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Jesus as a spiritual coach: the example of Peter

Jesus didn’t ask Peter to follow him sight unseen. His coaching began with trust-building. We see Jesus hanging out with Peter before he asks him to do anything else. After church, they go to Peter’s house. Jesus further earns trust by meeting Peter’s felt need – he heals his mo…
By Seth Barnes
By Seth Barnes

Jesus didn’t ask Peter to follow him sight unseen. His coaching began with trust-building. We see Jesus hanging out with Peter before he asks him to do anything else. After church, they go to Peter’s house. Jesus further earns trust by meeting Peter’s felt need – he heals his mother-in-law. (Luke 4:39)

In their next interaction, Jesus partners with Peter in ministry. He uses Peter’s boat as a floating preaching platform. Then, he again met Peter’s felt need by helping him with his business. (Luke 5:4)

By this time, Jesus has earned enough trust that he can begin to cast a vision in Peter’s life, challenging him to become His acolyte and enter a life of ministry (Luke 5:10-11). At this point, Jesus engages in the first phases of spiritual coaching: teaching and modeling with a small group (Luke 6-7).  Periodically they are in a large group setting, but Jesus uses the small group to debrief His teaching (Luke 8:9).

Thus trained, Peter – along with the other disciples – gets to try out ministry for himself (Luke 9:2) before later progressing as a trainer for another acolyte (Luke 10). Subsequently, Jesus pulls Peter aside for spot coaching, encouraging him at points of breakthrough (Matt 16:18) and correcting or rebuking him when his faith faltered (Luke 22:31).

Jesus, ever the consummate spiritual coach, developed Peter over a period of three years into a spiritual leader. We can do the same for our acolytes if we’ll follow his pattern.

Comment

  • Hi
    thank you for the insight.
    I am using what you have written to share with my Bible study group. We are covering on “Masterlife” which has a short portion about the Principles of Discipling.

    Thank you,
    God bless
    joy in the journey
    florence, Singapore

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Seth Barnes

I'm motivated to join God in his global reclamation project. He's on the move, setting his sons and daughters free from their places of captivity. And he's partnering with those of us who have been freed to go and free others.



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