Participant Workbook
Authors| Leelo-Dianne Bush, PhD and Debbie Stankovich, MCLC
TRINITY LIVING
©
moving faith to action in the name of the Triune God
participant workbook
LEELO-DIANNE BUSH, PhD
&
DEBBIE STANKOVICH, MCLC
GrandeHall
Cape Coral, Florida
2
Published by GrandHall©
© 2012 · PCCCA
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: No part of this program may be reproduced, modified, altered or shared in any manner without
express written permission from the President of PCCCA, Cape Coral, Florida. Requests for permission should be
addressed in writing to admin@pccca.org. This program may only be presented by a trainer approved and licensed
by PCCCA. For licensing, please contact PCCCA at 239-540-4660 or visit www.pccca.org. Participants, licensees, and
facilitators release PCCCA and all affiliates from any liability in connection to using this program. All actions
undertaken as a result of this program are the sole responsibility of that individual.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY'S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by
Biblica®. Used by permission of Biblica®. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture
taken
from
the
NEW
AMERICAN
STANDARD
BIBLE®,
Copyright
1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
©
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The
Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used
by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000,
2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®,
and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
3
About the Authors
Leelo-Dianne Bush, PhD
Rev. Dr. Bush holds a B.A. degree in Political Science, M.S degree and PhD. in
Christian Counseling. As the founder and former president of Professional
Christian Coaching and Counseling Academy, she established uncompromising
standards for authentic Christian life coaching. She is the founder of the
Professional Christian Coaching and Counseling Academy. A prolific writer and
program developer, Dr. Bush has authored certification programs for Christian
life coaches of various levels and specialties.
Rev. Dr. Bush is married with a grown daughter and resides in Cape Coral,
Florida, where she enjoys reading, writing, and boating with her family in the
Gulf of Mexico and area waterways.
Debbie Stankovich
MCLC and CCA
Debbie earned her B.A. degree in Social Sciences at Washington State
University. Focusing on management, psychology, and human development
served her well in a lifelong career in non-profit management and also as the
president and founder of Light My Path Christian Life Coaching. She received
certification as a Master Christian Life Coach and Joy Restoration Coach
through PCCCA, and is also a Certified Church Administrator through the
National Association for Church Business Administration.
Debbie and her husband, Mike have five grown children and have an
“adopted” daughter who lives at the Annoor in Mafraq, Jordan. Debbie and
Mike live in West Richland, Washington. They love the Seattle Seahawks,
traveling in their motor home, pampering their mini-dachshunds, Rosie and
Bandit, and watching favorite television shows commercial-free through the
magic of DVR.
4
Table of Contents
Personal Session .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Personal Preparation & Introduction to Christian Life Coaching
Session One ....................................................................................................................................................... 18
Christian Authenticity & Excellence
Session Two ....................................................................................................................................................... 33
God Can Use Anyone and Anything
Session Three..................................................................................................................................................... 46
Who Do You Serve? Man or God?
Session Four....................................................................................................................................................... 58
Overcoming Obstacles
Session Five ....................................................................................................................................................... 72
Achieving Balance
Session Six.......................................................................................................................................................... 88
Time Management, Organization & Simplification
Session Seven .................................................................................................................................................. 102
Vision Casting
Session Eight .................................................................................................................................................... 113
Define Your Mission
Session Nine .................................................................................................................................................... 126
Live Your Mission
Session Ten ...................................................................................................................................................... 138
Consistency, Determination, & Staying on Track
5
Personal Session
Personal Preparation
&
Introduction to
Christian Life Coaching
6
Personal Preparation
When you do your part, authentic, Holy Spirit-led Christian life coaching will transform
your life! This program will help you look at your life from the Lord’s perspective.
For people who genuinely want to live as God intended, Christian life coaching is a powerful tool for affecting
change. Results will vary depending on several factors, but if you approach coaching as an opportunity to live a
more abundant Christian life, you will never be the same. Abundance starts with putting God first in your life, so
now is the time to honestly evaluate the quality of your relationship with the Lord. Seriously ponder these questions
and write down your thoughts:

Could you spend more time in the Word?

Is there a special calling or ministry in your future?

Do you feel prompted to encourage or lead others?

Do you have a secret desire in your heart to do something that only the Lord knows?

Have you felt discouraged or dissatisfied with the direction your life is going?

Are thoughts of achieving a particular goal coming back to you time and time again, but you are unsure how
to begin?

Do you feel you lack the support to accomplish what you feel God is calling you to do?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, authentic, Holy Spirit-led Christian life coaching can help you lead
the life God has planned for you. The basics you learn and implement in this program will forever impact how you
live. When you are living the life God has called you to live, you have excitement when you meet each day. You
have a new spring in your step. You acquire a special glow that tells others of your peace, joy, and contentment.
Your life becomes a testimony to what God can do with any of us when we seek Him first.
TRINITY LIVING© is designed to help believers identify God’s will for their lives by emphasizing the power of the Holy
Trinity. We are equipped by God the Father, encouraged by God the Son, and empowered by God the Holy Spirit.
7
As you start working through the sessions, you will be equipped, encouraged, and empowered by the promises in
the Word as you intentionally
It is critical that your motivation for participating in this
program is to live God’s plan for your life. God will honor
motives that are in accordance with His will. He will
frustrate those who go it alone without his blessing.
change the way you live.
There
addition
are
to
six
sessions
this
in
personal
preparation. You and your Peer
coach will hold each other
accountable for completing weekly action steps. You will develop more discipline and positive habits that will
impact all areas of your life. The more you invest, the more you will grow personally and spiritually as a result of
your experience. But before you forge ahead, take a moment to consider your motives:
Why do you want more in your life?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Who do you want to please -- others or God?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CAUTION: This program, if utilized as prescribed, is guaranteed to change and transform
your life. If you do not want your life and the lives of those around you to radically change
and grow into the fullness of what God has planned, then you should stop reading and not
proceed forward from here. Should you decide to move forward you will risk living the
most abundantly awesome life anyone ever lived and be challenged daily to think big,
because God does!
8
Introduction to Christian Life Coaching
Christian life coaching is client-driven, coach-supported, and Holy Spirit-led.
For years, the word “coach” applied primarily to sports. Today, it is common to hear the term applied to any area in
which someone wishes to pursue excellence. That is what a life coach does for people who want to achieve specific
goals in their lives. But a Christian life coach helps you gain deeper awareness of God’s plan for your life by
encouraging you to seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness.
Christian coaching differs from secular coaching because of the
“for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what you should say.”
role of the Holy Spirit. The coach and the person being coached
rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit for direction, trusting God to
Luke 12:12 (NIV)
generate both the questions and the answers that lead to His will.
Relying on the Holy Spirit relieves the coach from the selfimposed stress of needing to come up with an answer. And, it does the same for the person being coached. TRINITY
LIVING© requires you be coached and to coach.
Are you coachable?
This unique situation requires a higher level of commitment than typically found in a coaching relationship, so it is
especially important to clarify expectations and equip you for this program. First we will take a look at how
coachable you are. God will do His part, and you will need to answer “yes” to the following questions in order for
your coaching relationship to be successful.
1. Is there at least one area in your life you want to improve?
2. Are you willing to allow your coach to help you make those improvements?
3. Are you willing to behave differently in order to make the identified changes?
9
If you are hesitant to answer “yes” to all questions, examine what those reasons might be before you begin this
program. There may be good reasons for delaying your journey. For example, some people find coaching to be
most beneficial after working through issues in a counseling setting first. However, you and your coach will both be
wasting time until you are 100% committed to the process. Your facilitator is available to help you discern your
readiness for this program. Please contact him or her immediately if you need help with this.
Are you able to coach?
Now it is time to take a look at your ability to be a coach. You will probably find being a coach a bigger challenge
than being coached. Excellent coaches:

inspire anointed conversation

encourage awareness of God’s plan

draw out excellence; let success happen

demonstrate love and grace toward the client

optimize and celebrate the client’s efforts

ask, then listen

abate fear with confidence in God’s divine purpose

pray for discernment about priorities

improve communication skills

build supportive environments
That is a pretty tall order, but before you become intimidated by the task you are facing, let us simplify the
expectations for this setting. As a Peer coach, you will be expected to:

Ask open ended questions to help the person you are supporting see new perspectives

Listen between the lines

Be familiar with scripture so you can help the person you are coaching align decisions with God’s Word

Encourage, equip, and empower your Peer coach in accordance with the leading of the Holy Spirit
In each session you will have examples of effective and less effective coaching conversations. Make sure you
understand what makes one conversation equipping, empowering, and encouraging and the other one less so. If
you are unsure why one approach is more effective than another, ask your facilitator for clarification. Because we
are coaching from a Holy Spirit-led position, we are open to the fact that what seems ineffective to us is exactly
what is needed at the time. However, there are some techniques that are consistently more effective than others.
10

Avoid asking either/or questions. An easy way to do this is to start your questions with “what” or “how.”
“Would you rather…” usually leads to one of two solutions, when there are probably at least two other
viable options.

