“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14
In the same way that a football coach trains a quarterback to throw the ball to the wide receiver by constant practice, so those who coach less mature Christians teach them how to distinguish good from evil or right from wrong. Knowing good from evil or right from wrong keeps people from making life-long mistakes. But this kind of discernment takes practice. It takes training and that’s where coaching comes in.
I’ve watched my great-grandsons (one a quarterback and the other a wide receiver in high school) practice throwing and catching by the hour. But it’s when their coach shows them how to improve their performance (because he has practiced for years and learned the right and wrong ways to throw and catch balls), that they excel.
Every one of us who has lived past sixty should be coaching at least a few younger people in the areas of work where we have succeeded through much practice. Maybe in sports, maybe in business, maybe in art or music, maybe in ministry, or maybe in being a good mom or dad.
I am grateful for the coaching that Wetherell Johnson (the founder of BSF) gave me for many years. I would never made it in the ministry of BSF without the teaching and example of Wetherell Johnson.
The Lutheran Church in Tanzania also set an example for me of preparing the next generation. Bishops in the Lutheran Church in Tanzania elect an Assistant Bishop who may be in that position for as much as twenty years before becoming the Bishop! It takes time and a lot of practice for a person to learn how to do something well, and a good coach is his most helpful asset.
A good coach is essential for the next generation of Christian leaders, whether they are to lead in the home, in the church, in the school, in the workplace, in the arts, in sports, or in politics. Every Christian needs a good coach—and every mature Christian needs to be a coach to those following him or her. How do we who are older coach the young?
- By example: We must give them a picture of what success looks like.
- By advice or counsel: We must talk to them and tell them what we have learned.
- By listening to them: We must ask them where their trouble-spots are and listen to what they tell us.
- By wanting their success more than our own: We must want them to surpass us in whatever field we are coaching them.
The best coach who ever lived was Jesus. He coached his disciples for three years (the Gospels) and then he left them to build his church (Acts) until he returns (Revelation).
We live in the days of building the church. Our job is to learn from our Coach Jesus as we study the Scriptures. We also look for a godly human coach to help us in our practice sessions. Then as we mature, we coach those who will follow us in our particular calling.
Have you thanked God for the people who have coached you throughout your life?
How can you be a better coach to those who will follow you in a particular work to build the church of Jesus Christ?
Yes, I am very thankful for the two godly women who mentored me through a devastating loss when I was 27. Now that I am older, God has allowed me to mentor others, currently, a young mom whom I met at the crisis pregnancy center last summer. She and the father of the baby decided not to continue their relationship, but both wanted to parent their baby. This has caused a huge rift between them. She came to me, and later, he called me from another state where he lived. Through many conversations, she came to Christ, he renewed his faith and they are both now meeting in my house twice a week for Bible study. They are so hungry for the word, two hours a sitting is not enough time to answer questions and explain the scriptures to them. It is so beautiful to see and I am brought to tears every time I think that God let me do this. There is no other way to counsel apart from God and His word. He alone has the power to change people. Their relationship is smoothing out, and while I don't know the end of this story yet, there are two young people who have new life because of a beautiful baby girl whom God used to bring them to Christ. And I get to see . . .
ReplyDeleteDear Unknown. I love this story! Thank you for sharing it with me and other who read my blog. God can use each one of us in special ways when we are willing to put ourselves in his hands as you have done. I can't wait to hear what God will do with your couple. Bless you.
DeleteThis is a good read. I like the idea of being grateful to those who have coached us into what we are and being intentional in coaching others in our area of expertise. The ultimate example of coaching is that of Christ to his disciples. What a challenge!
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