ATHLETE

RESET: Week 1

Warmup: DOn’t MOVE

“STOP FIGHTING, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD, EXALTED

AMONG THE NATIONS, EXALTED ON THE EARTH.” —PSALM 46:10

WELCOME:

Life is a 24/7 grind. As an athlete, you’re always moving, and there’s not much time to slow down at all for fear of losing momentum or losing ground. There’s no way to win in sports or in the game of life when you’ve stopped and everyone else is passing you by. But sometimes, you might need a do-over or time to stop and get a fresh start and move in a different direction. Maybe it’s time to be still and recognize the need for a new perspective in Christ.

WORKOUT

BIBLE STORY: Jesus calls Peter

Luke 5:1-11

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret.He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets[c] began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

In Luke 5:1–11, Jesus is preaching to a crowd along the shore when He asks some fishermen if He can speak to the people while sitting in their boat.

One of the fishermen was named Simon Peter. He was stuck in the 24/7 grind of life and needed a reset but couldn’t stop moving. He was always working and striving for the next big catch. Peter was in a performance trap and trying to keep up with the world’s expectations. But in this moment, he had no choice but to be still and listen. Peter and his friends were exhausted from hours of unsuccessful work.

After Jesus was finished teaching, He told Peter to let out his nets one more time.

“WHEN THEY DID THIS, THEY CAUGHT A GREAT NUMBER OF FISH, AND THEIR NETS BEGAN TO TEAR. SO THEY SIGNALED TO THEIR PARTNERS IN THE OTHER BOAT TO COME AND HELP THEM; THEY CAME AND FILLED BOTH BOATS SO FULL THAT THEY BEGAN TO SINK.” —LUKE 5:6–7

Peter fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” (v. 5:8)

But Jesus instead invited Peter and the others to join Him on a journey that would change their lives forever. In that moment, Peter had a reset. He stopped what he was doing long enough to recognize his need for change. In that moment, Peter knew that Jesus was the Son of God, and his perspective was shifted toward truth and freedom.

STOP & KNOW

Like Peter, you might find yourself needing a reset, but that’s hard to do if you can’t be still long enough to hear God’s voice. After all, He is the only one who can truly lead you in the right way that you should go through a relationship with His Son Jesus. The words found in Psalm 46:10 are the key. As hard as it may seem, take the time to stop and know that He is God. Recognize that He is in charge and that He is the one who can give the perspective change you desperately need.

Just like Peter, you too can be set on a new path toward truth and freedom from the 24/7 grind if you take time to be still.

Q: In what areas of your life do you need a reset?

Q: How do you think a perspective change through Jesus might help you find freedom from the 24/7 grind?

WRAP-UP:

When you allow Him to speak to you through the Holy Spirit and through His Word, you will experience a perspective change and start a journey toward a new kind of 24/7 life.

Here’s how to take a first step toward a reset in your own life:

BE STILL:

Slow down, be still and know that He is God.

“THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YOU MUST BE QUIET.” —EXODUS 14:14

Think about some areas of your life that you want to see changed. Be prepared to hear God’s voice through His Holy Spirit.

Write your thoughts down and share with a Huddle leader or trusted friend.

PRAYER

Dear God,

Thank You for always being with us.

Help us remember to be still and know You're God, especially when we're feeling worried or things don't go as planned.

Just like Peter learned to listen to Jesus and found a big surprise, help us listen to You and find joy in following Your way.

AMEN