Have you ever thought of yourself as a coach? If you’ve ever coached an athletic team, you’ll reply in the affirmative, but what if you never filled that role? Why would I call every Christian a coach?
- Because David said so under the inspiration of the Spirit: “I will teach transgressors your ways…” (Psalm 51:13).
- Jesus’ Great Commission to the church is a command to be coaches! “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” He said, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
- The apostle Paul instructed Christians to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom . . .” (Colossians 3:16).
So, Coach . . . how have you been doing coaching (teaching) others the ways of God?
There is a great disconnect in the church of Jesus Christ today between the pew and the pulpit. Our pews are filled with people who come to watch a Sunday morning “show,” go out to lunch and enjoy a hearty meal of roast pastor, and then get on with the business of living life, believing that it is the minister’s job to do all the coaching (teaching) to the body of Christ. They could not be more thoroughly mistaken! As you’ve seen, Ministry is not a work to be left to the “professional” minister. Ministry—coaching and instructing and exhorting—is expected for everyone who has been raised from death to life. This truth is unpacked through the phrase “EVERY MEMBER A MINISTER!” Every Christian is a coach and is given all the grace he or she needs to fulfill this all-important role in the body of Christ.
You see, before David said, “I will teach transgressors,” he asked God to “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” David’s words richly reveal that God’s grace and mercy in our lives is the foundation from which our coaching is to be delivered. The grace we have received in our times of great need qualifies every Christian to teach and encourage others, in turn, during their time of great need. Our own rescue is the platform upon which we stand as we coach others in how to receive their rescue. Jesus commanded us to go and tell others what God has done for us; this makes every Christian a coach!
The best coaches share their life stories as teaching tools of transformation. My mentor, Clark, has been doing this ever since God brought him into my life twelve years ago. His stories of God’s rescuing grace have inspired and instructed me to continue to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Clark has done much more than simply teach me about God and His grace, as important as that is; Clark taught me about his personal experience of God and His grace. He never stopped with providing a definition of grace; he always gave me a demonstration of grace.
God wants to use your story to shape the lives of those He is calling you to coach. Your story is worth far more than any kind of formal training. Please understand me: I am not minimizing the importance of solid training in theology and evangelism. However, I am maximizing story-telling by every Christian. Your story fits into His story, and every time you share your story you are sharing His story of love, mercy, and grace.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 