Pay attention to the emotion and the words NOT spoken. Think ENUF when your Peer coach is talking:
o
Empathy—empathize with your peer coach
o
Non-judgmental – remain non-judgmental
o
Unconditional – love unconditionally
o
Feeling-focused – focus on feelings more than words

Commit to daily devotions and Bible study

Pray before sessions, and obediently follow the nudging of the Holy Spirit to speak truth in love, and lead
your Peer coach to new insights compliments of God the Holy Spirit
Start integrating these practices into all your interactions. One of the greatest benefits of becoming a coach is
seeing how other relationships improve when the emphasis is on listening to the other person and the leading of the
Holy Spirit.
Authentic Christian coaching does not rely on games, tricks, tools, or exercises to bring people into knowledge.
Genuine Christian coaching uses the knowledge imparted by the Holy Spirit to lead us. There are many types and
philosophies of coaching, but as Christians, we look to scripture first for guidance. The first thing we recognize is our
inability to do anything without God. We acknowledge our weakness and claim His strength as we seek His will and
timing in our life.
Meditate on the following Bible verses in preparation for your TRINITY LIVING©
experience.
Enhance your
understanding of these promises by exploring other translations. The Amplified Bible can be helpful bringing the
Word to greater relevance so we suggest you check out that particular version. Many translations are available at
www.biblegateway.com. Make notes in the space provided as God speaks to you through His Word.
11
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but
gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
II Timothy 1:7 (TNIV)
“I can do all things through Christ
who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 (TNIV)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness.”
II Corinthians 12:9 (TNIV)
12
Indeed the most powerful life coaching available to mankind is Holy Spirit-led Christian life coaching. The Holy Spirit
lives inside each believer to give us wisdom, encouragement, counsel, and strength. He is our helper. He gives us
the right words to say at exactly the right time, when we ask Him to help us and lean on Him.
Step Out in Faith
By now you may be rethinking your decision to participate in TRINITY LIVING©. You are not the first person to question
if you are adequately prepared for this calling, and you will not be the last. We all know the reaction of Moses when
God told him to lead His people to the Promised Land. The gist of which was “Not me! Send Aaron!” Believers
often remind one another that God does not just call the equipped, but He equips the called. If He has called you to
this program, He will equip you to fulfill your responsibilities and impact the world for Christ as a result of your
obedience.
When you say, “Send me!” you allow God to use you in
ways you could never have imagined and you become open
to His faith-building power. Our faith increases when we
see Him work in situations about which we had no
understanding. Even so many of us choose the “safe” path,
limiting God’s influence in our lives. The Word assures us
“No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
that God will never leave or forsake us. As you begin this
new journey, consider making faith building a growth area
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
for you. Ask your Peer coach to help you in letting the Holy
Spirit take the lead in your life.
The Distinction between Coaching and Counseling
It is very important to understand the difference between coaching and counseling, especially since you will be
experiencing coaching from both sides in this program. Counseling and coaching are similar in that they are both
one-to-one, confidential relationships. But that is where the similarities end.
Counseling is intended to help those who need emotional healing before they can move forward. Doing so usually
requires the expertise of a professional who is licensed to diagnose and treat mental illnesses or situational distress.
Clients are encouraged to reflect on their past as part of the strategy for achieving emotional health.
13
Coaching is intended to help emotionally healthy people focus on the future. A coach supports a client in goal
setting, taking steps toward those goals, and holding them accountable for following through with their
commitments.
Many professionally trained counselors are using coaching techniques in their practices with great success. Uniquely
equipped to evaluate when a client is adequately healthy for coaching, counselors are able to help a client maintain
behaviors that support stability. While counselors may also be coaches, coaches are never counselors unless they
have been properly trained. If you become concerned about your own readiness for coaching or that of your Peer,
speak with your facilitator immediately.
Why We Must Bring Christian Life Coaching to Churches
Jesus modeled Christian coaching throughout His ministry on this earth. When He encountered hurting people, He
did not encourage them to wallow in self-pity or rehash the
past. He met them where they were and asked if they were
ready to move forward or wanted to be healed. The Gospels
are rich with examples where Jesus told people they would be
healed according to their faith. The healing occurred and the
people moved forward. So, if it worked for Jesus, why not make
“
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, that they may
see your good deeds and glorify your Father in
heaven.”
Christian coaching more commonplace in modern churches?
Christian coaching is a powerful tool that helps people
Matthew 5:15-16 (NIV)
consistently make better choices and holds them accountable to
their brothers and sisters in Christ for those decisions. Christians are God’s ambassadors in this world. Believers are
rightfully held to a higher standard of behavior. Christians are called to act in ways that help believers grow in faith,
and help non-believers come to faith in Jesus Christ.
When Christians gain greater clarity about God’s will and live accordingly, they experience greater balance, more
joy, and deeper contentment in their lives. The glow of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them makes them living
epistles, making their witness a powerful magnet for others desiring the same.
Do you live in a way that glorifies your Father in heaven?
Jesus commanded it, and the world needs every Christian to do just that.
We challenge you to move your faith to action and change the world one life at a time!
14
Prepare for Session I

Complete the exercises in this preparatory session.

Complete the values assessment on the following page.

Initiate contact with your peer coach and start praying for each other.
15
Five-Step Values Exercise
By Rev. Dr. Leelo-Dianne Bush, 2007
This exercise will help you clarify and prioritize your core values.
Pray for wisdom and discernment as you do this exercise, then pray for the strength to act according to your values.
Please follow the steps outlined below and take your time.
Step 1 – Review the values listed below and feel free to add any you do not see listed. Make sure this list is as
complete as possible before you begin.
Step 2 – As you review the list again, circle your 12 most important values.
Step 3 – Now cross off five values of lesser importance, leaving only seven.
Step 4 – Review this list again and cross off four more values, leaving only the top three values on the list.
Write the remaining three values here:
( )________________________ ( )______________________ ( )________________________
Step 5 – Finally, prioritize the remaining values by adding the number one in front of the most important value, two
for second most important, and third for the least important value of the three.
Now you know what is core to your authenticity in Christ. Take a look at your life. Is everything you are doing in
alignment with the things you value most? From now on, make sure your decisions, actions, thoughts and words
line up with these values. When you consciously decide to act in accordance with your values, you will reduce
stress, make better decisions, have more confidence, and be more productive. But the greatest benefit is living as
the person God created you to be. Nothing compares with that sense of peace and contentment.
16
VALUES CHOICES
Achievement
Recognition
Ambition
Teamwork
Excitement
Determination
Family
Faith
Positive attitude
Sense of humor
Financial security
Material success
Comfort
Peace and quiet
Stability
Compassion
Family
Honesty
Making a difference
Helping others
Leaving a legacy
Truth
Purity
Respect for self
Alone time
Power
Love
Joy
Spouse/boy/girlfriend relationship
Worship
Reading God’s Word
Exercise
Passion
Creativity
Self expression
Perfection
Success
Excellence
Being authentic
Wisdom
Fame
Influence
Integrity
Organization/order
Happiness
Discernment
Hope
________________
__________________
____________________
___________________
__________________
____________________
___________________
__________________
____________________
___________________
__________________
____________________
___________________
__________________
____________________
___________________
17
Session One
Christian Authenticity and Excellence
18
Christian Authenticity and Excellence
Living as those made alive in Christ – Colossians 3:1-17
Session Overview
This session explores the concepts of excellence, success, and authenticity from a biblical perspective and how it
applies to Christians. At the conclusion of this session you will:

Understand the concept of Christian authenticity

Identify your core beliefs and values, and explore your authenticity in Christ.

