I’m sure you see the similarities and are wondering if that photo above is “Gary”; honestly, it is NOT me!.

Here are three strategies to develop your coaching muscle.

STRATEGY #1: Work with a coach mentor

STRATEGY #2: Receive feedback

STRATEGY #3: Learn with and from other coaches

Let me unpack the “Why?” before the “How?”

Why is it important to sharpen my coaching skills?  I am assuming if you are reading this blog that coaching is a muscle you exercise on a regular basis to develop people. Here are three contexts that ministry leaders flex their coaching muscle:

• Local Church: Pastors and church planters developing leaders in a local church
• Network: Leaders mobilizing disciplemakers & church planters within a neighborhood, city, state, region or nation
• International: Leaders who catalyze multiplication movements across borders

If you coach in one or more of the three categories above, then you make coaching a priority in your schedule; and developing your coaching skills is a necessity!

You understand, to extend your reach that you must empower and coach. This is why coaching is an essential muscle that needs to be exercised. It is not a management tool. Coaching is an empowerment tool!

How can I sharpen my coaching skills?  One of the most fruitful experiences of my development as a coach was was to work with a mentor coach. In fact, this last year I worked with two different mentor coaches, one female (Kim) the other male (Sam). “How was this helpful?” you ask.

• Reason #1: Fresh insights
• Reason #2: New perspectives

These caused me to rethink my process. Plain and simple.

If you want to develop your coaching muscle – first, find a mentor coach. Someone who is a step ahead. Or has a different approach. Or new perspective. Find someone that can challenge you in areas that will help you empower disciple-makers and leaders from the grass-roots to the leader of a multiplication movement.

InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This is uniquely designed to support the development of leaders who coach disciple-makers, pastors, church planters and multiplication leaders.

Let me introduce my co-facilitator, Mukesh Azad.  I met Mukesh in 2016 while conducting a coach training workshop alongside a Disciple Making Movement training track.  One evening over dinner we discussed his vision to establish training centers to send out entrepreneurs to start businesses to fuel disciple-making and church planting movement; in some of the most difficult regions of the world.  As he scribbled his vision on a paper napkin I sensed the Lord had us meet for a particular purpose.  I am partnering with Mukesh to fuel this shared-vision in India and provide mentor coaching to leaders in the US.  Read more about Mukesh – click here, then go to the bottom.

Since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours of the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective are applicable to the International Coach Federation, Coach Mentor Requirement for the: 

• Associate Certified Coach – ACC
• Professional Certified Coach – PCC
• Master Certified Coach – MCC.

If this is a need you have and would like more information, please contact me direct – click InFocus.

Here are a couple of related resources

LEARNING STYLES: SKILL BUILDER BOOKLET

LEARNING STYLES STORYBOARD

Do you remember your first shot?  You were reassured; “it will only sting a little bit”.  Feedback is sometimes like that.

Here are three strategies to develop your coaching muscle:

STRATEGY #1: Work with a coach mentor

STRATEGY #2: Ask For & Receive Feedback

STRATEGY #3: Learn with and from other coaches

I’ve discovered that the feedback I receive is mostly appreciated – usually helpful.

I remember the feedback on my coaching through a formal, written assessment – from two experienced assessors. The introduction to the report was brutal. So harsh, that I put the report down. Weeks later when I picked-up the document again; I found their recommendations extremely helpful. However, I had some questions.

During my internal struggle to gain perspective, I missed the window of opportunity for inquiry to engage the assessors. Lesson learned!  If you are going to ask for feedback, be open to criticism.

Be prepared to accept what is genuinely helpful and reject feedback that does not accurately represent your experience and reality. Incidentally, this is a skill called “Self-Assessing” that is measured in the Online 360-degree Coach Assessment that I mention below.

There exists countless ways to receive feedback on your coaching. You can receive informal or formal feedback. In person, real-time or written. I have used and found each mode helpful.

