Tag Archives: discipline

Lessons from the 2010 Youth Olympic Games

August 11, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

In 1st Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul writes:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

While the Olympic Games as we know them today were not practiced at during Paul’s time, in the ancient city of Corinth they did hold athletic competitions. Paul used these sports events to teach the Corinthians about God!

With the first Youth Olympic Games taking place in Singapore in less than 3 days, sporting events can once again be used to draw comparisons between athletics and sports and spiritual truths. As your youth are drawn to the sporting events of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, here are some spiritual truths that you can use for your youth meetings, youth cell groups, youth Bible Studies, or youth sermons:

Run for the heavenly prize

Just as the young Olympic Athletes must exert his or her greatest possible efforts to gain the prize. In the same way, as Christians, we must exert out greatest possible efforts to that to spread the Gospel, straining for the heavenly prize that lies ahead.

Avoid anything that might prevent us from achieving the goal

To achieve that goal and to receive the trophy, Olympic Athletes are forced to refrain from many things. These things are not necessarily bad, but they might hinder them in the pursuit of their goal. In the same way, as Christians, we must refrain from things that hinder us in one way or another one to being effective in the ministry of spreading the Gospel.

Work for an eternal glory

All effort of an Olympic Athlete is directed to receive a crown that will not last. This was especially true in the days of Paul, because athletes did not receive medals like today’s Olympians, but only a wreath of laurel. Only the champion received it and there were no awards for second or third place. The champion, received honor that lasted until another became a champion, and then it was forgotten little by little. While we do not work for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Christian’s effort in the Gospel will be rewarded with an eternal glory in heaven.

Compete according to the rules

Another truth from the life of a young Olympic Athlete is mentioned by Paul when he said:

“Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5)(NASB)?

There are rules in each Olympic competition, and anyone who violates them is disqualified. In the same way, as Christians, God has established rules that are written in the Bible. We fall short every time we break one of those rules. But through Christ we can all become more than victors.

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Announcements

2010 Youth Olympic Games Bible Study Resources

August 4, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

The streets here in Singapore have really been busy with one major event about to explode into action. If you haven’t heard about it by now, it’s the first time this little island nation I call home will be hosting an international sporting event – the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Not only is it the first time we’re hosting something this big, it’s the first Youth Olympic Games to be held ever!

I thought a great way to celebrate this international youth sporting event would be to launch not one but two Youth Bible Study series / Youth Camp Curriculum that are sports themed. It doesn’t matter which part of the world you’re in, you’ve probably heard of the Olympics. Likely, your youth would have heard about the 2010 Youth Olympic Games too. We hope to support you with these great sports-themed studies, something that they can easily relate to and invite their pre-believing friends to participate in too.

Introducing, “Go for the Gold”

Click below to learn more…
“Go for the Gold” – Youth Olympic Game themed Bible Study Series

This is an evangelistic youth Bible Study or Youth Camp Curriculum. I’m taking a step of faith here in the vein of the good work of what the Alpha course is doing to reach out to pre-believing youth in five 1-2 hour sessions, to share the truth about salvation using the Olympic rings as a backdrop to the Bible studies. This study can also be used as an evangelistic tool for mature Christians to reach out to their own friends and loved ones.

Plus, “Destined to Win”

Click below to learn more…
“Destined to Win” – Youth Sports themed Bible Study Series (Great for the Youth Olympics too)

This sports-themed Bible Study or Camp Curriculum covers what it takes to run the Christian race. It’s a great follow-up study to “Go for the Gold” as the content focuses on answering “What’s next?” and “What is my spiritual destiny?” In five 1-2 hour sessions, I hope to impart what it takes to run the Christian race.

Your youth will learn:

Put on Your Running Shoes
“The Spiritual Race and Characteristics of Good Athletes”
(I Corinthians 9:24-27)
Cross Training
“A Healthy Spiritual Diet and Exercise”
(I Timothy 4:8)
Crossing the Goal
“Don’t Give Up, Don’t Look Back, Focus on the Goal and Do What It Takes”
(Philippians 3:12-14, 17-21)
Staying In Your Lane and On Track
“Discovering God’s Will”
Various scriptures
A Trophy or Atrophy
“Choosing to Live for Christ”
(II Timothy 4:7-8)

If you’re not running any more camps this season, not to worry, I’ve designed this curriculum to be used for your Bible Studies, Sunday School or Small Groups.

Find out more about how you can challenge your youth to “Go for the Gold” and “run the race” towards their spiritual destiny by clicking on the links below:

Go for the Gold

Destined to Win

With YOUth on my heart
Ken

Creative Teaching Ideas

Grasshopper Olympics

April 8, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Introduction
Announce that today we are going today we are going to have some grasshopper Olympics.
Whoever wins will be crowned King of the Grasshoppers!

Materials
Masking tape and a few jump ropes.

Preparation
Tape two 4-foot strips of masking tape to the floor, 12 to 15 feet apart to use as goal lines for the following special relays/ jumping competitions. You may wish to get the youth to warm up doing a few jumping jack exercises.

