Soccer Value Lessons Fall 2019

Fruit of the Spirit

PSO Soccer Devotions FALL 2019

Season Theme: Fruit of the Spirit – God’s gifts to you that show you’re growing!

Dear Coaches and Devotions Leaders. One of the great privileges of participating in the PSO Soccer league is the opportunity we have to build the physical and spiritual lives of the boys and girls on our teams.

To help you intentionally speak truth into the lives of our kids and build their ideals and character, we put together this devotional packet. There are lessons for each week.

Each lesson has a picture for a visual aid and an outline for your devotion. Before each game, print out the two pages for that week and paste them together. The picture is for the kids to see and get their attention. The outline is there for you to use to organize your thoughts. Feel free to make any changes so that the words and message come from you and are tailored for the needs of your teams.

We recommend that the home team devotional leader call both teams to the center of the field to “take a knee” together as a sign of unity and sportsmanship. Home teams are responsible for bringing the devotion. Away team, be prepared to do the devotions just in case.

Please be intentional about doing these devotions. Each week’s lesson builds on the previous ones and are meant to inspire our kids to strive to live lives that are growing and maturing with God’s good gifts.

Thank you all for your commitment to our kids. May God Bless you and your words to our teams.

Week 1 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re going to talk about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. God tells us about a beautiful fruit tree that is fully grown. Fruit trees, when they grow up produce fruit – fruit that tastes delicious. Everyone around the tree can taste and enjoy that fruit.

Just like fruit trees, when we grow up in God, He brings out gifts in our lives to share with others that they can enjoy – just like delicious pieces of fruit. These gifts He gives us are called the Fruit of the Spirit.

There are 9 Fruits of the Spirit. The first one and the most important one is LOVE.

Love is the greatest gift anyone can give. Love is doing the best that you can for someone else. It means you put the other person first and give them what they need. It means you care about them more than you care about yourself.

The Bible says that God is Love. And to show us how much He loves us, He sent us His most expensive and precious gift – His son Jesus. Here’s what the Bible says.

God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, and whoever believes in Him will never be separated from God but will live with Him forever. (John 3:16)

When we choose to follow God by believing in His son Jesus – He begins to work in us so that we can love others. This love is one of the fruits He begins to grow in us to share with everyone around us.

Do you love someone? The love you give is one of God’s most amazing gifts to you. Share some love today by your actions. Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank you for the gifts you give us. Help us to love others just like you love us. Amen.

Week 2 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. Last week we learned about Love. This week our fruit is Joy.

Does anyone know what Joy is? Joy is a very special kind of happiness the can only come from God. Happiness is a good feeling we get usually when everything around is going great. Have you ever felt happy? Sure, when you win a game or get a present or eat something you love.

Joy, on the other hand, is an even better – only-from-God-feeling. When you follow God with your whole heart He gives you a special happiness that lifts you up and gives you hope and keeps you going even when things aren’t going great. Joy comes when you know that God has you right where He wants you, and even if things are tough right now, they are tough for a reason -- a reason we may not understand, but God understands.

Here’s what the Bible says: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If we know that God is ALWAYS working things out for us as we follow Him – we can have a special happiness called Joy that comes from Him no matter what happens to us.

Let’s pray. Dear Father God, thank you for being a good father to us. Thank you for working all things out for our good as we follow you. Give us your special happiness, your Joy today. Amen.

Peace

Week 3 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first two pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love and Joy. This week our fruit is Peace.

What is peace? It can sometimes mean quiet – as in, “Give me some Peace and Quiet, please!” Peace is also the opposite of war. Peace is when there is no more fighting – whether it’s two people who have stopped fighting or two whole countries that aren’t fighting. When there is peace – people can live good lives, they can work and build and enjoy life. When there is war and fighting, people’s lives are destroyed and broken. Some people even die.

God loves peace. He wants to stop people fighting. He wants to bring people together. He wants to be together with people too. That’s why He sent us Jesus, so that we could see who God is and how much He loves us and cares for us, and that He wants us to be together with Him.

Here’s what the Bible says: “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.” (Job 22:21)

Do you know the only way to have real peace – whether it is in our individual lives or in the whole world – is to agree with God and follow His ways? That’s right. When we agree with God and follow Him with our whole hearts we make peace with Him and then He helps us make peace with everyone around us!