I tend to lean on two types of feedback:

• Real-time observation:  

Small group, triads and 1-1 coaching sessions provide an opportunity for real-time feedback. The “fish-bowl” of group coaching gives participants opportunities to practice their coaching with timely feedback from individual of the group as well as a competent assessor. In addition, when asked in a 1-1 coaching session, feedback can requested to give you a sense of how you are helping the other person through listening and asking questions (for instance).

• Qualitative Assessment:

Using a 90-degree, 180 or Online 360-degree Coach Assessment; coaches solicit feedback from people they have coached. Multiple people are asked to assess the leader using the Online Coach Assessment 360-degree how she/he demonstrated the essential skills of coaching. The result is a clarifying experience.

The combination of soft + hard data; group + individual; real-time + deferred; makes for a robust experience to develop your coaching excellence.

InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This is uniquely designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planter/multiplication leaders.

Since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours of the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective are applicable to the International Coach Federation, Coach Mentor Requirement for the:

• Associate Certified Coach – ACC
• Professional Certified Coach – PCC
• Master Certified Coach – MCC.

If this is a need you have and would like more information, please contact me direct – click InFocus.

Here are a couple of related resources:

MANAGING POOR PERFORMANCE STORYBOARD

MANAGING POOR PERFORMANCE: COACHING GUIDE WITH STORYBOARD

POOR PERFORMANCE HANDLING STYLE MINI-PROFILE

MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – SELF

MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – 180

MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – 360

• Strategy #1: Work with a coach mentor
• Strategy #2: Receive feedback
• Strategy #3: Learn with and from other coaches

What do you need to do, to take your coaching to the next level?

Learning Communities provide a great opportunity for leaders to learn with and from other coaches-in-training.

Christian Pulisic is a 19-year-old American soccer player that has made a name for himself with the German “Bundesliga” club – Borussia Dortmund.  At a very early age, he realized the impact of being around other players and coaches who were more experienced, more accomplished and more motivated to succeed.  Dortmund is known as a club that develops players, a sort of farm system or learning community to help players progress and take their game to the next level!

When leaders participate in a “learning community” to develop their coaching skills, mutual learning occurs when three virtues are shared with participants:

1. Humility – leaders who are open to knew ideas
2. Hunger- leaders who are motivated to grow in their understanding and practice of coaching
3. Emotional Intelligence – leaders with a high level of self-awareness.

How can you truly become a world-class coach?

In 2007 a member of my board, Linda Miller asked me about certification. For those who don’t know, Linda is a pioneer in the coaching industry. As a consulting partner, trainer, and team facilitator with the Ken Blanchard Organization she has coached leaders around the world. Linda helped establish the International Coach Federation to raise the caliber of coaching worldwide. When she asked me that question, it caused me to think. 

As a result, I started my journey to develop my coaching skills. I’m not suggesting that people in ministry need certification. However, I am encouraging you as a leader who empowers disciplemakers, leaders and church planters, to take your development seriously.  If you are satisfied with the results you are getting and seeing disciples, leaders and church planters reproduce into the third and fourth generation – by all means, keep doing what you are doing; if not, you might want to consider raising your coaching game!

When should you take the next step in your development as a coach?

InFocus is excited to present an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This Collective is designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planting/multiplication leaders.  Last week I introduced my co-facilitator, Mukesh Azad, who is an Indian living in Delhi and leading a Business as Mission initiative.  He brings a refreshing view how his coaching business serves as a platform to enter communities while incarnating the gospel and being on-mission.  The more I witness the work of God around the world, the more I see God mobilizing people who are working in the marketplace use their gifts while making disciples and planting churches.  Read more about Mukesh and his expertise at the bottom of this page.  

I would consider it a privilege if you were able to join us.  Click here if you have questions or more information. 

The power of the image above is the strength of the individual parts that make the whole.  Imagine if one of the rocks was slightly tilted at an angle that jeopardized the integrity of the tear-drop?  This disruption would cause it to implode.

Similarily, the three strategies below are integrated into the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective. You will discover the value of the learning community as you reflect on your coach development, receive feedback from a coach mentor and learn with, and from other coaches. It is also a great opportunity to connect with other leaders from around the world with a similar vision to catalyze disciplemaking and church planting movements.

