Slides: Coaching Like Jesus

Steve Elzinga

Jesus called disciples (He believed in their potential)

"Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:16-20)

"As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him." (Mark 2:14)

Jesus believed in the potential of average, ordinary people.

The disciples often had to ask Jesus the meaning of his stories

"Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” (Matthew 13:26)

In other words, Jesus left it up to His disciples to ask the meaning of His words.

Jesus left the starting of the church to His disciples

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus promised the the Holy Spirit to empower them

^”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

Jesus constantly asked his disciples questions

- “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15) 

- "What is it you want?” (Matthew 20:21) 

- “What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32) 

- “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:57) 

- “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26) 

Jesus challenged His disciples to do things that they had to figure out

"Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness… These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel...  Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” (Matthew 10:1-10)

Jesus loved unconditionally, giving his disciples space to grow

Jesus sees us with an unconditional love as well as an unconditional belief in our destiny. The freedom we gain from that unconditional relationship empowers us to change from the inside out, because we want to, instead of trying to adjust how we look on the outside so that we’ll be accepted.