Let’s pray. Dear Father God, thank you that you are the God of Peace. Thank you for giving us peace when we agree to follow you with our whole hearts. Thank you for helping us be at peace with others. Amen.

Patience Waiting and keeping a good

attitude while doing it

Week 4 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first three pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy and Peace. This week our fruit is Patience.

When we have Love, Joy and Peace in our lives – it is very likely that the next fruit we bear in our lives is Patience. Patience is when you take time to understand others. It’s like a gift you give to someone that lets them know that they are important enough to you for you to wait for them – even forgive them if they have done you some wrong.

Here’s what the Bible says: . . . since God has chosen you, made you holy, and lavished his love upon you . . . Be patient with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against someone else, you must forgive each other. Just as the Master forgave you, you must do the same. (Colossians 3:12-13 - NTE)

Do you know that God is patient with us? He waits patiently for us to follow Him. When we go our own way, He calls us back, and when we return He forgives us.

Patience is a gift God gives us when we hurt Him, and patience is a gift we gives others when they hurt us. Can you be patient with someone today?

Let’s pray. Thank you God for being a God of Patience. You are so patient with us, please help us to be patient and forgiving to those around us. Amen.

Be Kind to All

Week 5 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first 4 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace and Patience. This week our fruit is Kindness.

Kindness is a special gift from God that helps us put others first. We are kind to others because God has shown kindness to us. The Bible says God’s lovingkindness to us lasts forever. And with His help, ours can last for a lifetime as well.

Kindness is having a friendly attitude to everyone. What do friends do for each other? They help each other, they laugh together, they look out for each other, they spend time together. But the Kindness God gives us helps us to be kind to EVERYONE. Not just your friends, but even those who aren’t friendly to you. When we show kindness to others today – even those who aren’t kind to us -- that kindness will come back to us.

Kindness also means making sure others are cared for. That means looking out for those who may be different from you. Looking out for those that others may make fun of. Looking out for those that are less fortunate than you. When you show kindness to people like this, you are being an example of how God loves all of us.

Here’s what the Bible says: The Lord’s servant must be . . . kind to all. (2 Timothy 2:24)

God sees when we are kind and He loves it when we show a friendly attitude to all.

Let’s pray. Dear Father God, thank you for your everlasting kindness to us. Help us to be a good example of You as we show kindness to all. Amen.

Week 6 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first 5 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and Kindness. This week our fruit is Goodness.

Who likes it when people don’t play by the rules? That’s right – no one! Who likes it when people tell lies, or cheat or steal? That’s right – no one! Cheating and lying and stealing, and things like these are not good, they are not right.

Today’s gift from God is Goodness. Goodness is when we know what is right and we do it, especially when no one is looking. It’s pretty easy to do the right thing when people are watching us, but true goodness is doing things the right way even when we think no one is watching.

When we do good – we’re being an example of God. God does everything right. He always tells the truth, He always does right. He keeps His promises, and He always gives good gifts to His creation.

Just like kindness, when we do Good we can expect Good to come back to us.

Here’s what the Bible says: “But Glory, Honor and Peace to everyone who does good.” (Romans 2:10)

When we do good, God promises to bring goodness back to us. Now, that’s a great deal!

Let’s pray. Dear Father God, You are a Good God, and all You do is Good. Please help us to do Good to all and for all, even when no one is looking. Amen.

Faithfulness

Week 7 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first 6 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness and Goodness. This week our fruit is Faithfulness.

Hey, would you like it if you turned on the water and nothing came out? What if you went to the store when you were really hungry and the shelves were empty? What if you woke up and the sun didn’t rise? The reason we have water, and food on the shelves and a rising sun in the morning, is because someone was faithful to do what they said they were going to do. The water department made sure we had water, farmers and grocers made sure our shelves were stocked, and God makes sure His sun comes up every day.

Someone who is Faithful is someone you can trust to do what they said they would do. Are you a faithful person? Do you live up to your words? Do you talk the talk and then walk the walk? It’s not always easy to live up to your words. Sometimes it takes sacrifice – especially when living up to your words means doing something hard.