Strategy #1: Work with a coach mentor

Strategy #2: Receive feedback

Strategy #3: Learn with and from other coaches

InFocus is excited to present an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This Collective is designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planting/multiplication leaders by creating a compelling and fruitful environment for you to grow your coaching muscle.  

Why do I need a Church Planting Collective?

• Relationally: Stay on-mission through the support of the Collective Coaching community & 1-1 coaching.  The reality is, most leaders who are catalyzing disciplemaking & church planting movements using a coach approach, feel isolated.  One of the bi-products of the Collective is the support that participant’s receive.  
• Strategically: Reproduce disciples, leaders & churches into the third & fourth generation.  One of the challenges for leaders using a coach approach who have a vision for multiplication, is moving beyond growth by addition to multiplication.  The strategic shift involved is supported by the work of the Collective. 

Who is a good Collective participant?

• Humility – leaders who are open to knew ideas
• Hunger- leaders who are motivated to grow in their understanding and practice of coaching
• Emotional Intelligence – leaders with a high level of self-awareness.

How the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective works?

LEARNING COMMUNITY

• 3-12 participants
• Meet four (4) times
• 60-minutes each

INDIVIDUAL COACHING

• 1-1
• Meet six (6) sessions
• 60-minutes each

What will be required?

Learning is maximized while you coach disciplemaking & church planting/multiplication leaders.  The power of the Collective is that you will strengthen your coaching muscle as you are in the process of coaching leaders.  The learning that you glean from the interactions in the learning community & 1-1 coaching can be applied immediately into the coaching relationships you are actively engaged.

Here are some of the resources that we will be using in the Collective:

• Developing Coaching Excellence Handbook
• Online 360-Degree Coach Assessment
• Online Coaching tool

What are the next steps?

Register here

• $997 per participant + group discounts available upon request

Schedule first coach appointment

• You will be contacted to schedule the first coach appointment with your coach mentor.

Block-out four group sessions @ 8:30am PST

• Session #1: September 10, 2018
• Session #2: October 8, 2018
• Session #3: November 5, 2018
• Session #4: December 3, 2018

It would be a privilege if you were able to join the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective. 

Click here if you have questions or are interested in more information. 

Learn how Collectives can help you make these shifts to raise your coaching game. 

Click for video.

The impact of a coach on a team is tremendous. It can make the difference between winning and losing. Think Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.

It is the same in disciplemaking and church planting. A leader with the right approach, who has developed the necessary skills and has the temperament to coach people to take action, has a tremendous advantage.

A group I worked with recently has a number of pastors and church planters learning the art of coaching. One leader shared the dramatic change in people when he has taken the coach approach. In several conversations when he was asked for advice, he turned to the individual and challenged them to reflect and brainstorm solutions for themselves. In just about every case, the people have responded enthusiastically and taken responsibility for their actions. This is the power of a coach approach.

Making this change is significant, strategic and sacrificial. Here are five shifts that occur when a leader moves from being indispensable to an empowering leader:

• Shift from being viewed as the expert vs. viewing the other person as the expert
• Shift from being the center of the conversation vs. supporting the other person
• Shift from being the advice-giver vs. listener
• Shift from being the creator of the agenda vs.hold the other person accountable for the agenda
• Shift from being responsible to take action vs. empower the other person to take action

What could be the impact if you were to make these shifts?

1. You will help people think for themselves, foster a high sense of ownership and take action!.
2. You will expand your circle of influence so that you are not the only catalyst to lead an initiative, implement change or create a new culture.
3. You will accelerate the process of:
   • Disciplemaking
   • Leadership development
   • Church Planting

Collectives are focused learning intensives to train you, and the leaders you are empowering, in the best practices of coaching to make those shifts.

Two Collectives are being offered this fall:

• Developing Coaching Excellence Collective
• Church Planting Coach Collective

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true…we’re three weeks (21 days!) away from our Sept 3rd application deadline for our fall Collectives. 

Learn how Collectives bring out the best in leaders, from Gary Reinecke – watch video.