Be able to articulate the idea of excellence in Christian living

Identify one area of your life where you want to focus on achieving and maintaining authenticity and
excellence
Christian Authenticity
In researching the topic of “authenticity” we stumbled upon a definition in a business context which prompted some
new thought about who we are in Christ. The Business Dictionary defines authenticity as “a characteristic of a
document or record created by the entity represented as its creator and preserved in its original form without any
falsification or tampering.” i1
1
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/authenticity.html
19
What if we created a Christian Dictionary that defined authenticity as a characteristic of a person created by the
Triune God, preserved in his or her original form, without any falsification or tampering? How would you measure
up? The idea that the way in which
we live our lives can falsify God’s
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 1:10 (TNIV)
handiwork is a stunning realization!
Another
way
to
think
about
authenticity is to be exactly what
you claim to be. If you claim to be a follower of Christ, but act in ways contrary to that claim, you are not being
authentic. If you are a gifted musician but deny and refuse to use your talent, you are not living in accordance with
God’s design for your life. If you feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak truth in love but fail to follow through,
you are not responding as one equipped to obey God’s call on you at that moment.
Christian authenticity challenges us not just to do the good works He has prepared us to do, but to be the handiwork
He created in Christ Jesus. Knowing who you are at the very core of your being is necessary to live authentically.
Visualize a tree that has been cut down and the tree rings are visible. Look at the very center of the tree, at its core.
Now imaging that each of those rings represents something you consider important, what would be at the center
that as far as you are concerned would be non-negotiable. In other words, if everything else was stripped away,
what would remain that still makes you, you?
This scripture reminds us that not only do we need to speak
truth in love; we must also be willing to hear truth spoken in
love. As you discover your authenticity in Christ, you will speak
and seek truth. You may not like what you learn, but you
cannot change those things about which you have no
understanding. If something needs to be changed in your life,
and you know it, God probably thinks it’s time you address it. If
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back
and forth by the waves, and blown here and
there by every wind of teaching and by the
cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful
scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we
will in all things grow up into him who is the
head, that is, Christ.”
you ignore it, prepare for a long, arduous journey. You will need
a good pair of hiking boots to continually walk around that
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)
mountain over and over until it is worth it to you to climb it.
When we work through this process and open ourselves to the
Holy Spirit, amazing things can happen that give us opportunity to live a life of excellence for God’s Kingdom.
20
Christian Excellence
Have you ever noticed how people will at times misuse words? While intentions may be good, results can be
inaccurate, and worse yet, misleading. For example, sometimes people will use the word “excellent” when “good” is
really more accurate. And sometimes the word “good” is used when the word “excellent” is the more truthful term.
It is just as wrong to exaggerate praise as it is to understate one’s accomplishments. But the reason we tend to
speak inaccurately is usually because we are not completely comfortable with or understand what God had in mind
when He encouraged us to seek excellence.
What the Bible says about Excellence
The Word provides guidance into God’s paradigm around excellence. I Corinthians 12:31 says, “Now eagerly desire
the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” Our heart may desire excellence in Christ, but
desire alone does not make it happen. Living a life of excellence requires two things: a decision and action. Assume
you have made a decision to live with excellence. You can learn more about God’s excellence by studying His Word
and Christ’s examples. Write down your thoughts about the following scriptures as God brings them to mind.
II Peter 1:5-7 (MSG)
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”
I Corinthians 12:31 (NASB)
“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And, I show you a still more excellent way.”
21
II Peter 1:3 (NASB)
“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him
who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent
promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption
that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral
excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly
kindness, love. For if these qualities are ours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in
the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We believe we are commanded to live a life of excellence. In order to do so, you must identify your core values –
the values that define who you are at the core. When you made the decision to accept Christ and He made you new
Colossians 3:1-17), then we have also made the decision to give back to God what He has created. In obedience and
maturity we allow Him to take who we are at the core and create Excellence for His Kingdom.
Christian coaching is Christ-centered because a relationship with Christ is set as the primary foundation for
achieving excellence and abundance in one’s life. Discipline is required for this to happen.
Discipline is the ability to make yourself do things you know you should do,
even when you don’t feel like it or do not want to do them.
To achieve excellence, you must first know
WHO God intended you to be, WHAT He wants from you, and
WHERE you are on the journey toward excellence.
You can achieve excellence once you discover your authenticity in Christ.
22
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people[a] may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 (TNIV)
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,
love and self-discipline.”
II Timothy 1:7 (TNIV)
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of
peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged
by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
Acts 9:31-32 (TNIV)
23
Faith-to-Action Application
Read II Peter 1:1-8. Verse four claims that God has made promises that allow us to be partakers of His divine nature.
As a result of these promises, we are to be diligent in our faith and act upon this understanding. God refers to
Himself as being a God in the present, the “I AM.” If we believe God is present, then He is looking at us right now.
He is searching your heart and asking these questions:
My child,

What is your desire at this moment?

What are your motives?

Is your heart committed to excellence as I have defined it?

Will you commit to being more than who you think you are and grow into who I made you to be?

Are you willing to grow in the qualities spoken of in II Peter 1:5-7?

How are you going to live in My excellence?”
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach What is your desire at this moment?
Coached I want to serve God.
Coach Do you desire excellence?
Coached I guess.
Coach Does your heart have the qualities spoken of in II Peter 1?
Coached I don’t know.
Coach Do you want to be more than who you are at this moment?
Coached Yes, but I don’t know how.
Coach Well, continue in your devotional time and wait for direction.
24
Effective Approach
Coach What is your desire in your relationship with God at this moment?
Coached I want to serve God.
Coach In what way do you desire to serve God?
Coached I don’t know.
Coach What passions has God placed in your life?
Coached I love music.
Coach Are you willing to bring your expression of music to a level of excellence?
Coached Yes.
Coach Tell me more about your love for music and how you can bring excellence in your music.
Coached When I need to be by myself, I take my guitar and strum my comfort chords.
Coach How else do you express your love of music?
Coached I am able to sing the words inside of me that I can’t say in other ways.
Coach Are there other ways you can take your relationship with God and music to a level of excellence?
Coached I don’t know.
Coach “I don’t know” is not a productive answer. Let’s review the qualities in II Peter 1. (Then have the
person being coached read the passage). Now that you have read these verses, what do you see
as the value of working toward then?
Coached Well, I know more about what God wants to see in me, so I guess I need to make sure I work on
them one by one.
Coach What do you need to do so that you can become more of who you are at this moment?
Coached More devotional time.
Coach What benefit will more devotional time give you?
25
Coached I think it would help me hear God speak to me more clearly – answer the questions I ask when I
have the guitar sitting on my lap.
Coach Will you commit to devotional time to allow this relationship to grow within you?
Coached Yes.
Coach How much time and when you are going to spend this time?
Coached I can commit to 15 min. every evening before I turn out the light.
Coach What will it be like when you are showing God your commitment?
Coached The words won’t be stuck inside. I’ll be speaking the truths God is sharing with me in His Word.
I’ll experience that peace in my spirit that He has for me.
Coach You are showing God your commitment today as you share what is in your heart. This decision
is demonstrating your faith in a living God.
May I pray with you and encourage you as you step forward to seek a life of excellence?
Coached Yes. I’d like that.
26
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1 - What would lead or has led you to make a decision to live a life of excellence?
2 - How would you describe a life of excellence?
3 - What are your core beliefs about who you are?
4 - Who does Christ say that you are? Include scripture references.
27
5 - How do you know when you are living your life in a manner which is excellent in God’s eyes?
6 - What would be different about your life if you made changes to increase the level of excellence in your life?
7 - How do you celebrate the life Christ has given you?
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Commit to a life of authenticity excellence and complete the personal covenant printed on the last page of
this section of the participant workbook.
2. Decide upon at least one change in your habits which will move you forward in your journey towards
excellence. Write it down and share it with your coaching peer.
3. With your coaching peer, determine the steps you need to take to accomplish the new habit or eliminate an
old habit. Write it down.
28
Peer Coaching Prompts

What is one area in your life which you desire a higher level of excellence? How do you intend on working
towards that excellence?

