In life it’s easy to get caught up in playing for the approval and the opinions of others, but in the end, it’s not our scoffers or critics by whom we will be judged, only God. This book offers 52 weekly devotions for what it looks like to play for an audience One—to seek first the approval of God over all other voices and influences in our lives.

This doesn’t mean you have no affinity or accountability to your teammates, coaches, family members, or neighbors. Playing for the audience of One means those relationships will be more deeply impacted by the fact that you are playing for a bigger purpose—the chief aim being to please your God and bring Him alone the glory in your life. Playing for an audience of One means you will bring honor to your godly leaders, while ignoring the critics, the haters, and those who are not in your corner. It will even entail overcoming your most difficult opponent: yourself (your fears, your insecurities, your doubts, your lack of confidence). None of these need to get the final word in your performance or the spiritual marathon you are running. By playing for an audience of One, you choose to put God first over all others, including those inner voices that speak contrary to God’s best intentions and His ultimate reign over your life.

Each devo comes with a prayer and questions for personal reflection or group discussion, fitting for athletes, coaches, parents of athletes, and sports ministry leaders who work with athletes. The format of the devos also work well for fostering devotional times and gospel sharing at sports camps/clinics during mission trips.

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SESSIONS:

1. The Inner Battle

2. No Condemnation

3. Discouragement, Depression, Suicidal

4. Worry and Anxiety

5. Dysfunction, Rejection, and Loneliness

6. A Better Struggle (Struggling for Growth in Others)

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The leader guides come with background summaries and overviews, and include group discussion questions in a format of ice-breaker, inductive, instrospective, and application. Comes with printable handouts (Talk Sheets), high resolution logo/graphics/backgrounds for banners, visuals, and presentations, as well as a PowerPoint template.

SUMMARY:

What can an ancient Jewish exile teach us about living with courage in a world growing increasingly hostile to people of the Christian faith? Just like the Old Testament story of Daniel, Christ-followers today find themselves in a changing world where “cancel culture” runs rampant, social bullying has become the norm, and Christian persecution is on the rise. These are times of hostility and uncertainty. Apart from the grace and abiding presence of Jesus, our hearts would surely faint. But we are not alone, and that makes all the difference in our lifetime.

Living as a captive in a land far from home, Daniel didn’t conform to his world but transformed it. It wasn’t easy, but it was all part of God’s redemptive plan. We too, have been divinely placed and positioned in a broken world for such a time as this. God has a plan, and we are part of His purposes to be light in the darkness around us. To be faithful to that calling we will need courage. Fortunately, this kind of boldness doesn’t come from our human strength, or something we must manufacture on our own—God wants to give it to us! He is all-sufficient to do that just as much as He is all-sufficient to save us from our sins. God wants to equip us with courage.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 it says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them…” Yet it also tells us why we can be bold and fearless… “for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” That’s an awesome promise for each of us today. Because our strength and courage come directly from the God Who is mighty to save, even the most timid person can be clothed and equipped to live with boldness in the face of the most intense persecution.

Lesson 1: Courage to Remain Pure

Lesson 2: Courage to Stand Up

Lesson 3: Courage to Speak Out

Lesson 4: Courage to Trust God

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The leader guides come with background summaries and overviews, pre-lesson activities, icebreakers, student exercises, discussion outlines, team building activities, and printable handouts (Talk Sheets). Includes high resolution logo/graphics/backgrounds for banners, visuals, and presentations, as well as a PowerPoint template.

Lesson 1: God Has a Plan Even When Life is Hard. Though Gideon’s people had turned their back on God and were reaping the consequences, the Lord still heard their cries of distress. No matter  how ugly our circumstances get, no matter how far we have wandered, God is still faithful, and He still has a plan for our good and our future.

Lesson 2: Confronting Our Idols and Insecurity. God calls us to worship Him alone, with uncompromising devotion. Before Gideon could lead his people to bravely face their oppressors, he first had to confront his people’s idolatry and his own insecurities.

Lesson 3: Our Doubts and Fears Don’t Disqualify Us From God’s Plan. Through Gideon’s story, we see that God is much bigger than our weaknesses, and He takes great and gracious measures to overcome our trepidation and our fears, so that we can serve Him with a brave heart.

Lesson 4: The Dark Side of Success and Power. The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat people’s weaknesses; it gives us the good, the bad, and the ugly, so that we might learn to “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

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Lesson 1: Thriving by Becoming Part of Something Bigger Than Ourselves (living out God’s “one another” commands).

Lesson 2: Thriving by Valuing Others and Loving Our Neighbors (a study on the Good Samaritan).

Lesson 3: Thriving by Overcoming Our Fears and Weaknesses (a study on the youthful leadership of Gideon).

Lesson 4: Thriving by Putting Our Small In The Hands of a Big God (a study on the boy who gave Jesus his five loaves and two fish to feed the multitudes).

Lesson 5: Thriving by Trading In Our Complacency for Compassion (a study on Nehemiah; God wants to break our hearts for the things that break His).

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