Learn three benefits to the Church Planting Coach Collective, from Daniel B – watch video.

As I’m writing this email, we are praying for the right people that will benefit most from the Collective experience. Have you been waiting to apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective & Church Planting Coach Collective?

Now is the time!

If you’ve missed my last emails on our Collectives, here’s a quick recap:

• They are comprised of small groups limited to 15 for an optimal learning experience
• You’ll receive 4 group sessions (60-minutes each) of group coaching plus 6 hours of customized, individual coach mentoring to help you fine-tune your coaching skills.
• You’ll gain a community of close friends and mentors in ministry that will be there to support you as you grow your coaching effectiveness.

Now for the best part….I have a discount for you:

• Apply by August 20th with promo code COLL18 and get $50 off

Ready to apply?

Click here to apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective.

Click here to apply for the Church Planting Coaching Collective.

Have questions? Simply click here or give me a call at (951) 473-4481.

Feel free to forward this email along to any church planters, leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planting/multiplication leaders and entrepreneurs who use a coach approach that should know about this so that they can get the discount code.

Hope to see you this September!

Learn how a coach approach can maximize your ministry, from Gary Reinecke – watch video.

1. Leaders take responsibility – increases ownership for their development
2. Your work load decreases – through delegation and empowering other leaders.
3. Results are in God’s hands – because you can’t control the outcome of people’s actions.

As I’m writing this email, we are praying for the right people that will benefit most from the Collective experience. Have you been waiting to apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective & Church Planting Coach Collective?

Now is the time!

If you’ve missed my last emails on our Collectives, here’s a quick recap:

• They are comprised of small groups limited to 15 for an optimal learning experience
• You’ll receive 4 group sessions (60-minutes each) of group coaching plus 6 hours of customized, individual coach mentoring to help you fine-tune your coaching skills.
• You’ll gain a community of close friends and mentors in ministry that will be there to support you as you grow your coaching effectiveness.

Now for the best part….I have a group discount for you:

Teams of two or more that come together from the same organization, will receive a group discount.

Have questions on group discounts? Simply click here or call (951) 473.4481.

Ready to apply?

Click here to apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective.

Click here to apply for the Church Planting Coaching Collective.

Feel free to forward this email along to any church planters, leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planting/multiplication leaders and entrepreneurs who use a coach approach that should know about this so that they can get the discount code.

Hope to see you this September!

Click here for the video explaining the 3 steps that make-up the Collective.

As my kids return home later this week from their summer internships and get ready for the fall quarter at university, I’m super excited to see them and de-brief their experiences. We’ll have three weeks together to enjoy some camping, hiking, swimming, beach days, and maybe a fire-pit or two. Both of our kids had amazing summers and I love to hear how God used them in their respective areas of focus before they go back to the grind of their studies.

I trust you are finishing your summer on a “high” note and preparing for the fall.

As you’re making your plans for the fall, I wanted to remind you about our two Collectives. Registration ends September 3rd, so if you’ve been waiting to apply, now is the time.

Here are the three easy steps that make-up the Collective:

1. ACTIVATE your vision through individualized coaching.
2. ASSESS your process to cultivate leaders using a coach approach.
3. APPLY principles in your context.

Click here to read more and apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective 

Click here to read more and apply for the Church Planting Coach Collective 

Group discounts of two or more people are available upon request.

If you have any questions, we’re here for you. You can reply to this email or give us a call at (951) 473-4481.

Hope to see you in a few weeks.

Last chance!

Apply for the Coaching Collectives.

Click here to read more and apply for the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective 

Click here to read more and apply for the Church Planting Coach Collective 

Group discounts of two or more people are available upon request.

If you have any questions, we’re here for you. You can reply to this email or give us a call at (951) 473-4481.

Hope to see you next week.

Following are three observations “from the trenches” that are worth paying attention to if you have any interest, or concern over disciple-making movements.  This is real data extracted from reliable resources.  My goal is to clearly state the problem.