God always does what He says He’s going to do. When we believe that, it means we have Faith. We believe that no matter what, God is going to do what He said He would do. He also loves when we are faithful, and He gives us the strength to be true to our words as well. When we work with God on being faithful, He promises to be with us. Here’s what God says to us in His Word: “My eyes will be on the faithful of the land that they may live forever with me.” (Psalm 101:6)

Let’s pray. Dear Lord God, thank you for your eternal faithfulness. Thank you that you ALWAYS do what you say you’re going to do. Please be with us so we can also be faithful to you and to keep our words to those around us. Amen.

Gentleness Strength under control

Week 8 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first 7 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness and Faithfulness. This week our fruit is Gentleness.

What do you think of when you think of the lion? He’s the king of the animals. He roars loudly. He’s powerful and strong. His teeth can crush the bones of an antelope in a second. An adult, male lion is a dangerous, frightening creature.

But look here in this picture. Is this little lion cub afraid of the giant lion next to him? No! Even though this giant, fearsome animal could gobble up this cub in one bite, the little cub is not afraid. Why? Because the strong, giant, father lion is Gentle with him.

Gentleness can be defined as great strength in control. God is ultimately strong, but He is also very Gentle with us. He keeps His strength under control. You all are also strong in many ways. One of the things that you have that can have a strong impact are your words. Words are some of the strongest weapons we have. Using our words in a bad way can really hurt someone. But using our words in a good way can make them feel safe, protected and happy. Using our words and actions in gentle ways shows strength in control.

Here’s what the Bible says: “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2) NLT

Let’s pray. Father God, thank you for being Gentle with us. Help us to use our words and actions to always be Gentle with others. Amen.

Self-Control

Week 9 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we’re talking about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the first 8 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Gentleness. This week our fruit is Self Control.

Who knows what this is? It’s a game controller, right! What do you use it for? Yes, you use it to control your character in your video game. You get to decide if he jumps or runs or uses his super power.

Do you know that we have a built in game controller inside each of us? It’s called our mind. And we have the ability to decide how we’re going to play out our lives. Just like in a video game, if we make good choices and control our character in a good way – we likely will “win” in our real life.

The way to “win” in real life is to follow God. When we follow God with our whole heart, and trust Jesus to guide us in life, He helps us to use self-control – to control our mind and actions to follow Him and be like Him.

Here’s what the Bible says: “. . . prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control . . . live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires . . . be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-15) NLT

When we have God’s word in our minds and hearts – He gives us the gift of self-control so we can avoid mistakes that lead us down bad paths in life.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord and Holy God, thank you that you give us the ability to make choices in our lives. Please help us learn and obey your words so we can control ourselves and be like you. Amen.

Week 10 – The Fruit of the Spirit – The evidence that God is working in you to build you into the Man or Woman He wants you to be! Hello kids, this season we talked about growing up. Do you know that God’s plan for us is to grow up into men and women that serve Him and do His will? In the Bible, God gives us a picture of what that looks like. Do you remember what that is? A fruit tree! A fruit tree bears delicious fruit that everyone around it can enjoy. When we grow in God, He gives us gifts everyone around us can enjoy too. What are the 9 pieces of fruit that we learned about? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.

Each of these great Gifts from God help us to live lives that please God, and help others.

When we give our whole heart to God and trust in His Son Jesus, He helps us grow into what He wants us to be. Just like a fruit tree that grows and grows and produces delicious fruit, God helps us grow and gives us these kinds of gifts: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness and Self-Control so we can be like Him and guide others to Him.

Now you can try as hard as you want on your own to grow this fruit in your lives, but do you know that you can’t do it by yourself?

Here’s what Jesus says to us in the Bible: “I am the vine and you are the branches, those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing . . . When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15: 5,8) NLT

To be a true follower of Jesus and to produce good, delicious fruit in your life, you must have Jesus in you. Have you asked Jesus to be in your heart yet? To do this, you must admit that you can’t be good on your own, believe that Jesus came and died for you on the cross to take away your sin, and then rose again to life to give us all life everlasting. Once you’ve done this, you must tell others that you made this decision. If you want to do this, talk to your parents or one of us today!

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, please call us all to know you as our Savior so we can produce delicious Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Amen.