📝 Worksheet: Learning from Jesus’ Coaching Conversations
Worksheet: Learning from Jesus’ Coaching Conversations
Topic 2: Jesus the Master Coach
Course: Coaching Ministry Foundations
Theme: Coaching in the footsteps of Jesus with presence, questions, truth, grace, and faithful action.
This worksheet helps you reflect on how Jesus modeled Life Coaching Ministry. Jesus did not merely give information. He walked with people, noticed them, asked powerful questions, discerned the heart, spoke truth with grace, and invited transformation.
Part 1: Opening Scripture Reflection
Read the following passages slowly.
1 John 2:6, WEB
“He who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.”
Matthew 16:15, WEB
“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’”
John 5:6, WEB
“When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’”
John 1:14, WEB
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Reflection
What phrase from these passages stands out to you most?
What do these passages show you about the way Jesus ministered to people?
Why do you think Jesus often asked questions instead of immediately giving answers?
What does it mean for a Life Coach Minister to “walk just like he walked”?
Part 2: Jesus’ Coaching Posture
In Topic 2, Jesus is presented as the perfect model of ministry coaching. He practiced presence over power. He met people where they were. He noticed the overlooked, asked questions, discerned the heart, restored dignity, and invited transformation.
Reflection Questions
Which part of Jesus’ coaching posture challenges you most?
A. Presence over power
B. Asking before answering
C. Seeing beyond behavior to the heart
D. Restoring dignity and identity
E. Speaking directive truth when needed
F. Inviting faithful action
Why did you choose that answer?
When someone comes to you with a struggle, what is your natural first response?
A. I want to give advice quickly
B. I want to quote Scripture immediately
C. I want to listen carefully
D. I feel unsure what to say
E. I want to fix the situation
F. Other: ___________________________
How might Jesus’ example reshape your first response?
Part 3: Learning from Jesus’ Questions
Jesus asked questions that opened the heart. His questions helped people name desire, faith, fear, identity, responsibility, and readiness.
Consider these examples:
“Where are you?”
God’s question to Adam in Genesis 3:9 invited Adam to come out of hiding.
“Who do you say that I am?”
Jesus’ question in Matthew 16:15 invited Peter to personally confess faith.
“Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus’ question in John 5:6 invited the sick man to name desire and readiness.
“Do you love me?”
Jesus’ question in John 21 invited Peter into restoration and renewed calling.
Practice Reflection
Which question speaks most deeply to you right now?
Why?
What makes that question powerful?
How is a powerful question different from quick advice?
What question might Jesus ask someone who says, “I feel stuck”?
What question might Jesus ask someone who says, “I failed, and I do not know if God can still use me”?
What question might Jesus ask someone who says, “I am tired of pretending”?
Part 4: Case Study Reflection
Review the case study, “He Asked Me a Question.”
Marcus was learning to help others in the footsteps of Jesus. When Daniel shared that he felt like he was failing at work, home, and spiritually, Marcus wanted to give quick advice. Instead, he paused and asked questions that helped Daniel name what was really happening.
Reflection Questions
What was Marcus’ first instinct when Daniel shared his struggle?
Why was it wise for Marcus to pause before giving advice?
What question helped Daniel begin to open up?
What was Daniel hiding beneath busyness and exhaustion?
How did Marcus show Daniel dignity and grace?
How did Marcus help Daniel identify one faithful next step?
Why was it important that Marcus asked permission before praying?
What did Marcus learn about coaching in the footsteps of Jesus?
Part 5: Ministry Sciences Reflection
Ministry Sciences helps us see the whole person before God. Daniel’s struggle was not only about being busy. His work pressure, marriage distance, spiritual dryness, emotional exhaustion, fear of failure, and hidden shame were all connected.
A Life Coach Minister learns to notice these connections without reducing the person to one problem.
Whole-Person Discernment
Think of someone who may come to you feeling stuck, tired, ashamed, confused, or spiritually dry. Do not write their full name if privacy is needed.
What visible struggle might they bring?
What deeper concerns may be connected?
Spiritual: ___________________________________________
Emotional: __________________________________________
Relational: __________________________________________
Practical: ___________________________________________
Calling or purpose: ___________________________________
What question could help draw out what is beneath the surface?
How could you honor this person as someone made in God’s image?
What would it look like to practice presence over power with this person?
Part 6: Truth, Grace, and Action
Jesus came full of grace and truth. Life Coaching Ministry follows His pattern by helping people name truth, receive grace, and take faithful action.
Truth
What truth may need to be named in a coaching conversation?
Example: “I am hiding,” “I am afraid,” “I feel spiritually dry,” “I need help,” or “I have been avoiding a hard conversation.”
Your answer:
Grace
What grace may need to be offered?
Example: “God sees you,” “You are not beyond restoration,” “You can come into the light,” or “Jesus meets people with mercy and truth.”
Your answer:
Action
What faithful next step could be encouraged?
Example: an honest conversation, prayer with a spouse, confession, asking for counsel, returning to Scripture, apologizing, serving, resting, or following through on one small obedience.
Your answer:
Part 7: Practice Writing Jesus-Style Coaching Questions
Write five coaching questions that reflect the way Jesus ministered.
Try to include questions that invite honesty, faith, desire, responsibility, and faithful action.
Now review your questions.
Which question best invites honesty?
Which question best invites spiritual reflection?
Which question best helps the person take responsibility?
Which question best leads toward faithful action?
Part 8: Directive, Semi-Directive, and Non-Directive Moments
Jesus asked questions, listened, and created space. He also spoke clear truth when needed.
A Life Coach Minister must discern when to listen, when to guide, and when to speak more directly.
Reflection
When might a non-directive question be most helpful?
When might a semi-directive response be appropriate?
When might a directive biblical truth be needed?
Why should directive truth still be offered with humility and love?
What danger comes when a coach is directive too quickly?
What danger comes when a coach refuses to speak truth when it is needed?
Part 9: Permission-Based Prayer
A Life Coach Minister welcomes God into the conversation with wisdom and permission. Prayer should not be used to pressure, control, or end a difficult conversation too quickly. Prayer can become a sacred moment when offered with humility.
Practice
Write three ways you could ask permission to pray.
Reflection
Why is asking permission important?
How does permission show respect for the person?
What kind of prayer would fit a coaching conversation?
What should you avoid when praying with someone in a coaching setting?
Part 10: My Next Faithful Step
Jesus did not merely inform people. He invited transformation.
After completing this topic, what is one way you will practice coaching in the footsteps of Jesus?
Choose one:
A. I will practice asking before advising
B. I will read the Gospels and notice Jesus’ questions
C. I will listen longer before speaking
D. I will ask permission before praying
E. I will look for the deeper heart issue beneath the visible problem
F. I will practice Truth, Grace, and Action in one conversation
G. Other: ___________________________
My Next Step
This week, I will:
I will practice this with:
I will ask God to help me by:
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to walk as You walked. Help me notice people with compassion, listen with patience, ask wise questions, and speak truth with grace. Keep me from rushing to fix what only You can heal. Make me humble, attentive, courageous, and loving as I walk beside others. Amen.