I hope you find the information helpful as we continue the mission of Jesus to make disciples…

Globally, the percentage of the world’s population that have become Christian is about the same today as it was 100 years ago

• Approximately 32% of the global population was Christian in 1910 vs. 35% in 2010. The research also shows there has been a shift regionally, which is interesting to note; lower percentage of Christians in Europe and the Americas vs. an increase in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific, while the Middle East-North Africa has remained about the same – see Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian by The Pew Research Center.

Most churches stall-out after the first generation

• 80% of the churches in the US have plateaued or are in decline.
• 16% are growing by addition
• 4% are reproducing – see Becoming a Level 5 Multiplying Church Field Guide (p.74-79).

Few churches plant churches

• Most disconcerting is that of the new churches planted in 2012; only 22% had started at least one daughter church within 5 years of existence – see Multiplication Today, Movements Tomorrow by Ed Stetzer & Daniel Im (p.14).
  • The 5-year window has been the “best practice” for a healthy church to plant a daughter church – see Multiplication Today, Movements Tomorrow by Ed Stetzer & Daniel Im (p.4).
  • Mac Lake suggest that only 4% of churches ever reproduce
• Hirsch and Catchim tell us that the church in the US spends over $70 billion every decade on church plants and resources; but even so “we are experiencing decline in adherence and membership at an unprecedented rate” – see Beyond the Local Church by Sam Metcalf (p. 159).
• This raises an important question: “With the heightened awareness of church planting as the most fruitful, God-given strategy to reach people far from Him, in combination with the resources (conferences, books and service) available; why aren’t churches able to make the shift missionally?”  See Multiplication Today, Movements Tomorrow by Ed Stetzer & Daniel Im.

Here is my attempt to state the problem of the church in the US today:

The current way we make disciples, do church & plant churches has attracted the low-lying fruit therefore,

we must introduce new ways to make disciples, do church & plant churches.

In the upcoming blogs I will reflect a bit more on these three statistics and identify the signs that lead to Movement Drift..  If it were easy, I believe we would have already figured it out with out human ingenuity.  I believe the solution lies not in our capacity to think through the solution but in our reliance on the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit first and foremost.

Please join me on the journey and participate in the conversation.

There are seven mission critical concepts that you must grapple to create a robust culture of disciplemaking + church multiplication.  Each worthy of deep reflection, prayer and adept coaching.  I’ve listed these as “concepts” along with a key question.

Here they are:

Concept 1- Discipleship:

• What is your discipleship pathway?

Concept 2 – Fruitfulness:

• How do you measure fruitfulness?

Concept 3 – Ministry:

• What is your definition of ministry?

Concept 4 – Church:

• Describe what constitutes the local church?

Concept 5 – Time:

• What can you do to move from expediency to significance?

Concept 6 – Gospel:

• List your Gospel imperatives?

Concept 7 – Love:

• How do you express your love of God?
• Who is your neighbor?

You probably aren’t surprised by these.  On the other hand, you may have others you would add to the list.  Take a moment and reflect on your experience:

1. What concepts are you rethinking?
2. How are these changing your approach to disciplemaking + church multiplication?

Please continue the conversation and respond below….

Donald McGavran cited the “professionalisation of ministry” as one of the top challenges for the ongoing cultivation of a movement (“Understanding Church Growth” pgs. 163-164). Specifically, the aspirational goal for credentialed and paid, vocational ministers and missionaries can be detrimental to the very things we need to be doing as apprentices of Jesus. Disciplemaking and church planting are oftentimes lost in the “busyness” of qualifying for, earning an income and doing ministry.

The professional minister is good and necessary – in some cases. In other situations, the pathway to credentialization, the schooling required and financial incentive that many aspire to in ministry, can detract from the making of disciples, caring for the poor and the planting of churches. I wonder how this model influences our understanding of ministry?

I believe the phrase that Neil Cole coined can be helpful: lower the bar of leadership and raise the bar of discipleship. How does this statement influence your understanding of “ministry”.  Let me suggest five characteristics of ministry to accelerate movement.

