COACH: Empower Others to Effectively Lead a Small Group

By Joel Comiskey

This book provides step by step instructions on how to coach a small group leader from the initial stages of leading the group all the way to giving birth to a new one. Those who have never coached before will receive clear information on how to take the small group leader to the next level. And someone who is already coaching a leader will also find the eight lessons in this book very helpful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joel Comiskey
• Release date: Dec 3, 2009

Joel Comiskey

Joel Comiskey holds a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary and is an internationally recognized cell church consultant. He has served as a missionary with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Quito, Ecuador, and is now the founding pastor of Wellspring, a small-group-based church in southern California. Joel has written bestselling books on the worldwide cell-group movement, and he teaches as an adjunct professor at several theological seminaries.Joel and his wife, Celyce, have three daughters and live in Moreno Valley, California. For the last eight years the Comiskeys have enjoyed opening their home for small group ministry and are excited to watch their daughters developing their spiritual gifts in the small group setting. Joel enjoys basketball, computers, and the outdoors. More information about the Comiskey’s can be found at www.comiskey.org or www.joelcomiskeygroup.com.

Book preview

COACH: Empower Others to Effectively Lead a Small Group 

by Joel Comiskey, Ph.D.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2009, Joel Comiskey

www.joelcomiskeygroup.com

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Lesson 1: Receive

Lesson 2: Learn

Lesson 3: Plan

Lesson 4: Listen

Lesson 5: Serve

Lesson 6: Develop

Lesson 7: Strategize

Lesson 8: Challenge

Appendix One: How to Coach Someone using this Material

Appendix Two: Resources by Joel Comiskey

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Introduction

My favorite coach is John Wooden. During his time coaching college basketball with the UCLA Bruins, Wooden won ten NCAA titles, including seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. His UCLA teams also had a record winning streak of eighty-eight games, four perfect 30-0 seasons, and won thirty-eight straight games in NCAA Tournaments.

Yet, Wooden wasn’t overly focused on winning basketball games. He was more concerned about building character in his players. He stimulated his players to be successful in their school studies, attitudes, and behavior—which ultimately resulted in success on the basketball court. And Wooden lived the life that he asked his players to follow. Wooden was an amazing coach because he invested in the lives of his players and developed their character.

Coaching small group leaders requires similar commitments. The goal of Christian coaches is to move people toward Jesus Christ. The Christian coach strives to lead people forward to conform with Jesus Christ, knowing that the ultimate crown is the one that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25).

While Christ-like character is most important, a small group coach also equips leaders with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to develop themselves and become more effective in small group ministry. A cell coach encourages, nourishes, and challenges cell leaders to grow and multiply their cell groups.

The word coach is descriptive of the role a person plays as he or she supports cell leaders under his or her care. It is not a sacred term. In fact, churches use many terms to identify the role played by the cell group coach: supervisor, section leader, G-12 leader, cell overseer, cell sponsor, even L (which is the Roman numeral for 50).

This book provides instructions on how to coach a small group leader from the initial stages of leading the group all the way to giving birth to a new one. Those who have never coached before will receive clear information on how to take the small group leader to the next level. And someone who is already coaching a small group leader will also find the eight lessons in this book very useful in empowering others to lead fruitful groups.

I have another, more-in-depth book on coaching called How to be a Great Cell Group Coach. Some of the same concepts are covered in both books, but the major difference is that this book is a hands-on-training manual to prepare someone to be a coach of small group leaders. My other book How to be a Great Cell Group Coach would be a great reference manual to use alongside this book.

Additional Resources Coach is part of a two book advanced training series that prepares someone to become a mature follower of Jesus Christ. The other book currently in this series is Discover, a resource for helping believers find and use their spiritual gifts.

The Basic Training Series is comprised of five books, which are available at www.joelcomiskeygroup.com or by calling toll free 1-888-344-CELL.

You can use this book individually, in a small group setting, or in a classroom. Teaching outlines and PowerPoints for these two advanced equipping books and all five books of the Basic Training Series are on CD. This CD can be purchased at the JCG web site or by calling the toll free number above.

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Lesson One: Receive

I overworked one spring to the point of exhaustion. I didn’t faithfully keep my day off, didn’t take care of my body, and eventually caught bronchitis. I had a teaching commitment at the time that I couldn’t cancel. I remember the sleepless nights wheezing and coughing, knowing that I had to teach the next day. As I look back at those exhausting days, I now realize that I tried to cram way too much work into a limited time period and ended up imbalanced. In my desire to fulfill certain goals, I didn’t keep my regular day off, so my family time suffered, and I didn’t spend quality time with the Lord. I learned that I must maintain certain priorities in my life if I want to succeed over the long haul. And great coaching starts with life and balance. A coach’s effectiveness depends on his or her relationship with Jesus Christ.

Receive Daily

Coaching is helping a leader stay focused and balanced in life. If you’re going to help someone else, you first need to help yourself. I’m convinced that the most vital aid comes from spending quality time in God’s presence each day. I believe, in fact, that the most important discipline of the Christian life is spending daily time in his presence.

Having a daily quiet time will help you to know God, feed from His word, and be empowered by his Spirit. In the quiet time, you’ll worship the King of kings, listen to his voice, and receive direction for each day. You’ll feel empowered to serve others.

When you’re spending daily time in his presence, you’ll grow accustomed to his voice. That same voice will give you words of counsel while you’re coaching others. As you confess and surrender your weakness to him, he’ll work through you to minister to others. He wants us to show how totally dependent we are on his guidance. Give him your cares and concerns and be confident that he will work through you.

Try IT!

If you spend regular time with, how has time spent with him, changedyour life?

If you don't, what is the greatest obstacle to spending quality time with