OneLink U Lesson 2

The Importance of Training

Discuss Assignments from Last Meeting

Are there are any comments or questions from reading the article Fundraising: An Invitation?

How many names were you able to come up with (50+ names was the goal)? 

Did another team member read your support letter first draft and give feedback? Sample Support Letter

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. We also recognize that there are certain habits that are spiritually and physically unhealthy and hard to surrender to the Lord. If each of us considered the issue seriously, the list might be long. Growth 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:

  • Experiencing a new culture with its sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.
  • Working in close quarters with a small team of people for 6-8 weeks.  
  • The weight of sharing the gospel in a vast population of lost people. 
  • 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 Godly 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 is helpful.

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 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. Will you commit 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. Will you depend 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 are sure to experience failure during any training process. But failure is a normal part of training that helps you recognize areas where improvement is needed. Do not think of failure as final, but feedback! Do not allow the enemy to twist training failures into feelings of guilt or shame. Rather, failure is God showing you the practical steps needed to greater effectiveness for Him! 

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

Winston Churchill

Read Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) “Therefore, 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 pioneer and perfecter of 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.  

Commit to the training, put in the reps, get those gains! 

OneLink Value: Commitment 

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

Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

Choose one verse Verses 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/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. Which of the three aspects of the Transformation Triangle will be the greatest struggle for you in the transformation process?  Explain why.  
  2. What is your greatest hindrance to running the good race of faith as described in Hebrews 12:1-3?
  3. List one spiritual character quality and one practical skill you need to grow in to be prepared for this summer? 
Logistics and Administration

Share any information related to team preparation or as communicated by the OneLink office.  

Progress Updates: How are things going and what is next?

  • Fundraising or other financials
  • Passport/Visa acquisition
  • OneLink Logistical items

Set the date for the next team meeting.

 

Assignments for Next Week
  • Consider the spiritual character quality and practical competency you mentioned that you want to grow in to prepare for the summer. Write down some practical plans to grow and share with your team at the next meeting, examples:
    • Spending more time in the Word and prayer;
    • Finding ways to serve and meet the needs of the people around me;
    • Befriending an international student and learning about their home country, culture, and religion;
    • Sharing my testimony/gospel with a lost friend.  
  • Do the next steps in the fundraising process.  Set clear goals and deadlines.
  • Read the following article.
  • Listen to this podcast before your next meeting.
  • Memorize one verse on the OneLink Value of Commitment.
  • Do a social/fun outing as the team:
    • Consider scheduling an Escape Room
    • Bowling, game night, etc.

 

Pray as a Team
  1. 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. 
  2. Pray that your team would grow in unity and make progress in the fund-raising process.
  3. Pray for your country, the people you will work with, and your host family. 

 

Final Step

Return to Lesson Index

Security Note: For security purposes, please DO NOT tell anyone other than your immediate family the name of the city where you will be serving. You may use the name of the region (i.e. East Asia, North Africa, Europe, Middle East, etc.) In addition, please DO NOT share, post, forward or distribute the information contained in this site without the consent of OneLink International.