5 Characteristics of Ministry to Accelerate Movement

Characteristic #1 – Gift-based

Ephesians 4:11-12 is one of my favorites passages. You know of others, but I like to keep things simple and believe that Alan Hirsch, and others, have thoughtful arguments that suggest all apprentices of Jesus are gifted accordingly to one or more of the APEST giftings (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher). Regardless if you agree with the APEST paradigm, the principle is to mobilize people according to their spiritual gifting.

• Key Question: How are you mobilizing people?

Characteristic #2 – Maximizes ALL opportunities for spiritual fruit

Whether a person is crunching numbers or laying brick or serving in the home – we would be wise to connect what they do to help people take the next step on their spiritual journey. Too often we push aside what people do for the majority of their lives in the workplace or community, as non-ministry. The best place for apprentices of Jesus to reach people far from God is in their place of employment or in the community where they live.

• Key Question: How are you helping people see their vocation or their service in the community as ministry?

Characteristic #3 – Progresses the movement forward

Movement is simply defined as disciples and churches reproducing into the third and fourth generation. With that as the filter it helps prioritize where to commit time and resources. The real challenge is when other good opportunities are presented that appear good and right but at the expense of movement-building activity.

• Key Question: How are you progressing you movement forward?

Characteristic #4- Kingdom-focused

The Kingdom of God is not destined for a single church or denomination; it is the reign of Jesus in every nook and cranny of society. This encompasses the three primary institutions addressed in Scripture: the family, government and the local church (including para-church, mission socientes and networks or denominations). For heaven’s sake, we need participation in all sectors of society (business, education, the arts, etc) to establish the Kingdom of God!

• Key Question: How are you helping people see that the Kingdom is bigger than the local church?

Characteristic #5 – God is glorified

In John 4: 23-24 Jesus states “…true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth“. When our acts of service are in alignment with the heart of God, it is pleasing to our Creator – this is how I would define ministry. Perhaps another way of describing ministry is to borrow John Piper’s definition of worship:

The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.

• Key Question: How is God being glorified?

Once you have a moment to reflect on the five characteristics of ministry to accelerate movement., ask yourself the following questions:

1. How do I define “ministry”?
2. What characteristics are firmly established in my ministry?
3. What characteristics need more attention?

Please like this blog below and share it with you friends.

What image comes to mind when you hear the word “church”?

In a world where the Christian apologetic is under scrutiny, Andy Stanley suggests intriguing insights in his book entitled “Irresistable” on the:

• New vs. Old Covenant
• the Resurrection 
• deeply held theological assumptions.

In the discussion about the church he identifies the first time the term is used in scripture. In Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus says to Peter: “… and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

The author goes on to say this is a future part of the New Covenant.

In 1522, William Tyndale began translating the Greek New Testament into English. The Greek word “ekklesia” is accurately translated as “assembly” or “gathering”. The word “church” is not a translation, but a substitution – and a misleading one at that.

Stanley says, that the term “church” should not have appeared in the text at all. Tyndale lost his battle over the term, and others; along with his life. For this reason, “ekklesia” is substituted with our word “church” and used in the scriptures more that 100 times after this.

This makes a tremendous difference in the way we coach, teach and disciple. The connotation of church is very different than the term assembly – as in a gathering of people (whether it be a civic gathering, an assembly of soldiers or an assembly of idol manufacturers as in Acts 19:28-29). What Tyndale was attempting to do was set the record straight.

Today, I imagine, if you surveyed 100 Christians and asked them how they would describe the term “church”, that description would include a building or campus, where people gather for worship. They might describe an organization vs. and organism. Or they might think of the cultural interpretation of the church; whatever that might be in their context.

Which leads me to suggest the following 5 exercise of a local church. These are intended to be broad is scope. The question is intended to help you reflect on your gathering of Jesus Followers.

5 Exercise of a Church

Exercise #1: A community of Jesus Followers loving God Together

• How are you and your community of Jesus Followers expressing your love of God?

Exercise #2: A community of Jesus Followers loving their neighbor together

• How are you and your community of Jesus Followers loving your neighbor?

