The Importance Of Coaching And Mentoring

This past week as I was doing my Bible study to teach the last five chapters of the book of Exodus, I read something that caused me to ponder. As the Lord was giving Moses the requirements for construction of all of the various elements of the Tabernacle and the priest’s garments, the names of the two chief craftsmen were given: Bezalel and Oholiab. Bezalel was skilled in all aspects of construction and knew how to craft anything ornate from gold and silver. Oholiab was an expert in all aspects of weaving of different materials and fibers. What struck me though was that it stated that these men were great teachers. Though they could have done all of the work for the Tabernacle by themselves, this was not the Lord’s plan nor what would be beneficial for the people at large. The people would be benefited and the work progressed most efficiently by men who could involve everyone and teach and mentor others to do the very things that they were able to do.

Taking this concept one step further, the most efficient use of anyone’s time is to teach others to teach others to do God’s work. Wasn’t this also why Jesus mainly avoided the big crowds choosing instead to spend the majority of His time with twelve men, and even in that group an inner group of three consisting of Peter, James, and John? A number of books have been written about Jesus’ method of making disciples, including for instance, “The Master Plan of Evangelism,” or “Disciples Are Made Not Born.”

Recently, a friend of mine had a friend of his arrange a very special birthday present for him. This person arranged for J.I. Packer, the great and elderly theologian, to be interviewed by my friend over the phone. He could ask Packer any question that he wanted. As the time drew near for the interview, my friend began to ask everyone he could think of to give him possible questions to use for the interview. During the interview, my friend asked Packer one main question: “What do you think are the biggest needs for the church today?” J.I. Packer responded, “There are just three things I can think of. Teach, teach, teach.” The church needs the teaching of God’s word as its all encompassing and greatest need. God’s people need to be taught.

It is an awesome thing if God has done a great work in our lives as Christians. It is even greater if He is using our lives in some ministry. But, if we are investing in people and helping them to be equipped for their calling and ministry, then we are more than adding fruit to our lives, we are multiplying fruit from our lives with each person in whom we invest our lives. I submit to you that multiplication is much more important than addition in the kingdom of God. I do not know of anyone who has achieved true greatness who has not had many people invest in their life as a mentor or coach. I could give you the names of four different men who have had such an impact in my life that I know that I would not be doing the things in ministry for the Lord I am doing today if they had not been a mentor and coach to me. In Ephesians 5:16 in the Bible we are admonished as believers about the importance of using our time wisely: “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” All of us who are Christians ought to strive to be mentors and coaches of others. How about you, who are you mentoring and coaching today?

Youth are a great investment of our time. As a pastor I am often reminded of the importance of investing in youth because every church is just one generation from extinction. As a Christian you can have a tremendous impact upon kids by getting involved in coaching. I know a few Christian men who coach athletics and have affected many kids lives in a positive way by their own life example and by teaching life lessons to kids. Many kids have been reached for Christ by their coaches as well. Think about the reasons why it is good for adults to coach youth in athletics:

1. You can have a positive influence on the next generation through investing your life in kids.
2. You have the opportunity to teach Christian values.
3. You can teach life lessons and principles that will extend far beyond the world of sports.
4. You can teach and enforce good sportsmanship.
5. You can teach the importance of being a part of a team: setting aside selfish motives and pursuits for the sake of others and the group you are a part of.
6. You can instill in them discipline, work ethic, and commitment.
7. You can be a role model to kids, and remember many kids these days are being raised in single parent homes.
8. You can be a mentor to a kid who looks up to you.
9. You can help a kid to be able to achieve the potential that he has in his athletics (something he couldn’t do without good coaching).
10. You can be salt and light to the people of this world who might not know the Lord.
11. You can use the opportunity to build friendships (with parents and kids) from which friendship evangelization of the gospel can occur.

You don’t need to be a head coach to coach kids, you can assist as a coach. You also don’t need to be an expert in any sport, you can learn as you go. It is important to be committed to learning the basics and the mechanics used by athletes in any sport. Even if you just coach and mentor your own kid in an athletic sport there are great rewards for you. Fifteen years ago I began teaching my son to play baseball, and up even into high school I helped coach him and his teams as a hitting coach, and many times throwing batting practice. This year as a senior in college he is still playing baseball. One thing I have noticed is that the kids that go the farthest in their sports have in almost every case had a parent who was very involved personally in coaching and mentoring them in their sport. This concept though is much more far reaching than just athletics. A person once remarked, “If a person wants to be great in this life he must be very careful how he picks his parents!” It is such a joy to see your children succeed and do well in life.