What does it mean to live a life of excellence?

What would you do to celebrate the reaching of excellent goals?
29
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
30
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
31
Personal Covenant for Living Authentically with Excellence
I have decided to live authentically and with excellence. I understand the only way I will be able to fulfill this
covenant is to faithfully study God’s Word. I will pray for discernment, wisdom, and grace from the Holy Spirit
because I know that even when I am weak, He is strong and will enable me through his grace, to achieve an
authentic, excellent life.
I believe that God’s Word says excellence is:
I will diligently seek God’s guidance for my life through my personal relationship with Jesus, asking Him to be my life
coach. I know that in order to draw closer to the Lord, I need to spend more time reading the Word, praying and
worshiping.
Name
Date
32
Session Two
God Can Use Anything & Anyone
Positive and Negative Experiences
33
God Can Use Anything & Anyone
Living according to His purposes – Romans 8:28
The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember...
~ Noah was a drunk
~ Abraham was too old
~ Isaac was a daydreamer
~ Jacob was a liar
~ Leah was ugly
~ Joseph was abused
~ Moses stuttered
~ Gideon was afraid
~ Rahab was a prostitute
~ Elijah was suicidal
~ Isaiah preached naked
~ Jonah ran from God
~ Naomi was a widow
~ Job went bankrupt
~ John the Baptist ate bugs
~ Zaccheus was too small
~ Paul was too religious
~ Timothy had an ulcer
~ Timothy was too young
~ David was an adulterer and a murderer
~The disciples fell asleep while praying
~ Peter denied Christ
~ Martha worried about everything
~ The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)
~ Samson had long hair
~ Lazarus was deadii
Session Overview
Every life has a story. The events that string our existence together over the years are both positive and negative.
Most of us find talking about our positive experiences easy. And many of us tend to avoid revisiting the negative
times in our lives. Sometimes the pain associated with those events is too great to relive. Sometimes we harbor
shame and guilt for decisions that led us into sin. But the good news in this session is that God can and does use us
34
and our experiences in wonderfully powerful ways! And when He does, we become more like Jesus, walking
testimonials to the power, love, mercy and grace of God. At the conclusion of this session you will:

understand how your past has helped to make you who you are today

appreciate your past as a gift and training ground for God’s higher purpose for your life

move forward, equipped, encouraged, and empowered for having asked and answered powerful questions
What the Bible Says About This Topic
God called Moses for a mighty purpose – to lead the Hebrew slaves to freedom from the Egyptians! From the
beginning of his life, Moses experienced numerous highs and lows. His life experiences became a fertile training
ground enabling him to ultimately fulfill God’s purpose.
Moses, born into a Hebrew family, escaped death as a baby.
Pharaoh’s daughter found him and raised him as her own. In
this lifestyle, Moses received the best education, the best
clothing, and the best of everything. He lived a privileged life
And we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are
called according to His purpose.”
and was on track for a position of leadership and influence.
Romans 8:28 (NASB)
Moses also played hard and made some bad decisions. In a
moment of desperation, anger, and vengeance, Moses killed a
man and then went to the desert.
Moses’ job in the desert was to herd sheep, a major departure from the privileged lifestyle he enjoyed in Egypt. As a
shepherd, Moses learned how to lead others and gain their trust. He learned other leadership skills, including the
need to be dedicated and committed to God’s purpose for him.
Though Moses was a great leader, he was far from perfect. He continued to learn leadership skills throughout his
life. God saw Moses as a masterpiece, His special treasure. This is exactly how God sees each of us. The following
scripture verses talk about us being God’s masterpieces, His special treasure, His chosen ones. Look them up for
further insight.
Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)
“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for
us to live our lives doing.”
35
I Peter 1:2 (NLT)
“God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed
him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.”
I Peter 2:9 (NIV)
“But
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
I Thessalonians 1:4-5 (TNIV)
“ For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not
simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you
for your sake.”
II Timothy 1:* (MSG)
“So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the
Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and
then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long
before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be
plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.”
36
Deuteronomy 7:6 (NASB)
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own
possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Isaiah 43:10 (NASB)
“You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and
believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.”
Colossians 3:12 (MSG)
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness,
humility, quiet strength, discipline.”
37
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith,” and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-14 (TNIV)
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me
through the working of his power.
Ephesians 3:7 (TNIV)
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same
attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,”
Romans 15:5 (TNIV)
38
Faith-to-Action Application
Each of us has childhood and young adult events that contributed to who we were to become – to who we are
today. Each of us has experienced highs and lows – positive and negative events. In order to gain God’s perspective
on our life events, and to discover their beauty and value, it is necessary to acknowledge all of them and to glean the
unique lessons they hold for us.
Taking time to recall our desert experiences is invaluable. And, while we review our life experiences, we must also
believe and remember that we are God’s special treasure, His masterpiece! We have the opportunity to see,
perhaps for the first time, that God has always been with us and that He has given us our own burning bush
experiences to get our attention!
You need to remember that where you start out, does not have to determine your destiny, or where you finish.
You can be anything God has planned for you to become. Your victories in life are only limited by how much you
are willing to believe God for. Do you limit what God can do with you or for you by what you think, say or do? It
is time to bust out of those limitations, because with God, nothing is impossible!
We know that what the enemy uses for harm, God will turn around for good for those who love Him. Maybe we
didn’t have control over some difficulties we experienced in life. But if we let Him, God can use those tough times to
build us up and give us a testimony.
Exercise: Stop reading here for a few minutes. Close your eyes and ask God to show you a difficult time in your life
that He turned around for good. Maybe He still uses it in your life to reach others. Now write down the event and
how God turned it around for good.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
39
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach Have you had some difficult events in your life?
Coached Sure, hasn’t everyone?
Coach Yes, and isn’t it great that we can take comfort in Romans 8:28, that God works all things out for
good?
Coached Well, I guess He does.
Coach So, knowing that you can simply forget all that stuff and leave it in the past where it belongs, it
really doesn’t matter who you are today, right?
Coached Probably not.
Coach Do you want to be more than who you are at this moment?
Coached Yes, but I don’t know how.
Coach Well, continue in your devotional time and wait for direction.
Effective Approach
Coach Tell me what Romans 8:28 means to you, in relationship to your past.
Coached No matter what happened in my past, God can work it out to be a good thing.
Coach Give me an example of an incident or circumstance that was difficult as you were going through
it.
Coached Living through the death of my parents was extremely difficult.
Coach How do you see God using that experience for good to develop who you are today?
Coached I see how I can minister and support other women whose parents have died.
Coach What events or circumstances may God currently be allowing you to go through so you can
continue to learn from those experiences?
Coached Raising my rebellious kids through their teen age years! And yes, if God gets me through this (and
I live to tell about it) I’ll be eager to support other mothers in similar situations.
40
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. When have you felt like saying, “Hey! I didn’t sign up for this!”?
2. What bushes are burning that you need to pay attention to in order to see God’s activity in your life?
3 - What do you do when you are in a dry season in your life?
4.
What might be possible if you stopped looking at negative seasons and circumstances and instead looked up?
41
5 - How can you use what you have experienced in the past to equip you for God’s plan for your life?
6 - Where was Moses’ ultimate destination?
7 - What would you say the destination of that mountain translates to in your life?
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Choose a passage from scripture that significantly speaks to you about being chosen by God. Memorize this
verse to share with your Peer coach at the next session. Explain the significance it holds for you.
2. Make a list of the supernatural activities of God, which you have witnessed and experienced in your life.
Pray that God will open your eyes to see when He is showing up in the regular events of your life.
3. Acknowledge your past and all the elements of your “story” and be prepared to share with your Peer coach
how it has formed who you are today. Journal about the importance of sharing your story and what you
discovered about yourself.
42
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. What is the direction you initially saw your life taking?
2. Tell me your “desert story.”
3. What lessons did you learn?
4. What events or circumstances is God allowing you to go through?
5. What can you learn from those experiences?
6. On a scale of 1 to 10, how certain are you that you are proof that God can use anyone?
7. Why is that number where it is on the scale and not higher? What shift in your thinking could raise that
number?
43
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
44
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
45
Session 3
Whom Do You Serve? Man or God?
46
Whom Do You Serve? Man or God?
“No one can serve two masters…..” – Matthew 62a (NIV)
Session Overview
When was the last time you took a stand for God? Doing so can be intimidating in our modern day culture. We
have seen what happens to public figures who do honor God.
television joke writers.
Their statements become fodder for late-night
The secular world discounts and dismisses valid opinions based simply on Christian
viewpoints. Individuals are ridiculed for simplistic thinking and closed mindedness. In other words, the reactions
of people often keep us from standing on God’s Word.
It is time to follow the lead of Jesus, leaving behind
politically correct thinking that dishonors the Lord to whom we profess to have given our lives. By the end of this
session, you will

