Fear can destroy performance for any athlete. But especially for Christians, there’s no room for fear.
Key Points:
- Fear can have emotional as well as physical effects. When Tony was struck by fear, he realized he needed to confess that fear to God.
- Tony’s problem was that he placed his value in the wrong thing – his ability and identity as an athlete. He had to realize that his true value was in being a child of God.
- No matter how much we train, how skilled we become or how strong we get, the truth is we are all “jars of clay” – fragile vessels that will one day crumble. What matters is the treasure within us – Jesus Christ and his gospel. This treasure will endure long after we retire from athletics.
- When Tony realized his identity was in Jesus Christ, not his skills, he also realized he had nothing to lose. He could live and compete like he had nothing to lose because all the real work had been done by Jesus.
Quote This:
2 Corinthians 4:7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[ This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever struggled with fear – not just nerves – in athletics? Explain.
- What spoke to you most about Tony’s story? Why?
- Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. How does having the right perspective about our identity give us the power to live for God and do our best in all things?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