Exercise #3: A community of Jesus Followers making Apprentices of Jesus together

• How are you and your community of Jesus Followers making disciples together?

Exercise #4: A community of Jesus Followers collaborating with other communities to reach their city

• How are you and your community of Jesus Followers collaborating with other gatherings of Jesus Followers to accomplish the mission of Jesus in your city?

Exercise #5: A community of Jesus Followers stewarding all their resources in God-honoring ways

• How are you and your community of Jesus Followers stewarding all their resources in God-honoring ways?

Every leader and network of leaders will have their definition of “church”. Reflect on the core exercises Jesus had in mind when he spoke to Peter and his intention for us today. Here are three questions to help you identify how to move forward in your thinking about His community of followers that he has entrusted to your care:

1. What exercises are you doing well?
2. What exercises are a challenge?
3. Which exercises do you need to address now?

Here are a few coaching resources to help you guide leaders.

Church Transition Storyboard

Obedient Discipleship Storyboard

Cultivating Multiplication Movements Coaching Guide with Storyboard

What does it take to see a person reproduce the character of Christ in a new apprentice of Jesus? If you’re like me you’ve seen a number of approaches, perhaps, too many to count. Some have been super fruitful, while others not so much.

Assuming the approach includes the key qualities of disciplemaking like the power of the Holy Spirit, application of Scripture, fellowship, prayer and coaching – the soil is ripe for multiplication. In the expediency of time I find many of us are troubled with the lack of reproduction even into the second, not to mention the third and fourth generation. This impatience can and will result in growth by addition – looks amazing in the short-term but malnourished in the long-term.

What can you do to move from expediency to significance?

You have probably heard about the practice of prioritizing activities into Quadrant II – Important and Not Urgent (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey). Multiplication is a Quadrant II activity. Over a three year period, one pastor I have been coaching has changed the expectations of their small groups, which his church calls Life Groups:

• Participation: 79% of the congregation are in Life Groups
• Growth: the number of Life Groups has more than tripled
• Multiplication: 22% of the Life Groups have reproduced into the second generation

Here’s five lessons for your reflection, to keep your eyes on the long-term fruit of a multiplication movement and not get distracted with instant gratification.

Five Lessons to keep your attention on Multiplication

• Lesson #1: Be willing to fail – Multiplication requires an element of to risk – which requires faith.
• Lesson #2: Be open to learn – The best teacher is experience.
• Lesson #3: Be clear with your vision – If you’re unclear where you’re headed, good chance you will get there!
• Lesson #4: Be ALL about the process – The joy is in the journey.
• Lesson #5: Be realistic with your expectations – Go slow at first so that you can go fast later.

Love is a wonderful noun – but a challenging verb!

It is one thing to love someone or some thing.  It is quite another to show love for a person.

The vertical dimension to “love God”, requires belief.  The horizontal dimension, to “love your neighbor”, requires action.

Here are four steps to love your neighbor.

4 STEPS TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR:

1. Prayerfully discern a “neighbor” in need.
2. Identify the need.
3. Offer to help.
4. Let God use you.

We have done this as a small group and have witnessed God do some amazing things.  Who are some people your group could serve?

Key questions to consider:

• How do you express your love of God?
• Who is your neighbor?

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Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving!

As Christians, we have so many privileges to be thankful – but they can get lost in the midst of the daily grind.

Be mindful this Thanksgiving to recall all that God have given, especially the people He was surrounded you.  Remember that every human being has worth, value and significance.  That your friends, family and even those God has put in your life that might not see the world as you see it are created in His image.

This Thanksgiving, receive with a heart of gratitude, share what He has blessed you with and give thanks.

LEARN-EMPOWER-ASSESS-DECIDE-EVALUATE-REVIEW

Life-long learners constantly cycle through a developmental process to sharpen their leadership skills. It may be intuitive or it may be intentional. But the 6 steps are real: LEARN-EMPOWER-ASSESS-DECIDE-EVALUATE-REVIEW.

John was struggling. He served as a volunteer organizing various mission events, with amazing results.  But then he was asked to lead the Global Outreach Ministry for his church. 

He was flattered, excited – but overwhelmed.

• How was he going to lead?
• Who was he leading?
• And most important, where was he supposed to start?

That’s when we met.

Too often, people are put into leadership positions without the tools, skills or understanding required to lead. What normally happens to people is that they either pursue help OR they die! The death of a vision leads to the death of a leader. Worse yet, the leader becomes frustrated, apathetic and disinterested in everything to do with the “church”.

Back to John, after he brought me up to speed, I asked him some questions and as he reflected – he began to calm down. John shared his heart for missions, and for the Global Outreach Ministry.

• He had a vision.
• He had ideas of what he didn’t want – essentially he did NOT want to work alone!
• He DID want to become more effective at helping others lead essential areas of the Global Outreach Ministry.

As a leader, one thing you must ask is – Where do I begin?

Here are three questions I asked John:

1. What are your strengths?
2. What essential skills are necessary?
3. Who do you need?

John had recently completed an assessment that the entire church staff was asked to take. We discussed the strengths he brought to a team. And then identified some areas he did not enjoy, what he lacked and potential blind spots. Finally, we identified what it would take for his team to be successful and who would be good to have on his team.

John is in the process of:

• Learning who he is as a leader.
• Learning about the various roles he needs to fill on his team.
• Learning who he could approach as potential members of his team.

Learning is an important step in the Leadership Development Process. But Learning in itself is not enough. In fact, going to a workshop, listening to a podcast or even receiving a degree in leadership does not guarantee a person can lead. I’ve found that many people have knowledge but lack the experience of actually leading a team. Applying the knowledge and learning from success as well as failure is critical in the development process.

Questions for your reflection:

1. Who are you developing?
2. How are you helping them learn about themselves and the people on their team?
3. What possibilities are there for them to take the next step forward?

The next step in the journey to develop as a leader is – Empower. Empower team members to help them clarify “whats next”. This is where we will pick-up next week.

Learn about the 2019 Collectives.  Each Collective will engage you in the 6 Step Leadership Development process above.

Related Leadership Development Resource:

LEARN-EMPOWER-ASSESS-DECIDE-EVALUATE-REVIEW

Life-long learners constantly cycle through a developmental process to sharpen their leadership skills. It may be intuitive or it may be intentional. But the 6 steps are real: LEARN-EMPOWER-ASSESS-DECIDE-EVALUATE-REVIEW.

The second step in the leadership developmental process is EMPOWER. The word empower is overused in leadership conversations. It can be a catch-all term that means everything and nothing, at the same time.  In a positive sense, EMPOWER describes what transpires when an apprentice acquires the skills, gains confidence, combined with proven character to establish a team that successfully carries-out a project from inception to completion.

Leaders lead from three positions.  Each position serves a particular purpose.  The three models are progressive, meaning that the most empowering leaders aspire to lead from the Outside so that team members own the outcomes of their actions. 

Here are the three positions that leaders lead from with a description of each: 

• Center – The Autocrat
• Fringe – The Team Leader/Coach
• Outside – The Enabler

As a leader, one thing you must ask is – What is my position?

Here are three questions to ask leaders about the position they lead from:

1. What position are you currently leading?
2. Where do you need to move?
3. How can you make the shift?

Empowering is an important step in the Leadership Development Process. But Empowering in itself is not enough. In fact, going to a workshop, listening to a podcast or even receiving a degree in leadership does not guarantee a person can lead. I’ve found that many people have knowledge but lack the experience of actually leading a team. Applying the knowledge and learning from success as well as failure is critical in the development process.

Questions for your reflection:

1. Who are you empowering?
2. How are you helping them increase their capacity to lead?
3. What possibilities are there for them to take the next step forward?

The next step in the journey to develop as a leader is – Assess. Assess team members to help them clarify “whats next”. This is where we will pick-up next week.

InFocus is responding to the need to help leaders empower their team through our Live Courses called Collectives.  Learn about the 2019 Collectives.  Each Collective will engage you in the 6 Step Leadership Development process above.

Related Leadership Development Resource:

Effective Leadership Storyboard