Monitor progress of new shepherds and
of church-planting team leaders.

Tick off duties when you, those you coach, or their flocks, are practicing them well.

[ ] Coach apprentices, as Jesus and Paul did, by training them on-the-job.

In a movement, new leaders cannot abandon family or flock to attend a distant academy.

To keep flocks multiplying, you must coach apprentices on the growing edge of a movement.

You can coach informally, or do so an adjunct to formal, academic education.

Find a comprehensive menu of resources at http://www.docs.peopleofyes.com/

Find four progress checklists for (1) mother churches, (2) church planting team leaders, (3) harvesters and (4) trainers of new shepherds, at www.paul-timothy.net or at www.tinyflocks.com

[ ] Put in practice the vital New Testament duty of all pastors, to coach newer shepherds.

Leaders are continually to train apprentices, who continue the chain reaction. 2 Timothy 2:2

[ ] Listen first to a trainee to detect his churches’ needs, and then respond accordingly.

When Jesus’ disciples returned from a field assignment, Jesus listened to them report what they did and its results; he then he instructed them accordingly. Mark 6:30; Luke 10:17-20

[ ] Help new shepherds plan tasks for themselves and their flocks, to implement immediately.

Plans should specify those whom trainees will serve, where and when.

[ ] Help family heads, who are new believers, begin to shepherd their family and friends.

While they are doing this, have them also coach newer shepherds.

[ ] Keep coaching a leader as long as he needs it, whether several weeks or a few years.

After that, meet occasionally to deal with special needs and coordinate their work with others’.

[ ] Do not define coaching as “one on one”. Jesus coached twelve, at times three or one.

[ ] Fulfill the two main coach’s duties, which are to model and to meet.

1) Model skills: Let one or more apprentices accompany you as you work with people.

2) Meet regularly to do two pairs of tasks: listen and plan both fieldwork and studies.
Plans entail specific tasks, with names and places.

 

 

Listen

Plan

Fieldwork

Worker reports work done.
Pray when one mentions a crisis

Plan what trainee’s flock will do in the next week or so. Record plans

Studies

Worker recaps studies done.
If poorly done, reassign the same study

Assign reading from Bible and other studies that fit plans and needs, and that edify.

 

 

[ ] Provide training materials that facilitate coaching and help churches to multiply.

Follow amenu-based curriculum, in order to find materials that deal with urgent needs.

For examples:

The free www.paul-timothy.net  and www.peopleofyes.com
The more polished, widely-used, oft translated www.trainandmultiply.com

[ ] Verify vital ministries that are still lacking in the churches. (See next page.) Titus 1:5.

Both coaches and trainees consult a checklist of vital church tasks, and their corresponding biblical studies. See the examples cited above.

Remember: The ultimate test of good coaching is not what a coach does but what his trainees’ flock is doing.

 

VITAL CHURCH TASKS CHECKLIST
to be done by church members,
led by their local shepherding elder

Paul-Timothy
Study
number

T&M: SAG
Activity
number

Prolaim the Good News, Make Disciples, Start Churches or Cells

44-56, 74-78

A3

[ ]  Tell friends about Jesus’ death, resurrection, how He has helped you,
Luke 24:46-48; 2 Tim.4:5.

Evangelize entire families and networks of friends, with the power that God promised, dealing with  the head of a family first or as soon as possible.

t Arrange easy ways for new believers to tell friends and relatives about Jesus their only savior.

 

 

[ ]

 

A4

[ ]  Train disciples above all to obey Jesus’ orders, Matt. 7:24-29; 28:18-20; John 14:15.

t Let older children disciple and lead younger, serving as role models.

 

A 7

[ ]  Start daughter churches & cell groups at home & abroad, Acts 13-14.

t Keep flocks multiplying in their normal, biblical way

Send workers who can multiply churches to neglected peoples, and hold them accountable.

Prepare workers to bond lovingly with people of a different society or culture.

 

A20

Provide Pastoral Care and Comfort to the Troubled

20-24, 112-113

 

[ ]  Correct offences without condemning, Gal.6:1-2; Matt.18:15-20; 1 Cor.5.

t Correct believers’ bad habits firmly, without grumbling, gossiping or judging.

t Help persons and families with problems, pain or addictions trust in Jesus’ gracious power.

t Restore those who stray without delay, following the steps that Jesus prescribed.

t Forgive, and staunch Satan’s sneaky undercurrents of finicky criticism.

 

A35

[ ]  Advise and reconcile troubled people, Philemon.

tLet courage and faith overcome feelings of guilt, fear and jealousies.

Face the world’s hatred without letting it trigger despair and dismay.

Agree with one’s spouse on prudent management of family finances and disciplining children.

 

A36

[ ]  Watch over the flock, ward off apathy and “wolves”, Acts 20:28-31; Titus 3:10-11.

t Shun those who cause division or discourage others.

