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The Barnabas Coaching Model
"Let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24
First-century AD: the church at Jerusalem received amazing news. Gentiles in Antioch were hearing the Gospel and turning to the Lord in great numbers! Barnabas was chosen to go help the new believers in Antioch. Barnabas' response to the opportunities in Antioch provides us with a wonderful example of a fruitful worker. The terms "church planter" and "coach" are not found in the New Testament, but in today's language, we would call Barnabas a good example of both. Using him as our model, we see the role of an effective church planting coach.
Acts 11:23-24 says: "When he arrived and (1.) saw the evidence of the grace of God, (2.) he was glad and (3.) encouraged them all (4.) to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (5.) He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord"
Barnabas filled his role as a church planting coach in Antioch by:
1. Observing. 2. Caring. 3. Encouraging. 4. Empowering. 5. Inspiring.
1. Observing "When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God"
Barnabas arrived with anticipation, looking for signs of the Holy Spirit's work among the Gentiles of Antioch. Coaching starts by simply "showing up" with a commitment to help another person make progress. Good coaches do not arrive with all the answers; we come with the desire to learn. We listen and watch, expecting to find evidence of where God is at work.
It's vital to listen first. "He who answers before listening---that is his folly and his shame." (Proverbs 18:13) Listening helps us gather the information we need and helps us stay focused. Allowing the leaders to do most of the talking helps them to describe what they see happening in their work and personal lives. Leaders are enabled to bring out their best reflections, insights and thoughts on their current situation.
Together with those we coach, we move down a pathway of discovery to find out what God may have in store next for expanding His work.
2. Caring "he was glad"
". . . for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. . . ." Ephesians 4:12
Barnabas focused upon the people he was sent to help. Because they were Gentiles and he a Jew, he had to overcome prejudices and negative judgments from his past. With God's grace, he began to see them through God's eyes and to truly care about them.
As he got to know the believers and learned what God was doing in their midst, he responded with joy. The fact that he cared became obvious. Likewise, coaches make the effort to get to know the leaders. One of the best ways to learn about someone is to ask good questions. We ask because we care. Questions help us discover more about who the leader is, as well as what he does. The more we learn, the more we'll care and naturally "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
When we have passion and enthusiasm for their vision and goals, it shines through. We celebrate victories, whether small or big. We look for practical, culturally meaningful ways to celebrate or to show appreciation such as simple cards, gifts, awards, certificates, meals, parties, etc. Leaders flourish when they have people who understand and care about the issues they face as they continue to press on toward their goals.
3. Encouraging "and encouraged them all"
The great leader is not the one in the spotlight. He's the one leading the applause. ---Anonymous
Barnabas, originally "Joseph", received his new name from the apostles. It means "Son of Encouragement." He came alongside believers and propelled them forward. We see him doing this for Paul in Acts 9:26-27. Paul arrived in Jerusalem to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. It was Barnabas who listened to Paul"s story, believed and trusted him. Putting his own reputation at risk, Barnabas introduced Paul to the apostles.
Just as he did with Paul, Barnabas urged the Antioch believers to go through the doors God had opened so wide for them. As coaches, we do the same by coming alongside leaders and helping propel them forward. We encourage them to follow through with the goals and plans they have chosen.
It's easy to enthusiastically cheer someone on when things are going well. But in the face of difficulties or setbacks, encouragement is even more important. Encouragers believe the best and avoid the temptation to jump to negative conclusions. Even when a plan falls apart, there are positive ways to view it: "Failure is successfully finding out what you don't want to repeat. Put it behind and press on!"
4. Empowering " to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts"
The world's greatest leadership principle: You can work miracles by having faith in others. To get the best out of people, choose to think and believe the best about them. ---Anonymous
Barnabas was a prophet and teacher (Acts 13:1). He used his ministry gifts to help the believers to take action toward growth in their devotion to God and His purposes. Jesus clearly explains how His disciples remain true to Him with all their hearts: "If you love Me you will obey what I command." Perhaps the most important thing a coach can do is to help a leader gain confidence in hearing God's voice, doing what He says, and then teaching others to do the same.
Progress toward church planting movements means a commitment to life-long learning. It requires ongoing development of skills such as evangelism, discipleship and leadership training. As coaches, we must continue to increase our knowledge of practical ministry resources, making ourselves available to point leaders toward useful seminars, books, CDs, DVDs, websites andresource people. Skilled coaches help leaders consider their various options and then decide upon specific action steps which lead toward accomplishing their goals.
5. Inspiring " He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."
The football player asked his coach, "How come we have to practice so hard? The team that's in last place never practices like this!" ---Coach Don Shula
Barnabas was a man of godly character who inspired commitment through both his words and his actions. Paul, soon to become Barnabas' ministry partner in Antioch, had the same qualities. Together their lives must have been an example of what Paul later wrote: ". . . walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. . . ." (Colossians 1:10) Good coaches encourage leaders to keep growing in godly character (walking in a manner worthy of the Lord) and growing in ministry effectiveness (bearing fruit in every good work). Keeping these two in balance, leaders advance toward their goals.
Like athletes entering the race with the hope of winning, leaders passionately desire to reach their goals of multiplying churches which spread the blessings of the Kingdom among the unreached. Our race is not a short-distance sprint. It's a long-distance marathon, requiring pacing, patience, perseverance and a constant focus upon the goal of reaching the finish line. It also takes a coach, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, on the sidelines shouting: "Keep going! I know you can do it!"
"Do you know that all who run in a race, all indeed run. But only one receives the prize. So run to win." I Corinthians 9:24
"And a great number of people were brought to the Lord"
By K. Sutter
This Coaching Intro continues in the following:
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