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Week 9: Greater Identity

Coach's Corner

Warm-Up

“But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name.” — John 1:12

One person in the group will pretend to be a famous athlete or celebrity [secretly given to them by the Huddle Leader] and give verbal clues to everyone else without saying the person’s name. The guessers will have 15 seconds to figure out the person’s fake identity.

  • What was the hardest part about trying to uncover the famous person’s identity?

Workout

Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. But when he visited the arena where he used to play, the Madison Square Garden security guards repeatedly asked to see his picture ID, what has his name and face on it, before letting him in. Patrick was not happy and felt like everyone should have known him without asking for his ID.

It’s a common feeling with popular athletes, coaches and other celebrities who they are and what they’ve done should let them to get in places just because they’re famous.

But the famous aren’t the only ones who can feel like that. Other athletes, maybe like yourself, feel the need to be seen, known and treated well. That’s because it’s easy to let your success as an athlete define who you are.

But God’s Word tells us that when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, our entire lives should be focused on Him and what He has done for us and wants to do through us.

  • Do you ever want to be seen as the star of the team? Why or why not?

Not long after Jesus was gone, there was a man named Paul (also known as Saul) who had a lot of pride because he was well known.  He was a religious leader. He was smart. He was successful in business.

Paul was also arresting Christians and having them killed for their faith.

But when Paul found Jesus (in Acts 9), something inside of him changed in a big way. He no longer only cared about all those things that he used to let define him. Now, the thing he cared about most was that he was a child of God and a follower of Christ:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, Christ lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20a

Paul now understood the Truth that God created him (in His image), loved him (enough to save him) and chose him (for a much greater purpose). And because of his new identity, Paul had the boldness and courage to tell the world about Jesus.

  • What is so good about of being known as a child of God?

Wrap-Up

When you join God’s family you know you have a new identity. You are new person in Jesus! Here are three key things to remember about taking on His identity:

  1. You are Created. God wanted you in His life, so, He created you with love and made you to be like Him. — Genesis 1:27
  2. You are Loved. Even though you were born a sinner, God still wants a relationship with you. That’s why He gave His Son to bring you back to Him. — Romans 5:8