In the world of sports, you have two kinds of people. You have the star player, the one who scores all the points… Then you have the coach… Their legacy isn’t measured in personal stats, but in the success of the players they’ve invested in.
Let me ask you this morning: In your Christian life, has God called you to just be a good player? Or has He called you to be a coach?
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Devotional
Listen to me, church. We have to get this clear, because it is the core mission Jesus left us with… His command was extreme, it was specific, and it was for every single one of us: Go and make disciples.
A disciple isn’t just someone who believes in Jesus. A disciple is someone who is learning to live and love like Jesus. And a disciple-maker is someone who intentionally invests their life into helping someone else do that. It is the spiritual version of coaching…
This is the fruit of a truly victorious community. A healthy family doesn’t just raise kids; it raises kids who grow up to raise their own kids. It multiplies… The goal is to be a training ground, an incubator for disciples who then go out and make more disciples.
Let’s be brutally honest. Most of us are terrified of this. We think, “I don’t know enough,” “I’m not perfect enough,” “That’s the pastor’s job.” That is a lie from the enemy… Discipleship is not a formal program; it’s a life-on-life relationship…
This is how we change the world. Not by one pastor preaching to thousands, but by thousands of everyday Christians each coaching one or two.
Additional Scripture for Meditation
- 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
- John 15:8 (ESV): “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV): “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
Reflection
- Gut Check: Are you more comfortable with the idea of being a “player” (a good Christian) or a “coach” (a disciple-maker)? What fear holds you back from coaching?
- Who invested in you? Think of a person who was a “coach” in your spiritual life. What specifically did they do that helped you grow?
- Is it optional? The Great Commission is a command, not a suggestion. Do you live as if making disciples is an optional, extra-credit activity or as an essential part of your mission as a follower of Jesus?
Practical Application
- Identify Your “One”: Prayerfully identify one person in your life who is a few steps behind you in their faith journey. This week, your mission is to simply invite them to do life with you…
- Be Teachable: You can’t be a good coach if you’re not still a good player. Find someone a few steps ahead of you in their faith and ask them to mentor you…
- Start with What You Know: Don’t get overwhelmed by what you don’t know. What is one thing God has taught you? How to pray? How to have a quiet time? How to serve? Find someone and offer to teach them that one thing…
Prayer
Father, forgive us for being content to just be players on the field. Forgive us for abdicating our role as coaches. We confess our fear and our feelings of inadequacy. Lord, You didn’t call the equipped; You equip the called… May we be a church that doesn’t just make converts, but makes disciples who make disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen.