Huddle Time in prayer:

“Dear God, I believe that You sent Jesus to die for my sins and that You raised Him back to life again. I want You to be Lord of my life. Help me to surrender to You. Amen.”