Step one of this lesson on video!
Adult RLD–Mona–2018-10–02 from David C Cook on Vimeo.
OPENING ACTIVITY: Follow the Directions
Give pencils, paper, and copies of this list of instructions to each student to draw a stick figure:
- Read all these steps before moving forward; 2. Draw a circle for the head; 3. Draw a line coming down from the circle for the back; 4. Draw the right arm; 5. Draw the left arm; 6. Draw the left hand, with four fingers; 7. Draw the right hand with six fingers; 8. Draw the right foot with three toes; 9. Draw the left foot with two-and-a-half toes; 10. Don’t do steps 1-9; 11. Draw a star.
Observe how many people “obey” the instructions to read all the steps before moving forward. Note how much time some of them may have wasted not following the directions.
OPENING STORY: [Make copies or read the story aloud to your students]
OBEYING GOD IN THE BROADCAST BOOTH
Hall-of-Fame NFL coach Tony Dungy is now an analyst on NBC’s “Football Night in America.” Coach Dungy has always unapologetically identified himself as a follower of Christ—and so far, that doesn’t seem to have hindered the amount of air time he is given by NFL show producers. Coach Dungy believes the Lord continues to give him exposure on primetime TV to help Christian athletes share their faith.
Coach Dungy was once an NFL player himself, and then eventually coach of the Indianapolis Colts (where he and Peyton Manning led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLI).
The coach has recently put out a new inspirational children’s book series, Austin Plays Fair and Maria Finds Courage, which he co-wrote with his wife, Lauren. He is often asked about the pushback he received after reporting, on air, comments made about God by Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles prior to Super Bowl LII.
“He told me he felt that God had him on that Philadelphia Eagles team for a reason,” Dungy shared. “He had been the backup quarterback, now he was starting in the Super Bowl, and he felt confident he was going to have a good game because he believed God had him there for that purpose.”
Coach Dungy admitted that some people did not like him mentioning faith in his reporting. Others praised him for it.
“Many people wrote in and said, ‘Hey, I’m glad that you said and reported on exactly what he said and I’m glad you talked about his faith in Christ.’ ” Dungy continued, “I feel like that’s one of the reasons God has me at NBC, to be the voice for some of these Christian athletes who want to say those things.”
The sports analyst believes football players should have the freedom to credit whomever they want when talking about their skills and abilities on the field.
“People have to understand that Christian athletes have the same ability to espouse their views as anyone else has—and if we ask them a question about what is allowing them to play well, and they say, ‘It’s my faith in Christ’ or ‘It’s the Holy Spirit,’ we can’t hold that in, and we can’t begrudge them of that.”
Dungy further defended why he believes God gave him the job at NBC to report the truth.
“I am just thankful for the boldness of Coach Pederson and those Eagles players to express their faith,” he wrote. “I was proud to be able to use my job—where God placed me—to help their voice be heard.”
Now have your students form small groups to discuss their answers to these questions.
- How were the Eagle players, their coach, and Dungy all obedient to God in what they said and did?
- Why do some people feel that obeying God will somehow stifle what they really want out of life?
- How can disobedience (sin) hinder our ability to see how God wants to use us?
- What have been some of the positive results in your life that have clearly come out of obeying God?
Let’s take a look at how God used the unquestioning obedience of Noah to fulfill His purpose in a world that had rejected God’s sovereignty over them.
News Source:
https://www.christianpost.com/news/nfls-tony-dungy-god-gave-job-nbc-give-voice-christian-athletes-227169/