 

A24

Pray, Intercede, Wage Spiritual Warfare

90-95

 

[ ]  Pray daily alone & with family, 1 Thess.17; Eph. 6:10-18; Gen.18:20-33.

Replace prayers to idols and images with prayer in Jesus’ name.

 

A2

[ ]  Pray for the sick, needy, misled & demonized, Eph. 6:10-18; Jam. 5:13-18.

t Rely on the power of Jesus’ name to heal and to discern and cast out evil spirits.

t Wage spiritual warfare strategically, prepared always for martyrdom.

 

A5

Give and Be a Good Neighbor to the Needy

57-60, 69-111

A40

[ ]  Serve the needy, be model citizens, Luke 10:25-37; Acts 6:1-6; Gal.6:9-10.

Deal with employers and employees with respect and fairness.

Help the poor advance economically without causing dependency.

Integrate benevolent development work with other vital ministries.

Train deacons to lead others caring for the needy and oppressed.

 

 

[ ]  Be stewards of one’s treasure, talent & time, Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 6:38.

Encourage believers to give cheerfully.

Verify a benevolence project before contributing to it; avoid frauds.

 

A15

Worship as a Body; Take Time for Meaningful Fellowship.

105-109

 

[ ]  Worship, fellowship and break bread, Matt. 26:26-28; Heb.10:25; Acts 2:46; 20:7.

Obey New Testament “one another” commands in small groups.

Let children take a serious part in worship and church life.

Maintain order during worship without discouraging spontaneity.

Experience the divine mystery of the bread and cup of Communion.

Build loving relationships between new and mature believers.

Include worship songs that one can recall and sing during the week.

 

A10

[ ]  Develop interaction in and between flocks, Rom.12:3-21; 1 Cor.12.

Use spiritual gifts in small groups; heeding the “one another” commands.

Respect Christian leaders regardless of social and educational level.

Cooperate closely with other flocks in the area, and avoid luring away their members.

 

A64 & A65

Let God Transform you into the Image of His Son.

61-63

A7

[ ]  Be transformed by God’s Holy Spirit, Rom. 12:1-2.

Live by faith without seeking constant signs from God to bolster it.

Explain original sin, its consequence for all, and why the risen Christ is our only hope for life.

Let the Holy Spirit bring about perfection in holiness, and cultivate “fruit of the Spirit,” Gal. 5:16-23.

Detect and arrest gossip before its venom spreads.

Pound one’s ego down daily, or as often as it asserts itself, with God’s “hammer”.

 

 

Oversee flocks and Organize Ministries.

79-87

 

[ ]  Agree with coworkers on objectives and plans, Philip. 2:2; Acts 15:22-31.

Keep church bylaws general, to adapt to new situations and a flock’s level of maturity.

Agree on serious projects; let them be bound in heaven as Jesus said.

 

A28

[ ]  Let all members use their spiritual gifts, 1 Cor. 12.

Have groups of limited size, to enhance interaction.

Let folks use God-given gifts freely, not to do only what pleases leaders.

All serve one another in practical ways, 1 Cor.12; Eph. 4:11-16; Rom.12:3-16.

 

A43 & A44

[ ]  Lead firmly as humble servants, not autocrats, Matt. 20:25-28; 1 Pet.5:1-4.

Examine one’s motivation to lead and confess any self-importance.
Let willing believers help plan projects and do vital ministries.

Exercise prayerful, decisive leadership without being bossy.

Prevent a clique secretly usurping control of a congregation.

Share pastoral responsibilities among several leaders.

64-68

A26

[ ]  Assess progress in all tasks, Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11-12;4:1-5; James 1:22-25..

Evaluate results of service for the Lord, not merely efforts.

Focus on positive action, not squandering time on chronic problems.

Evaluate pastoral trainees’ fieldwork frequently and frankly.

Avoid focusing too exclusively on a pet ministry; balance the body.

 

A75

Train and Mobilize Shepherding Elders.

1-5

 

[ ]  Apply the Word to equip believers for edifying ministry, 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Teach Bible doctrine along with practical Bible duty.

Discern crucial differences between the Old and New Covenants.

Preach what is currently needed, not merely what fits one’s teaching style.

t Serve as an example others can easily imitate, of a dutiful shepherd.

25-43, 96-100

A9

[ ]  Train leaders of new flocks, Mark 3:14; Titus 1:5; 2 Tim.2:2..

Extend coaching chains as Paul required.

Provide pastoral training at all economic and educational levels.

Name shepherding elders according to the qualities that God requires.

t Let godly leaders who lack degrees serve where needed and wanted.

101-104

A49

[ ]  Follow God’s order in the home, Eph. 5:21-6:4..

Correct children with positive, consistent discipline, without anger.

Advise couples with bumpy relationships and folks planning to wed.

Fulfill duties of husbands, wives and children.

Evangelize entire families; avoid extracting isolated individuals.

Deal decisively with roots of bitterness.

 

A33