Thesis
Drawing on lessons from his father, a decorated combat veteran of three wars, the pastor challenges Christians to move beyond passive, benefit-seeking faith and engage as active soldiers in the spiritual battle God has called them to. Using five military principles — embracing difficulty, maintaining a combat rhythm, holding plans loosely, refusing to whine, and acting with courage despite fear — he argues that genuine discipleship means choosing hard things, centering plans on God's purpose, and stepping out in faith whenever the Lord's will gives the green light.
Key points
- 1
Embrace the suck — Christians are called to run toward hard things, not merely endure them, because being on mission requires choosing sacrifice.
- 2
Maintain a combat rhythm — take care of yourself in the lulls, but never let self-care become an excuse to abandon the mission, community, or generosity.
- 3
Planning is everything and nothing — base your plans on God's purpose, hold them loosely, and change the plan without abandoning the mission when God redirects.
- 4
You can win or you can whine, but not both — a complaining attitude blinds you to opportunity and dismantles even genuine service.
- 5
If you ain't scared, it ain't courage — real courage means stepping out despite fear, trusting that Jesus has already overcome the world.
Outline
Introduction: An Old Soldier's Lessons
The pastor introduces his father — a combat veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam — and recounts his dad's deathbed challenge to stay in the fight and lead people toward what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
The Call to Be Combat Christians
Connecting his father's story to Paul's letters to Timothy (2 Timothy 2 and 4), the pastor declares the big idea: too many Christians are 'beer and chocolate' believers who enjoy church benefits without engaging the spiritual battle — it's time to stay in the fight.
Point 1 — Embrace the Suck
Using 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, the pastor argues that Christians must choose hard things offensively rather than merely enduring hardship defensively, and challenges the congregation to deploy into serving, giving, and mission.
Point 2 — Eat, Drink, and Rest When You Can (Combat Rhythm)
Drawing on Elijah's breakdown in 1 Kings 19, the pastor warns that busyness-driven withdrawal from community, giving, and service is the wrong response to stress — eliminate distractions first, not mission commitments.
Point 3 — Planning Is Everything and Nothing
From James 4:13-17, the pastor challenges the congregation to build plans around God's purpose rather than confusing personal plans with God's purpose, illustrating the point with his own experience of surrendering his sermon plan when Brent preached it first.
Point 4 — You Can Win or You Can Whine
Citing Philippians 2:14-16, the pastor calls out the American church's combative, complaining posture and challenges listeners to change their attitude — illustrated by his own comeback from last place in a bowling tournament.
Point 5 — If You Ain't Scared, It Ain't Courage
Using John 16:33 and his father's story of jumping out of a plane while terrified of heights, the pastor defines courage as taking the very next step despite fear, trusting that Jesus has already overcome the world and will provide the victory.
Call to Action
The pastor calls the congregation to stand, look for the green light of God's will, and step out in faith — closing with a charge to get in the fight and stay there.
Memorable moments
there are too many of us that are beer and chocolate Christians that like to come to church. Enjoy the benefits kick back sing a few Victory songs. And then go back to our everyday life, but we are in battle and we need to be combat Christians not combative Christians, combat Christians
courage is not the absence of fear. Courage only exists when there's fear
You can win or you can whine, but you can't do both at the same time
God always gives us enough time and resource to do what he's asked us to do. So if you feel like you don't have the resource or the time you're spending your time and your money on something you shouldn't be and that's the problem
remember, it's a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it
the only way you will experience that kind of victory in the fight is when you step out and take courage and see that I'm gonna provide the victory
Application
The pastor's challenge is personal and direct: stop being a 'beer and chocolate Christian' who enjoys church benefits without ever deploying into the fight. Practically, that means choosing to serve even when life is messy, giving financially even when money feels tight, staying in community even when schedules get crowded, and centering your plans on God's purpose rather than asking God to bless your own agenda. When hard things come — and they will — refuse to whine and look instead for the opportunity to trust God. And when you sense His will pointing green, don't calculate every possible outcome; just take the very next step. Jesus has already overcome the world. Your job is to take courage, get in the fight, and stay there.
