January 10, 2019
“Jesus as a coach”
I’m not a big sports fan but it is evident, even to me, that there have been a lot of coaching changes in sports lately. We all know that Jesus’ was called ‘Rabbi’ (teacher) by his disciples, but was he a type of teacher we could refer to as ‘coach’. I’m not alone in thinking of Jesus as this type of teacher. There is an abundance of literature relating Jesus’ teaching methodology to that of a coaching style.
One author defines coaching as, “…a transformational process to redirect behavior and support change.”* Jesus certainly did that. He dedicated much of his time to 12 men. He coached them by teaching, demonstrating, and then allowing them to practice their skills. He coached them by answering their questions with more questions and helping them explore the depths of their concerns and reframing their reality. He coached them, finally, by setting them loose to do what he had been doing. In John 14:12, Jesus was saying good-bye to his disciples and he assured them that …”anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Another author writes, “The world of athletics understands how Jesus approached ministry, yet, by and large, the church does not have a clue. Why? Because we often fail to follow Christ’s example regarding one of the most vital tasks of any leader: coaching.”**
Jesus spent time with a few and taught/coached them to be the next leaders. Then they went out and taught/coached others and they did the same. This is the fractal school of leadership where a leader trains a few and sends them out to train others…who train others…who train others…etc.
This is how discipleship grows more disciples for Jesus’ mission. This is how the church will grow, if we remember that we are called by Jesus to make disciples (not members…read Power Surge!).
*Randy Helms
**Barry St. Clair
Thanks be to God!
~ Pastor Mike
“Jesus as a coach”
I’m not a big sports fan but it is evident, even to me, that there have been a lot of coaching changes in sports lately. We all know that Jesus’ was called ‘Rabbi’ (teacher) by his disciples, but was he a type of teacher we could refer to as ‘coach’. I’m not alone in thinking of Jesus as this type of teacher. There is an abundance of literature relating Jesus’ teaching methodology to that of a coaching style.
One author defines coaching as, “…a transformational process to redirect behavior and support change.”* Jesus certainly did that. He dedicated much of his time to 12 men. He coached them by teaching, demonstrating, and then allowing them to practice their skills. He coached them by answering their questions with more questions and helping them explore the depths of their concerns and reframing their reality. He coached them, finally, by setting them loose to do what he had been doing. In John 14:12, Jesus was saying good-bye to his disciples and he assured them that …”anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Another author writes, “The world of athletics understands how Jesus approached ministry, yet, by and large, the church does not have a clue. Why? Because we often fail to follow Christ’s example regarding one of the most vital tasks of any leader: coaching.”**
Jesus spent time with a few and taught/coached them to be the next leaders. Then they went out and taught/coached others and they did the same. This is the fractal school of leadership where a leader trains a few and sends them out to train others…who train others…who train others…etc.
This is how discipleship grows more disciples for Jesus’ mission. This is how the church will grow, if we remember that we are called by Jesus to make disciples (not members…read Power Surge!).
*Randy Helms
**Barry St. Clair
Thanks be to God!
~ Pastor Mike