Matt Hasselbeck is famous for a lot of reasons. Most people know him as a three-time Pro Bowl selection and the Super Bowl XL quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. Some associate him with his father, Don, who played nine seasons in the NFL. The less-football-savvy crowd knows him for his TV star sister-in-law, Elisabeth, from ABC’s “The View.” And a growing number of people are getting to know him for his dancing skills. (Thank you, Reebok!)

Regardless of what category you place him in, however, there’s one thing about Matt Hasselbeck that can’t be separated from his inner athlete, son, dancer or field general: his faith in Jesus Christ.

Goal
To help students understand God’s view of drugs, alcohol and tobacco; to help students realize that the use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco has negative consequences; and to motivate students to live a life that honors God.

Key Scriptures
2 Timothy 2:5; Psalm 119:9-11

Warm Up
Break up into small groups. Assign each group a scripture from the list of Bible references on the dangers of drinking. (See end of lesson for list of Scripture references.) Have each group determine a lesson to learn from its Scripture and how it relates to their lives. Ask two or three groups to share with everyone.

Watch

Goal
Too many attribute those intermittent disturbing instances of disobedience to the pressure our peers exert upon us. Is it really peer pressure? Is there literally someone “making” us smoke cigarettes, drink liquor or smoke weed? The threat is peer influence. Peer influence gradually and consistently speaks “do as I do,” hoping we eventually give up, give in, and then give out. In this section athletes will learn to identify peer pressure and peer influence and ways of defusing them both.

Key Scriptures
Psalms 139:13-16; Romans 12:1-2; Genesis 1:26; Proverbs 14:21; James 4:7

Warm Up

What Are You Playing For?

Watch the video and walk through the questions below:

Key Verse: …I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. –Jeremiah 31:3

Have a movie night for your huddle! You could watch movies like the blind side, angels in the outfield and other sports movies.

What is left to write about Tim Tebow?

We all know his resume: a Heisman Trophy. Two Maxwell Awards. As a freshman backup quarterback, Tebow used his fullback-style runs and old school-style jump passes to be a complimentary part of Florida’s 2006 national championship team.

Two years later, Tebow was a “part” of Florida’s 2008 national champions the same way Michael Jordan was a “part” of the Chicago Bulls’ six NBA titles.

Tebow led the entire nation in passing efficiency during his senior year. He graduates with over 9,200 passing yards, almost 3,000 rushing yards and 145 touchdowns via his arm or his feet.

What is left to write about Tim Tebow?

Jesus stands in one corridor or side of the room and says, “Run toward me with preserving.” In very slow motion, the 3 runners begin running toward Jesus. At first, all three runners are focusing on Jesus, but only the person in the middle is running with a Bible. Satan sends an enticer of the opposite sex to pull one of the runners off course with the temptation of premarital sex. The enticer does this provocatively and leads the runner off course. At that time Satan comes and raps that runner’s ankles with the tape or rope and says, “Now I’ve got you!”