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Full Court Press: Family Is a Team Sport Featuring

Deyonka Geeter

Session 1: The Object of the Game

Session 2: Trust God to be the Coach

Session 3: Mom is the Captain

Session 4: Raising MVPs

To view the accompanying videos for this series, go to https://ariseministries.net/family

This series is presented by Arise Ministries. More online Bible studies can be found at www.AriseMinistries.net

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God designed our families to work together toward a common goal. Does your family function as a team working in sync, or is it more characteristic of “every man for himself”? In this series, Deyonka Geeter lays out a game plan for building a strong family in which everyone knows their position and understands the mission. Session 1 begins with examining the divine design of your family and identifying attributes of a strong team.

1. What makes a team strong and able to work toward a common goal? List characteristics that describe an effective team.

2. How well do you feel like your family functions as a unified team?

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God designed our homes to work. Each person has a unique and specific role that contributes to the overall success of the whole. If we want to enjoy our homes as a place of peace, we must understand the different roles and learn to appreciate what each person brings to the table, and each of us must commit to doing our part. The Bible compares the body of believers to the human body, with many parts working together in unity. Some parts may be more visible than others, but each element is essential to the overall performance of the body. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

3. List all the body parts mentioned. What unique function does each part perform?

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 12 For just as the body is one and has many members,

and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Romans 2:11 For God shows no partiality.

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4. How would our bodies operate at a disadvantage if one or more of these parts were disabled or weakened? How is this also true regarding the many parts of our family?

Most of us, at some time, have felt overwhelmed or inadequate as a mother. Have you ever looked in the mirror and confessed you don’t know what you’re doing and claimed God must have made a mistake giving you these children to raise? It’s natural to battle insecurity and feelings of inadequacy—especially for a single mom trying to keep her head above water while balancing work, family, or finances. Did God make a mistake in how He arranged the roles in our families?

5. Read 1 Corinthians 12:24-26. Who organized the members of the body? Following this analogy, who designed the roles in your family and assigned each person to their specific position?

When one part of the family is struggling, everyone feels it. When one part of the family experiences success, we all rejoice. Family is a team sport. The object of the game is bringing glory and honor to God, and one way this is displayed is through unity and peace in our homes. This is made possible through the strength He gives each of us.

1 Corinthians 12:18, 24-26 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 24 But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

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6. Read these passages and identify one attribute of a healthy family for each one. Explain how this is exemplified in your home, or how it could make your home a more unified and peaceful place.

Philippians 2:3-4 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Matthew 22:39 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

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As you identified some attributes of healthy families, you likely listed humility, selflessness, love, encouragement, honor, sacrifice—and perhaps others. Whether a home has one parent or two, the strongest families exhibit these characteristics. But children do not come by these naturally; they must be taught how to be humble, honoring, generous, and forgiving. How do they learn to do so? Who is their first teacher? You are. Your personal relationship with Christ is the single most important factor in building a healthy home. The success of a family isn’t grounded in the amount of money you bring home, the type of house you live in, or how many sports your child plays. The goal in parenting is lead our children to a relationship with Jesus. In keeping with the theme of this series, we could say the object of the game is to take our families to the finals—to finish strong and win! What does winning look like? Consider Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Moms, the prize is an intimate relationship with Christ—both for you and your children. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifested in your home. Press on toward the prize—a full court press.

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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7. Write a prayer asking God to develop these attributes in your family relationships.

Join us for the next session of FULL COURT PRESS: Family

Is a Team Sport, we will examine the highest role in the

family. You’ll find peace in knowing the game plan is

created by someone with more authority and wisdom than

you. God is the coach. Don’t miss it!

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK 2

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Notes for Small Group Discussion:

1. Briefly share your thoughts on the video.

2. Briefly talk about spiritual concepts you learned.

3. Share with your group a choice you need to make that will honor God.

4. Consider practical ways to find accountability with these truths.

To share your thoughts regarding this study, contact us at info@ariseministries.net.

This resource is made available by Arise Ministries. No part of this study may be copied, sold, or distributed in

conjunction with any another work or compilation. It may not be posted on any other website. Links to this

document should be made directly to www.ariseministries.net/bible-study. All scripture references are made using

the ESV translation.

DEYONKA GEETER

Video Content Author

Deyonka is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University, serves as

the Sr. Associate Pastor at Emerge Church, Albuquerque, NM.

Deyonka was raised in a pastor’s home by two dutiful parents,

where discipleship and family togetherness were staples of her

childhood. As a single mother of two, Deyonka clings to her faith in

God as her co-parent while raising her boys—one with autism—in a

changing world. She teaches and mentors women and girls through

“The Be Made Whole Movement,” sharing her journey to

wholeness in pursuit of a life dedicated to serving God.

KIM HEINECKE

Study Guide Content Author

Kim is a Content Creator with Arise Ministries and coordinates the

online Bible study content. As a former single mom, she uses her

life experiences and personal spiritual growth through studying

God’s Word to encourage women. Kim is a writer and speaker for

www.AriseMinistries.net