gain clarity on why you must speak truth into the lives of those you coach, even when doing so might
introduce conflict

embrace taking a stand for God as part of your evidence as authenticity and excellence

recall God’s faithfulness in your own “Jordan River-crossing” story and use it to move more confidently in
the future
What the Bible Tells Us about this Topic
Most people resist either/or thinking. Opting for a nice shade of gray over black and white, or finding an answer
that is neither right nor wrong seems to be easier for us to handle psychologically. Unfortunately, we also carry that
kind of thinking over into our Christian lives, often sacrificing a life of abundant blessings for a life burdened by sin.
II Corinthians 6:14-18 encourages us to separate ourselves from the world in order to reveal Christ to the world.
47
Through his Word, God speaks truth into our lives. He reminds us that some things are black and white. Some
things are right or wrong. But, that being said, our tendency is still to rationalize making decisions that generate
less controversy. Another label for rationalization is compromise. No wonder people are confused about what it
means to be a Christian! We know that confusion is a tool of the enemy, so it is incumbent upon us to continually
seek God’s truth in all decisions we make.
One way to do so is to reflect on all the times He has touched your life. Remember how He helped you battle an
illness, give support to a friend in need, or prevented you from making a bad financial decision. In Joshua 24, God’s
people were reminded of the many great things that had been accomplished by faith. They chose to remain faithful
to God, destroying their idols, and witnessing to each other about their faith in God. Do the same in your own life.
Share the abundant blessings God has bestowed on you with others.
Listen to what the Bible says in I John 2 15-16. "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love
the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a
craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but
are from this world."
This scripture clearly tells us that if we love the world and the things of the world, God's love is not in us.
Scripture References
Joshua 2415 (NIV)
“…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Luke 1615 (NLT)
“Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is
detestable in the sight of God.”
48
II Corinthians 617a (NLT)
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.”
John 1243 (NIV)
“…for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”
I John 215 (NLT)
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the
Father in you.”
49
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,
so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes …..”
The Armor of God -- Ephesians 610-17 (TNIV)
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude
of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one
voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 155-6 (TNIV)
“Now this I know The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from
his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.”
Psalm 206 (TNIV)
Philippians 413 (T(NIV))
50
Faith to Action Application
Throughout the Bible God has asked people to make choices; to step out in faith. He rewards those whose faith is
converted to action.
In Joshua 3 and 4, the people of Israel were faced with the task of crossing the Jordan River. It was the harvest
season and the river was at flood stage. Yet, the priests stepped into the rushing water, trusting God to protect
them. The water parted, allowing the entire nation of Israel to cross safely.
Joshua instructed the people to chose twelve stones and set them up as a memorial to the crossing of the Jordan
River. These standing stones were used to teach future generations about the great things God had done.
Exercise: Remember a time when you stepped into rushing water, trusting God to protect you. Then create a
standing stone to commemorate this event when God rewarded your faithfulness. Keep this event in your mind.
Then, when you are faced with a choice between serving God or man, you can use this past event to help you chose
the path God has laid out for your life.
51
Sample Coaching Conversation
Ineffective Approach
Coached Life just isn’t fun anymore, I’ve been thinking of getting a motorcycle. I had one as a teenager and I
really enjoyed it.
Coach I’ve never had one, but that does sound fun.
Coached Yeah, money is tight, but I really need to relax.
Coach Well, you can’t take it with you!
Coached That’s true, I work hard and I deserve to have a little fun.
Coach How does your wife feel about this?
Coached Well, I haven’t told her about it yet, but I am sure she would want me to be happy.
Coach She always has been supportive, I am sure you could work that out. You would look really good
riding along with the summer breeze in your face!
Coached Boy, that does sound good, I think I’ll go for it!
Effective Approach
Coached Life just isn’t fun anymore, I’ve been thinking of getting a motorcycle. I had one as a teenager and I
really enjoyed it.
Coach I’ve never had one, but that does sound fun.
Coached Yeah, money is tight, but I really need to relax.
Coach Tell me how you would fit this into your budget.
Coached Well, I’m not really sure. We would find a way.
Coach How does your wife feel about this?
Coached Well, I haven’t told her about it yet, but I am sure she would want me to be happy.
Coach How often do you make important decisions without her input?
Coached Not often, but I really want that motorcycle, and I’m afraid she won’t support my choice.
52
Coach I love Proverbs, and the Holy Spirit just brought forth a Word that I believe is just for you. May I
share it with you?
Coached Yes, please do.
Coach “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.”
I can’t help but wonder if making a decision this big without your wife’s input is wise. Have you
ever decided to something like this in the past?
Coached Well, I did get a computer without telling her a couple of years ago.
Coach How did that work out?
Coached She was really upset because we couldn’t afford it. I ended up spending a year working a weekend
job to pay off the credit card bill!
Coach Tell me about the last time you did include her in a big decision?
Coached Well, I had always wanted to take our kids to Colorado. My parents took me on a similar trip when I
was young and I’ve always remembered it. I shared this with my wife, and together we saved
enough over a year to take that trip. It was probably the best vacation I have ever had.
Coach So, how fun does that motorcycle really sound?
Coached It still sounds fun, but I think I’ll discuss it with my wife first. Together we could save enough to plan
a weekend trip out on the open road!
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. When was the last time you took a stand for God?
2. What are the rewards you see when you serve God?
53
3. How are you being used by God to accomplish His will?
4. How has God shown Himself to be trustworthy in your past?
5. Who is in control of your daily decisions? How do you know?
6. How can you improve on the choices you make in life?
54
7. What is the greatest challenge you face in turning your decisions over to God? How might you overcome this
obstacle?
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Think of a time in your life when God came to your rescue. An event where you made the decision to stand
with God and your life was blessed because of your faithfulness. Create a one-minute version of this story
that you can share with others.
2. Find a small stone and write a word on the stone that will remind you about this event. Place this stone on
your desk at work, in your lunchbox, or on your nightstand. Use it to remind yourself that serving God can
be a rewarding experience.
3. Think of three questions that you want to ask yourself when making an important life decision. Find a
scripture that reinforces the importance of that question. Write them down. Commit to answering these
questions whenever faced with an important choice over the next month.
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. When was the last time you took a stand for God?
2. How did you feel while facing this challenge?
3. What rewards did you see in your life as a result of this stand?
4. Describe a time in your life where you chose serving man over God.
5. What feelings come to mind as you reflect on that choice?
6. How could that event have been different?
7. What could you do in the future to help make the choice to serve God?
55
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
56
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
57
Session Four
Overcoming Obstacles
58
Overcoming Obstacles
Press On Toward the Goal -- Philippians 3:12-14 (TNIV)
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on
to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which
God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Session Overview
What is it that keeps us from achieving goals? The answer is simply that something gets in the way, and
that something is an obstacle. Some obstacles are easily identified, and others are a little more disguised.
With the help of your Peer coach you will explore obstacles in your life and find effective solutions. And as
a Peer coach, you will gain experience as you ask powerful questions of your partner, provoking your
partner to solutions best suited for him/her. Once an obstacle is identified, we can begin to make powerful
changes. Whether internal or external, overcome obstacles become stepping stones toward God’s intent
for our lives.
“You cannot change the wind, but you can adjust the sails.”
author unknown
Remember the third criteria for effective coaching? Are you still willing to make the changes in your life you
need to make in order to move forward? Get ready for your life to change and goal achievement to
become reality.
With God all things are possible.
59
Common Obstacles to Excellence