Grasshopper Competitions

High jump (Mark the jumps on the wall with a piece of tape)
Number of consecutive skips using a jump rope.
Greatest number of people jumping successfully at the same time using a single jump rope.
Most spectacular trick using a jump rope
Long jump from a stand still – line them up along the line and let them jump forward.
Least number of jumps to reach the opposite line
Running long jump… allow to run and jump from the line without crossing over the line.

Take it to the next level

Award the King of the grasshoppers with a crown of grass! Then ask:

Is being compared to a grasshopper a good thing or a put down?
Read Numbers 13:33

In this story, the Israelites saw themselves as grasshoppers. They saw the Guinness World Record breaking inhabitants of the land and in comparison saw themselves as small little grasshoppers. Their focus was on their own limited abilities instead of God’s great promises. When we focus on ourselves we often get the wrong perspective on things. We need to learn to see things from God’s perspective. A king of the grasshoppers may be insignificant, but the King of Kings, God with us, can accomplish anything God desires. God promised the land to the Israelites. His promises never fail. All they needed to do was trust Him and follow in obedience. Instead they ran away in fear.

What is it in your life that you need to trust God for?
What promises of God are applicable to that area of your life?
How can you claim those promises and walk in obedience?

When you do, God will replace fear with victory in your life!

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Teaching Illustrations

Rabbit on the Swim Team

December 26, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that – except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed “charlie horses” from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there…”

The obvious moral of that story is a simple one – each creature has its own set of capabilities in which it will naturally excel -unless it is expected or forced to fill a mold that doesn’t fit. When that happens, frustration, discouragement, and even guilt bring overall mediocrity or complete defeat. A duck is a duck – and only a duck. It is built to swim, not to run or fly and certainly not to climb. A squirrel is a squirrel – and only that. To move it out of its forte, climbing, and then expect it to swim or fly will drive a squirrel nuts. Eagles are beautiful creatures in the air but not in a foot race. The rabbit will win every time unless, of course, the eagle gets hungry.

Source: Unknown

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Teaching Illustrations

Helping Others Win

August 20, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.

They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back……every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story… Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Devotional

Training for the Race

August 18, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Micheal Phelps — Michael Phelps won 8 Gold Medals in the Beijing Olympics

The world watched with amazement as 22-year-old Michael Phelps seized 8 Olympic Gold Medals in the Olympics in Beijing. Amazingly this was in addition to another 6 Gold medals in the previous Olympic games. And the 8 Gold medal victories were not in solely personal events but also team efforts. Victory could only be achieved together. He carried his segment of the race, and could only watch as his team members each carried their own segments. – spurring one another on to ultimate victory!

Most amazing was the 200-meter butterfly where, after diving into the pool, his goggles began to fill up with water so that by the last 50 meters he could not even see his goal. After the race he tossed his goggles aside in frustration and stared at the official results. He had still won, even breaking his own world record in the process.

“I couldn’t see the wall. I was just hoping I was winning,” he later told reporters. He had simply relied on his training and counted his strokes to his goal. In one of the many news stories on this amazing swimmer, it was mentioned that he trained EVERY day for 4 ½ hours a day. This included his birthday and even Christmas. 4 ½ hours a day, 365 days a year, for four years since the last Olympics. He credited his coach with giving him benchmarks and smaller goals along the way to his Ultimate Goal of eight Gold Medals at the Olympics. For many of the Gold Medals, he was not only victorious, but broke world records by a fairly big margin in a sport often measured by hundredths of a second.

More than one swimmer had set Phelp’s defeat as their goal. “Before the 200 meter Free style, South Korea’s Park Taehwan said, “I will defeat Phelps tomorrow.” “Everyone on the planet is trying to make him work, giving him obstacles,” said Milorad Cavic, the Serbian Swimmer who was closest to defeating him and lost by only one hundredth of a second. The world deemed 8 Olympic goals as impossible. But Phelps, through daily discipline and training, found victory in every test!

I believe the same is often true in our spiritual lives. How often do we set goals yet fail to measure up? So often we are overwhelmed with the voices of discouragement. Principalities and forces in the heavenly realms are focused on our defeat. (Ephesians 6:12)

We fix our eyes on the goal, on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith. (Hebrews 12:1-3) But then when we finally stretch out and reach for our goal, our vision is hampered, and we can no longer see the goal ahead. It is at these times that the daily discipline and training carries us through. (1 Corinthians 9:25 – 27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Like Phelps, if we are to achieve that ultimate goal for which God has called every one of us, we have to have incremental goals and daily disciplines. Luckily, God doesn’t come into our lives and demand that everything change immediately. His Spirit works with us in small ways, slowly transforming us to experience personal victories as well as corporate victories in the body of Christ. Many of those victories are personal, but many are also achieved only through the combined efforts of the Body of Christ as we spur one another on and exercise the individual gifts he has given us for the common good. (Hebrews 10:24, 1 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 3:13, Galatians 6:9)

Are there areas of your life where victory seems impossible? Are the voices of discouragement overwhelming? Do the circumstances of life seem set on your defeat? Does God’s purpose in your life seem out of focus or completely obscured? Then focus daily on your spiritual disciplines, on the Spirit’s moment-by-moment promptings and you will one day see clearly and realize fully God’s victories through your life! Present yourself daily as a living sacrifice. Keep yourself on the altar! The biggest problem with Living sacrifices is we keep crawling off the altar! (Romans 12:1-2)

Whenever you feel like giving up, read 2 Corinthians 4:7-16. As Christians, even when we cannot see the goal, we don’t have to simply “hope” we are winning. Victory is assured in Christ! Even when the world seems against us, Christ is working in us and through us! Don’t lose heart! (2 Cor. 4:16)

Don’t give up! With God, ALL things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreakers: Olympic Sport Pantomimes

August 14, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
Use these Olympic Sports related Icebreakers for a sports related or Olympics related meeting.

