Resources
Boot Camp - Discipleship Training Series
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the
way of sinners or sit in the set of mocker. But his delight is in the law of the
Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
Why is this Biblical study called Boot Camp? The analogy conjures images of grinding
calisthenics and shouting drill sergeants pushing recruits to the limits of their
physical, mental and emotional abilities. At first, it seems inconsistent with a
loving, merciful God that He would want us to go through something like boot camp.
If he does, why does He want to be so hard on us? Looking into the analogy reveals
it’s life saving importance and stirs us to push forward in this study.
There is a war going on out there!
Do you agree? Everyone I have ever asked, without exception, has answered that question,
“Yes.” Each one of us in innately aware of this war. We know that although
there are wars waging at various spots on our globe at all times, these military
and guerrilla operations are not the “war” we are referring to. Rather,
it is the we war we experience surrounding us everyday. It’s a war within,
and in defense of, our families. A war in our workplace. A war among our friends
and relatives. A war within our own minds and emotions. The conflicts seem unavoidable
and the enemy illusive. Without argument… we know the war.
How well do civilians fare in a war zone?
Think about civilians in a war zone. Think about the refugees of war portrayed nearly
everyday on our TV screens during the nightly news. These pictures penetrate our
hearts and minds with images of destruction and pain. Helpless and hopeless individuals
scared and scattered at the mercy of warring factions.
Do you feel like a civilian in a war zone?
Overwhelmingly the answer is, “Yes!” We are living life in the midst
of explosions and mortar fire, and have no way to defend ourselves. When we do fight
back we are outnumbered and without any real firepower. Now, think about soldiers.
All military troops are trained, armed and expect to be victorious in the battle
they face. They have a battle plan and all the resources necessary to execute it.
Which would you rather be ~ a civilian or a soldier?
What do we learn in Boot Camp?
The war we are fighting, although often mistaken for a natural battle, is actually
a spiritual battle. God is acutely aware that we, His children, are suffering as
civilians in this raging war zone. His solution is to provide us with the opportunity
to become soldiers. God has given us a weapon ~ His Word!
Building Our Relationship with Christ
Boot Camp Discipleship Training I
From the moment a recruit steps off the bus his training begins. He finds out immediately
who his commanding officer is. What is that commander like; what is his nature?
Through the course of training many other questions are answered and principles
are taught. Who is the enemy; what is he like? What strategies will be used against
the soldier; what are the strategies the soldier can use? He will learn about rank,
order and submission. He will be issued weapons and taught how to use them. He is
trained to receive direction and protection as part of unit of soldiers under one
leader. These are the biblical principles taught in Building Our Relationship with
Christ. We will enter this study as an untrained civilian, yet a remarkable transformation
takes place. We emerge strengthened, alert and adequately prepared to win the battle.
We enter a civilian and leave a soldier of Jesus Christ.
The Power of Choice~The Strength of Commitment
Boot Camp Discipleship Training II
Within the framework of God’s Boot Camp we will make many decisions, the most
important ~ to become a soldier of Jesus Christ. It is three a.m. and the drill
sergeant enters the barracks with a bang, snaps on the glaring lights and begins
to yell, “Get up, get your packs and rifle, we’re going on a thirty
mile march!” Does a recruit, exhausted and irritable, feel like getting out
of bed? Of course he does not. Why does he do it? We have an all-volunteer army
and he could just as easily quit and go home. Why does the guy who stays get out
of bed and go on that march? The best possible answer here is commitment. The young
man has decided to become a soldier for his country and has made a commitment to
finish boot camp. Without that commitment he would give up as soon as the demands
on him got too difficult. What is this recruit learning about determination, submission
and discipline? These are the biblical principles taught in The Power of Choice
~ The Strength of Commitment.
Focus on Christ ~ Freedom from Strongholds
Boot Camp Discipleship Training III
How many of us want to live in consistent, joyful peace and victory in our lives?
Yet, there are tactics that the enemy uses to exploit us and defeat us time after
time. The battleground is in our mind! We must learn to focus our faith, our hope
and our trust on our commanding officer ~ Jesus Christ. The principles of love,
forgiveness and repentance are the weapons of our warfare. We will yield them with
determination and strength though the power of the Holy Spirit within us. In everything,
we will be tested and tried yet Jesus assures us of VICTORY!
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons
we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine
power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make
it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
These are the biblical principles taught in Focus on Christ ~ Freedom from Strongholds.
This final study in the Boot Camp series brings us to a new depth of understanding
the faithfulness and power of Christ in our lives.
God only takes volunteers!
The experiences of boot camp are powerful and challenging. Imagine you are a recruit
on a training assignment. Your platoon is spread out crossing a wet, muddy field
and suddenly you commanding officer yells, “Drop!” What do you do”
No doubt, you drop face down in the mud. Do you feel like dropping” Do you
hesitate and question the sergeant about his reasons for the command? What was the
motivation behind the commanders order; did he take pleasure in seeing you muddy?
Or… was he actually shouting the order with a life-saving purpose? The ultimate
responsibility of a commanding officer is to keep his soldiers alive. He drills
and shouts, orders and drills until every man instantly responds to his commands.
He has access to crucial information that will save his men’s life. Incoming
mortar fire kills when a young recruit hesitates. So, even if you don’t feel
like getting muddy when the order comes to drop ~ you drop!
God only takes volunteers! He never drafts anyone into His service, nor does He
force His help on any of us. He wants to see an end to the destruction in His children’s
lives. He desires to see us have victory in the midst of every battle! I hope you
volunteer Boot Camp. It is God’s Word and His promise!