OneLink U Lesson 1

The Importance of Training

The Importance of Training

“Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.” 

Jon Gordon, Navy Seal

We all have areas in our lives that are in need of growth and development, and it is no different in our spiritual walk. In 2 Peter 3:18, Peter exhorts believers to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!” We also recognize that certain unhealthy habits are hindering our walk and yet they are hard to surrender to the Lord. If each of us considered the issue seriously, the list might be long. Growth in any area will not come without sacrifice and discipline because everything worthwhile is “on the other side of hard.” (Monty Williams, NBA coach)

1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  

The harder you train, the more prepared you will be to handle the many pressures of life and ministry. In the same way, taking the good news overseas this summer to share with the lost has many unique challenges, such as:

  1. Experiencing a new culture with its sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.
  2. Working in close quarters with a small team of people for 6-8 weeks.
  3. The weight of sharing the gospel in a vast population of lost people.
  4. Encountering intense spiritual warfare like never before. 

For these reasons it is important to commit to training. You will need to “fall back” on your training all summer long.  

Watch this video

Karate Kid Training

This video demonstrates a few important principles about training:

  1. The need for commitment as a sacred pact to a course of action. A half-hearted, “guess so” commitment will only result in getting squished. As Yoda says, “Do or do not, there is no try.”  
  2. The need for a positive and trusting attitude, even when the “Why” is not always clear. In training, “not everything is as it seems” and there will be a tendency to question the reason for it.
  3. The need for putting in the reps to create “muscle memory”. Many of the practical aspects of the training are designed to create new habits that will become natural to you only if you discipline yourself to put in the reps.

Goals of Training

We have two main goals in our OneLink Training: 

  1. Develop students in spiritual character and maturity to become life-long laborers for Christ.  
  2. Train students in practical skills so they can navigate culture and effectively minister to the lost this summer.  

How does one “Train for Godliness”? The Triangle of Transformation graphic illustrates three requirements for spiritual growth.

Three questions require a response:

  1. Are you willing to change?
    • I will resist pride and be quick to admit weaknesses and surrender entitlements. 1 Pet. 5:5-6, Prov. 16:18
    • I will be teachable and learn from Jesus’ example in order to be more like Him; hating sin and pursuing greater holiness in my life. 1 Pet. 1:15-16, 2 Tim. 2:22
  1. Are you committed to training?
    • I choose to work hard to grow in Godliness for the glory of God among the nations. 1 Tim. 4:7-8, 1 Cor. 9:24-27
    • I will discipline myself and give myself fully to the work of the Lord. Gal. 6:9, 1 Cor. 15:58
  1. Are you depending on God?
    • I will not trust in my own understanding of things but have faith in the Lord’s ways and His plans. Prov. 3:5-6, Prov. 19:21 
    • I will grow in trusting God by recognizing I can do nothing on my own. John 15:5, Luke 17:5

One of the greatest obstacles you will face in preparing for this summer trip is FEAR!  

Fear of the unknown challenges you will experience. Fear of the pain and sacrifice required to meet those challenges. Fear of failure. 

Failure is a humbling feeling, and you are sure to experience some failures during the training process. But failure is a normal part of growth that helps you recognize areas where improvement is needed. Do not allow the enemy to twist training failures into feelings of guilt or shame. Rather, see failure as God showing you the practical steps needed to grow in effectiveness for Him! Do not think of failure as final, but feedback! 

“Failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” 

Winston Churchill

Hebrews 12:1-3 says, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

  • A “great cloud of witnesses” is cheering you on!
  • Throw off any sin or idol that hinders you from running well.
  • Run with perseverance.
  • Fix your eyes on Jesus. 
  • Endure hardship with joy.
  • Do not grow weary and lose heart.  

Trust in God, be teachable, put in the reps, get those spiritual gains! 

OneLink Value: Commitment 

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”

Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

Choose one verse for Memorization: 

  • Galatians 6:9
  • Hebrews 12:1-3
  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

Commitment defined:  

  1. The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity.
  2. An engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action in another direction.  

“Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.” 

Abraham Lincoln

A similar word is “Grit.”  From Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, “Grit means you have courage and show the strength of your character…. A person with true grit has passion and perseverance. Grit refers to a student’s ability to persist after setbacks. Goals are set and followed through. A person who works really hard to follow through on commitments has true grit.”

Optional: Take a quick survey to find your level of Grit?  Angela Duckworth’s Grit Scale

When you committed to this summer team, you also committed to the training process required to prepare you for the trip. In short, you are committing to God and your teammates that you will:

  • Exercise personal self discipline to grow in Godly character and pursue greater holiness through spending time with God regularly, reading your Bible, praying for team needs, and keeping each other accountable.  
  • Meet regularly with your team, completing the lessons on time and participating in the team building process.
  • Get “reps” in certain practical competencies. For example, you can improve in evangelism by initiating friendships with international students on your campus and sharing your testimony or gospel with them in simple and understandable ways. 
  • Work in conjunction with your team to raise the personal funds necessary for your trip.  

Every commitment is a choice…
Every commitment requires personal responsibility… 
Every commitment requires honesty and integrity…
Every commitment is a promise…

Discussion Questions

1.) Introduce Yourself to the rest of the team.

2.) Which one of the three parts of the “Triangle of Transformation” will be most challenging for you?

3.) What is one area you want to grow in to prepare for your summer trip?

Assignments for Next Time

1.) Listen to the podcasts:

a.) God’s Heart for the Nations Pt. 1

b.) God’s Heart for the Nations Pt. 2

2.) Start the Fundraising Process:

a.) Talk to you church or campus ministry about how they want to handle fundraising, including: where should people send checks, how will funds be tracked, tips, etc.

b.) Read this article: Fundraising: An Invitation?

c.) Brainstorm names of people to whom you want to send support letters (Goal of 50 names).

d.) Create a draft of your support letter and have another team member or staff member look it over and give you feedback.       Sample Support Letter

2.) Set the date for the next team meeting

OneLink Phone App

You can also access these lessons via the OneLink phone app (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store). Search “OneLink Student” to find the app.

The app has several helpful features, such as a scripture memorization tool, the ability to track your progress in the lessons and extra tools to prepare for your summer.

 

Prayer
  • Pray that your team would commit to maintain a positive attitude of teachability and be open and honest about the ways they need to increase in Godliness and grit. 
  • Pray that your team would grow toward unity and building up each other.
  • Pray that God would provide for the team’s financial needs. 
  • Pray that God would be at work in the city in which you are taking the good news.
  • Pray that your overseas host family would be healthy, encouraged and strengthened in their work.

Final Step

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