Use this list of sports as a resource for the next few icebreakers:

Baseball
Basketball
Bobsledding
Bowling
Boxing
Canoeing
Chess
Cross-country Skiing
Darts
Diving
Downhill
Skiing
Fencing
Football
Fencing
Figure skating
Golf
Gymnastics
Horseshoes
Ice Hockey
Kayaking
Luge
Ping-pong
Rappelling
River Rafting
Rock Climbing
Horseshoes
Rugby
Ski Jump
Slalom
Soccer
Speed skating
Swimming
Synchronised swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling

Olympic Icebreaker Ideas

Give youth different sports to pantomime. Let the rest of the youth guess the sports.
Give youth different items of equipment for various sports to pantomime. Let the rest of the youth guess the items.
Tell us about your most embarrassing moment while participating in a sport.
Tell us about your greatest triumph while participating in a sport.

Take it to the next level

Ask you to name a sports figure they admire and to explain why.
What characteristics of athletes are also admirable in Christians?
In what ways is the Christian life like various sports?

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreaker: Famous Olympic Athletes

August 13, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
This icebreaker is appropriate during the Olympics or for special sports events.

Preparation
On small slips of paper write down the names of numerous athletes. (Best if they are the more prominent athletes from the Olympic Games or the more famous athletes from a variety of sports.)

What to do

Tape the names of Olympic athletes to the back of students as they arrive.
The task of the students is to discover which Olympic athlete’s name is pinned on their backs by asking only “yes” or “no” questions.
This continues until everyone arrives and has learned the name of the famous Olympic athlete on his/her back.
Then go around the group and ask each youth their name, favorite Olympic sport, and other information you might like to know.

Famous Olympic Athletes

Here’s a few well known Olympic athletes to get you started

Bruce Jenner – Track and Field
Carl Lewis – Track and Field
Dorothy Hamill – Figure Skating
Edwin Moses – Track and Field
Eric Heiden – Speed Skating
Ian Thorpe – Swimming
Jesse Owens – Track and Field
Jim Thorpe – Track and Field
Lance Armstrong – Cycling
Mark Spitz – Swimming
Mary Lou Retton – Gymnastics
Michael Phelps – Swimming
Muhammed Ali – Boxing
Nadia Comaneci – Gymnastics
Usain Bolt – Track and Field

Keen to use some of the most promising Athlete from the 2012 Olympic Games in London?
Here’s a list of the top 2012 Olympic Athletes to Watch

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreakers: Spiritual Sports Similies

August 12, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
Youth will compare thier spiritual life to an Olympic sport.

What to do
Ask each youth what sport best describes his/her spiritual life and why.
“My spiritual life is like ____________ because __________________.”

A list of sports is included below if the youth need help thinking of some.

Baseball
Basketball
Bobsledding
Bowling
Boxing
Canoeing
Chess
Cross-country Skiing
Darts
Diving
Downhill
Skiing
Fencing
Football
Fencing
Figure skating
Golf
Gymnastics
Horseshoes
Ice Hockey
Kayaking
Luge
Ping-pong
Rappelling
River Rafting
Rock Climbing
Horseshoes
Rugby
Ski Jump
Slalom
Soccer
Speed skating
Swimming
Synchronised swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Teaching Illustrations

A Father’s Support

June 5, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

In the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona Derek Redmond of Great Britain was on the way to fulfilling his lifetime dream of winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

He had earned a spot in the semifinals of the 400 meter race, and as the gun sounded to start the race, Derek got off to a great start. He was running the race of his life, and the finish line was in sight, when suddenly he felt a stab of pain in his right leg. He fell face first onto the track with a torn hamstring.

The race was over for Derek. He struggled to his feet before the medical team could reach him. Though every runner had passed him, he began hopping forward, tears of pain and disappointment streaking his face, determined to finish the race.

Suddenly, a man plowed through the security guards on the sidelines and ran onto the track. He raced up to Derek and hugged him, “You don’t have to do this,” Jim Redmond told his weeping son. “Yes I do,” Derek answered. “Well, then,” his father said, “we’re going to finish the race together.”

Derek’s father gripped his son around the shoulders, and they faced the finish line, resolutely waving off the security men who hovered around them. They limped and hopped together, Derek’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, and stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end.

The watching crowd gaped at first at the unusual scene. Then one by one, they rose to their feet, and began cheering and crying at the son’s determination and the father’s support.

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

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