fear of consequences of failure, success, or change

worry about what others think

refusal to forgive

lack of discipline

stress

unfounded or misplaced guilt

guilt

thinking we are either too young or too old

lack of finances

insecurities

waiting until everything is perfect

self-sabotage

inability or unwillingness to make a commitment

laziness

history of making poor choices

worry about whether we really heard God correctly

attitudes, decisions, and behavior of other people

the weather
What the Bible says about Obstacles
Proverbs 16:9 (TNIV)
In their hearts human beings plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Philippians 4:13 (TNIV)
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
60
Jeremiah 29:11 (TNIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.”
I Corinthians 5:7 (TNIV)
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover
lamb, has been sacrificed.
John 20:29 (TNIV)
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed.”
I John 4:4 (TNIV)
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one
who is in the world.
61
“Now may the God of peace…….equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-22 (TNIV)
“Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is selfcontrolled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the
trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others
by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Titus 1:8-9 (TNIV)
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to
overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Luke 10:19 (TNIV)
62
Faith-to-Action Application
When we come up against an obstacle in our lives, we can liken it to being in a valley with high cliffs all around us.
We can only see the hard struggles ahead of us. We can see the hard work it will take to reach the top. Can we
make it alone? If we had someone who knew the easiest way to the top, would we seek his help? When we reach
the top of the mountain only then can we see the true beauty around us.
What an obstacle the people of Israel were looking at: life or death. They made the right choice and took their
steps of faith. The right choice may not always be the easiest one. The right choice may well be the hardest at first.
As we grow and mature in the Lord, we find that making the right choices will be easier, almost instinctive, as we see
evidence of God’s faithfulness when we do.
Where do we get the tools for making the right choices? We need to talk to God and we need to read his Word.
Talk to Him before that obstacle gets to be so big it seems insurmountable. Get your tools before you need them.
Have them in your heart. We need to remember that we must put God first in all we do, seek His advice, and then
move forward. When we make the right choice, God will gain his glory through us.
It is harder for others to see God’s glory when we are not moving forward. It is harder for us to see the route until
we start exploring. God will direct your steps but only once you start taking them. You cannot steer your car if you
are idling in “neutral.” But once you shift into “drive” a destination begins to unfold as you approach each unknown
with guidance from the Holy Spirit.
A different kind of obstacle – Did you know that you can unknowingly put up obstacles simply by the words you
speak? Some of us are sabotaging ourselves by what we say. One of the most important lessons you will ever learn
in your faith walk is that your words will become “things” or will take on a life of their own.
As an example, someone I know quite well struggled for decades with lack of finances. She was bright and capable,
tithed regularly, but could not ever seem to have enough to pay her bills. I would hear her repeat “Why am I always
poor no matter what I do?” She didn’t even realize she was confessing poverty by those words. Eventually, after
becoming very frustrated, she heard someone mention scripture that said our words have the power of life and
death and therefore we should choose life. Suddenly it made sense to her. She began confessing that she always
had more than enough and was looking for people to bless. Things were getting better and better every day, in
every way. She realized that we need to call what is not, as though it were, in order for it to become that way. This
involves walking by faith, not by sight. And as you know, faith means believing before there is evidence.
Exercise: Stop reading for a few minutes. Close your eyes and consider something you are thinking or confessing
that is becoming a reality for you. If it can work to bring about negative events, it can also work to bring about
63
positive events. Pray for the Lord to reveal an area where you need to change what you confess, in order to get
different results.
Now write down the revised, positive version of your confession: Example: Perhaps the former negative statement
was, “Why can’t I ever figure out what I am supposed to do in life?” The positive version of this statement might be,
“I am so excited that every day I am getting closer to finding my purpose. I believe God is revealing exactly what He
wants me to be doing.”)
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
It is important that you commit this new, revised statement to memory and confess it several times a day. You
might want to write it down and post it in areas where you will see it and remember to say it. You need to say it
aloud. The Bible tells us to confess with our voice. Then watch for the changes to start happening!
64
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach Well Bob, let’s talk about that job you seem to want so bad.
Coached I sure could use the money, but my boss is always picking someone else over me.
Coach Sounds like a real jerk to me.
Coached He probably is. I never really talk to him. I avoid him because I don't think he likes me.
Coach Well I guess you should go talk to him and get it over with.
Coach Tell him what you think.
Coached I guess I could
Coach Ok, you do that and we will talk about it next week.
Effective Approach
Coach What would you like to talk about today, Bill?
Coached I need to get a better job.
Coach Have you seen any positions that you think you are qualified for?
Coached Sure, but my boss keeps passing me up. I don’t think he likes me.
Coach Do you know that for a fact or do you suspect that might be the case?
Coached Well, I guess I don't know for sure but he never talks with me.
Coach Bill, tell me how you think God would want you to deal with this situation?
Coached First I would need to pray for discernment and direction.
Coach I agree Bill. God promises knowledge and discernment to anyone who asks. And then what
would you do?
Coached Well, besides seeking revelation, I would want to talk with my boss, to make sure we keep lines of
communication open so he knows I have a good attitude.
65
Coach That sounds great. When do you plan to do this?
Coached I will start with prayer today. Then I will arrange to talk with him next time I see him. I have some
good ideas I know will speed up production and save the company a lot of money. Then I will ask
about advancement opportunities.
Coach Great. Sounds like you have a good plan. I look forward to hearing about your results next time
we meet.
66
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. Please list any of your own obstacles you have identified:
2. Please list them again and next to each, write what do you want to do about each of the obstacles on your list?
3.
Can you overcome them by yourself? Why or why not?
4. Will you ask God to help you overcome your obstacle(s)? Please be specific about your understanding of your
part and God’s part.
67
5.
How might you be participating in creating your own obstacles by what you think, say or do?
6. Are any of your obstacles formed from bad habits? If so, how might those be resolved?
7.
Which obstacle, if removed, would make the greatest difference to you immediately?
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Make a list of the obstacles in your life.
2. Identify if they are internal (I) or external (E)
3. Pick the one you feel you can change the easiest with help from your Peer Coach.
4. Talk about how you will allow God to help you overcome this obstacle.
5. Talk about how overcoming this obstacle could change your life.
6. Talk about if your life changes, how this will change your family’s life.
7. Will you make the change?
68
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. Invite God into the process through prayer.
2. Talk about the list.
3. Identify the obstacle you wish to overcome.
4. List the changes that need to happen and identify your next step to overcome that obstacle. Attach to it a
time-certain, when you commit to take that step.
5. Discuss how this change in your life will honor God.
6. What is the cost of not taking this step?
7. What are the benefits of taking the step?
8. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the greatest, what is your level of commitment to taking this step?
69
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
70
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
71
Session Five
Achieving Balance
72
Achieving Balance
Exodus 20:1-6 (NASV)
“Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself
an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing
lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Session Overview
A healthy, balanced Christian lifestyle must include sufficient time for worship, work, and play. Actual achievement
of such balance requires our intentionality. Wishing it so does not make it so. By the conclusion of this session you
will:

