Competitive Drive

Introduction

An athlete’s competitive drive can be one of his or hers greatest assets or it can become one’s greatest liabilities. How one handles this powerful drive makes the difference between God-honoring competition and foolish, belligerent sport, which demeans one’s team and the Lord.

Application

1. Tell us about a time when your competitive drive was critical to your athletic performance.
2. Is the drive to compete something you’ve always had or has it developed over time? Explain.
3. How do you recognize a strong competitive drive in your teammates?

Bridge

1. Read about a great competitor in I Kings 18:20-40 (verses 22-24 listed here): “Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers with fire, He is God.”
2. What evidence of a competitive drive in Elijah can be found in this story?
3. How much did his competitive spirit cause him to risk?

Connection

1. How are your teammates similar to or different from Elijah in terms of competitive drive? Tell a story about one of them.
2. Elijah’s drive to compete led him to take some risks. What might you have to risk for your team to compete at its best?

Discovery

1. On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being absolutely out of control and 10 being totally surrendered to Christ’s control, how would you rate the state of your competitive drive?
2. How can your teammates help you and pray for you as you seek to raise your level of honoring Christ in competition?

Close

Memory verse: “Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”  - 1 Corinthians 9:24