understand what causes imbalance

learn how to course correct

discover and understand your own unique recipe for balance

understand God’s view of our life versus/and the opinion of others

gain perspective on what is truly important
What the Bible Says About This Topic
You could spend hours researching this topic in the Word, but when all is said and done, idolatry is at the root of an
unbalanced lifestyle. This is a tough truth for many of us to accept, as modern-day idolatry is not as blatant as the
golden calf. However, anything that distracts us from the one true God is a false god. Our materialistic society
73
encourages the pursuit of more money and more of what it can buy. When materialistic goals take up the majority
of our thoughts, time, and activities, imbalance exists, and discontentment is inevitable. Consider these Biblical
concepts:
Matthew 6:24 -- Jesus tells us we can only worship one god at a time.
Psalm 131:1 –The Psalmist encourages humility, knowing that pride leads to dissatisfaction and imbalance in our
life.
Hebrews 13:5 – The author reminds us that God will never leave nor forsake us, when we are devoted to and trust
God. We are to be content with what we have and to express gratitude for it. Expressing gratitude leads to greater
contentment and overall life balance.
Galatians 5:22-23 -- When we are truly devoted to God and walking in the Spirit, the qualities of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are produced. The absence of these qualities
is evidence of imbalance.
Isaiah 30:21 – We are assured that God is quietly giving us direction to which we need to listen more carefully.
When we are obedient to God and truly place our trust in Him, we should ask Him for direction each and every day.
This is the best formula for achieving balance in your life!
Luke 4:8 and Psalm 95:6 -- These scriptures remind us to worship the Lord our God, the Lord our maker. Worship is
the most crucial part of living a truly balanced life.
Psalm 118:24 -- Rejoice and be glad every day. There is a need for rejoicing, play, and relaxation.
Psalm 8:3-5, Psalm 113:7-8, and Psalm 139:17-18 -- All these scriptures talk about how much God loves each of us!
When we truly comprehend how awesome and unconditional His love for us is, we come to understand that other
people’s opinions of us are very unimportant.
74
Matthew 6:24 (MSG)
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds
contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will
never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or
whenever you turn to the left.”
75
Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT)
“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God.”
Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on
almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full
stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Psalm 118:124 (NLT)
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Luke 4:8 (NCV)
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written in the Scriptures: You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
76
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 (TNIV)
“
If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage,
then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,
do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:7-8 (TNIV)
“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has
set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 1:7-8 (TNIV)
77
Faith-to-Action Application
Go ahead and read this section now, but complete the action requests at the end of this
session before attempting to create your vision for a balanced life.
Do you have a vision for a balanced life? Your life balance recipe is unique because you are unique -- a reflection of
your values, gifts, hobbies, etc. The numbers of hours you spend working, resting, relaxing, sleeping, and so forth
are unique to you as well. As you begin to gain clarity of what balance looks like for you, make sure it is designed
around the authentic you pursuing Christian excellence. As you seek God’s help in creating and maintaining balance
in your life consider the importance of worship, work, and play.
When you participate in your own life, God gives you something back in return. When you worship Him, He blesses
you. When you devote yourselves to your work, you feel fulfilled. When you play, you are refreshed on every level.
As you begin to design your balanced life vision, be sure to consider the following:

Worship includes such things as going to church, daily devotions, time for prayer, and acts of service.

Work includes such things as our job, taking care of our home and home life, and all necessary errands.

Play can include such things as participating in team sports, exercising, being involved in musical endeavors,
reading, and other hobbies.
The key to balance is to spend sufficient time in all three of these general areas on a consistent basis. This is the way
to “course-correct” – to move from an unbalanced life to a balanced life.
In the preparatory session, you were asked to identify your top 12 core values. If you have not done that exercise,
or if it is incomplete, please complete it before you go any further in this session. You must know what your core
values are before you can articulate your own, unique vision of life balance. Your vision must be based on your core
values – otherwise, it is not your vision!
Eventually, it will be necessary for you to integrate superior time management, stress management, and planning
skills into your vision. But for now, let us focus on the vision. Finally, it is critical that you not compare yourself to
another person. Learn to show gratitude for what you already are and have. Being obedient to God and in intimate
relationship with Him is what truly matters!
My Balanced Life Vision
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
78
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coached I have an opportunity to begin singing in the civic chorale. I really want to do this! I just have to
figure out how to fit it into my schedule.
Coach I remember you saying you love to sing. What part do you sing?
Coached I am an alto.
Coach So am I!
Coached Really? Do you do any singing?
Coach Yes. I am a member of the worship team at my church. It is such a blessing! And, it really helps
to keep me balanced.
Coached That is my issue. I know I need better overall life balance. I know I am spending 90% of my time
focusing on my job. I’m not having daily devotions on a regular basis, I’m not getting enough
exercise, I’m eating too much junk food, I’m not spending enough time with the kids, it goes on
and on. I’m really frustrated.
Coach It sounds to me like you need to reevaluate your priorities. Life is not meant to be all work and
no play!
Coached What should I do?
Coach Set aside an hour each morning, before you go to work, for devotions and some exercise. That
should help a lot!
Coached OK. I’ll try that. Thanks.
79
Effective Approach
Coached I have an opportunity to begin singing in the Civic Chorale. I really want to do this! I just have to
figure out how to fit it into my schedule.
Coach I remember you saying you love to sing. What part do you sing?
Coached I am an alto.
Coach That is terrific. Singing is a wonderful way of expressing yourself.
Coached Yes! It is truly important to me.
Coach So, tell me about your scheduling challenge.
Coached Well, the Chorale rehearsals are every Monday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Then, about a week
before a concert, there are 2 rehearsals per week.
Coach What do you currently do on Monday evenings?
Coached Well, nothing specific. I am usually so beat from another hard day at work; it’s all I can do to fix
dinner for the family. After we eat, I just collapse.
Coach How does that feel?
Coached I’m very dissatisfied with the pattern I’ve fallen into. I feel very unbalanced and unfulfilled.
Coach Tell me more about that.
Coached I recognize the need for more fun in my life. Singing is fun for me. And it energizes me. I know
that about myself.
Coach What is really holding you back from committing to the Civic Chorale?
Coached I guess I’m feeling like it isn’t OK to go back out, on Monday evenings, to do something just for me.
I have to leave my husband in charge for two hours, or so.
Coach How does he feel about this?
Coached I already told him about it. He says he thinks it would be good for me and that I should do it.
Coach Just my point of view, but I think your husband is right!
Coached So do I! I’m excited! I’m going to join this Monday evening!
Coach Terrific! I look forward to hearing more about it in the future!
80
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate yourself on overall life balance?
2.
What percentage of your time, approximately, do you devote to worship? To work? To play?
3. What are your top 12 core values?
4.
If you had a vision of your own personal recipe of life balance, what would that vision recipe look like?
81
5. In order to be at our best, we need to take supremely good care of ourselves. What changes are you willing to
make to take better care of yourself?
6. What activities do you find fun? Discuss how you will include some of them in your regular schedule.
7. What is your favorite way to worship God?
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Complete the Life Balance Wheel exercise on the following page.
2. Write your vision of a balanced life.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
82
3. To begin bringing your vision into reality, write five goals that, when accomplished, will improve your overall
life balance. Be sure to include goals for worship, work, and play.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
83
Wheel of Life Balance
By Rev. Dr. Leelo-Dianne Bush, 2007
God created us to live well-balanced lives. Below you will see the Trinity Living Wheel of Life Balance. By completing
this exercise, you will learn whether your life is balanced or whether it needs attention to get it more balanced.
INSTRUCTIONS:
The value of the center circle is zero, the next circle out is a one, and the one outside that is a two and so forth, all
the way to a value of eight. The number zero indicates little or no satisfaction and the eight signifies ultimate or
greatest satisfaction. Please mark a large round dot at the intersections of the circles and line in each category to
correspond with the amount of satisfaction or fulfillment you have in each of the eight areas. Finally draw a
connecting line between all of the dots. The larger and more even your circle, the more balanced your life probably
is.
NAME ___________________________________________ DATE __________________
84
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate yourself on overall life balance?
2. What percentage of time, approximately, do you devote to worship? To work? To play?
3. What is your personal vision of a balanced life?
4. What are some actions you are willing to take, now, to improve your life balance?
5. What resources do you need in order to take those actions?
85
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
86
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
87
Session Six
Time Management, Organization, &
Simplification
88
Time Management, Organization, &
Simplification
I Corinthians 14:40 HCSB
“But everything must be done decently and in order.”
Session Overview
As a child of God, you strive to accomplish God’s purposes with excellence.
Improving your skills in time
management, organization, and simplification are essential in our quest to do so. While these skills are essential for
godly excellence, they can be very elusive! By the conclusion of this session, you will understand that submission to
God is non-negotiable when planning use of our time. You will also:

discover and understand how the disciplines of time management and organization lead to more overall
freedom in our daily life

discover and understand how good time management and organization help to keep us from worry

understand how simplification leads to overall contentment in our daily life
What the Bible Says About This Topic
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NLT) reminds us, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” As John C. Maxwell puts it,
“God’s nature is organization, not chaos.”
iii
God is orderly and harmonious. He values form, structure, precision,
and dignity. God’s house is never in disarray! We want to imitate God!
Good management of your time, better organization in all parts of your life, and simplification wherever possible, all
require planning. Planning involves setting priorities and identifying worthwhile goals.
89
As a Christian, God must be a part of your planning and goal setting. (James 4:15-16). Your future is in His hands.
As long as you put His desires in the center of your planning, God will never disappoint you.
Joseph understood how to make the best use of resources through careful planning. Responsible time management
was definitely one of his skills. (Genesis 41:37-38). Responsible time management requires establishing priorities on
a daily basis and completing our most important events/tasks first. Rather than viewing such activity as boring, it is
better to see it as essential. There is no other way to translate God’s plans for you into achievable action steps.
As Proverbs 13:16 reminds us, wise people think before they act. Good time management and organization skills
ensure adequate time for goal setting, action step identification, and priority identification. The payoff is increased
productivity and freedom to enjoy life. When we trust in God’s guidance while we think about our goals, priorities,
and schedules, our worries can be alleviated. (Matthew 6:34).
Simplifying our lives also leads to a sense of freedom, expansiveness, and improved life balance – contentment! The
understanding of “less is more” helps to clear the mind and focus on what matters most. (Proverbs 15:16,
Philippians 4:11).
James 4:15-16 (NLT)
“What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting
about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.”
Proverbs 15:16 (NLT)
“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.”
90
Matthew 6:34 (MSG)
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not
happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)
“Wise people think before they act; fools don’t – and even brag about their foolishness.”
Philippians 4:11 (MSG)
“Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my
circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.”
Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on
almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full
stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
91
Genesis 41:37-38 (NCV)
“This seemed like a very good idea to the king, and all his officers agreed. And the king asked them, ‘Can we find a
better man than Joseph to take this job? God’s spirit is truly in him!’”
92
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same
resolve—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin”
I Peter 4:1 (HCSB)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through
our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
II Peter 1:3 (TNIV)
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that
none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13 (TNIV)
93
Faith-to-Action Application
Increasing and/or improving time management and organization skills must be intentional. This is the case also with
simplifying your life, wherever possible. With God at the center of your planning, you can improve these skills and
simplify parts of your life! This honors God!
Optimum time management occurs when your daily activities and behaviors are in alignment with your core values.
When your daily lives actively reflect your core values, your desire and motivation to be excellent stewards of your
time are strong.

You desire to set worthwhile goals and achievable action steps to implement those goals.

You desire to set priorities and handle the most important first.

You desire to behave this way consistently, day after day.

You feel and actually become more productive – and you feel very good about yourself!
This results in improved overall life balance becoming more attainable. That leads to less worry and stress. Then
you have time to clean out a closet, have a garage sale, and simplify your life.
When your daily behavior is not aligned with your core values – or if you don’t really know what your core values
are, your time management is unfocused. You go through life aimlessly because you have no clear plan. Lack of
desire and motivation to manage your time responsibly can result in disorganization and a cluttered life. This does
not honor God.
Intentional, responsible time management positively impacts all areas of your life - career/professional life,
parenting life, ministry life, home life, and self care. Good time management includes higher levels of organization.
Every day applications can include:

buying and using a daily planner for work and personal life

identifying your core values

completing most important tasks first on a daily basis

setting a goal to write a personal vision statement and mission statement

planning in more time to play with your children

organizing all the paperwork on your desk

volunteering at church

throwing out old magazines

cleaning out the linen closet

and more…
94
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach This volunteer opportunity sounds perfectly suited to you! It seems to be a perfect match for
many of your creative talents and your gift of teaching.
Coached Yes, exactly! I’m very excited about it!
Coach Managing your time to fit this in is going to be a bit challenging, though, right?
Coached Well, yeah…that’s true.
Coach Do you feel like you’ve made enough progress on organizing things at home? Can you justify
committing to this additional activity?
Coached I guess I’m not sure. I really did want to take on teaching this art class.
Coach I had a similar situation happen a couple of years ago. I had an opportunity to lead a small
group Bible study at my church. It seemed like the right thing to do – and, it was a great way to
use my leadership skills.
Coached What did you do?
Coach Right away, I got out my planner and started plugging in all the small group dates – for the next
three months. I really love that sense of organizing and keeping control of my schedule.
Coached Did you lead the small group?
Coach It turned out, after I slowed down and took a realistic look at my overall schedule and prayed
about it, I realized it would have been an over-commitment on my part to actually teach the
small group. So, no, I didn’t. After all, I’m all for simplification wherever possible!
Effective Approach
Coach This volunteer opportunity sounds perfectly suited to you! It seems to be a perfect match for
many of your creative talents and your gift of teaching.
Coached Yes, exactly! I’m very excited about it!
Coach Tell me what excites you the most.
Coached I have been asking God to give me an opportunity to be of service. Teaching this art class will be
such a fun and relaxing time for me. It will be a wonderful way to spend time doing some
painting, again. And, I have a lot of art supplies sitting unused. I look forward to donating them to
be used during this class.
95
Coach That’s terrific! Where are all these art supplies?
Coached They are stacked up in a corner of that walk-in closet I keep telling you about - the one that is in
major disorganization.
Coach Tell me more.
Coached Well, the art supplies will actually be in use. That makes me feel better. It kind of weighs on me
that I spent all that money on them and haven’t touched them in a long time. It makes a lot of
sense to let other people use them. Also, I feel like I’ll be simplifying things. And, that will clear
out two shelves in the closet! I will feel a lot more organized!
Coach Great! What challenges do you see in terms of time commitment to this art class?
Coached Actually, this will be a better use of my time. Lately, I’ve gotten into the bad habit of crashing in
front of the TV after dinner – at least two evenings a week. So, I know that I have time to do
something more fulfilling. And, I know that this opportunity comes from God. I know teaching
this class is a good thing!
Coach Excellent! I look forward to hearing about it in the future!
96
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate yourself on:
a. Time management? _______
b. Organization? ________
c. Simplification? ________
d. What would you need to do differently to make a 5 into an 8?
2. How do you go about planning your daily activities?
3. How does that fit with your values?
4. What are three ways you could simplify your life right now?
97
5. What is the biggest goal you have ever set for yourself?
a. If you accomplished it, how did it feel?
b. If you didn’t accomplish it, how did it feel?
6. What areas of your life are you most motivated to change?
7. What does contentment mean to you?
Action Requests
1. Review your 5-Step Values Exercise results.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are these values evident in your daily life?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
98
3. If you do not currently own a daily planner, purchase one this week. Record every activity you have planned
for the next week. Plan out/schedule your entire week in one sitting. Be prepared to discuss this
experience next week.
4. Write about your understanding of how good time management and organization help to keep you from
worry.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate yourself on time management? Organization? Simplification?
2. What would it take to make that “5” into an “8”?
3. Tell me a little more about that.
4. If you removed the limitation of (poor time management, poor organization, lack of simplification), then
what would you do?
5. What do you want to do?
6. What will you do? When will you do it?
99
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
100
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
101
Session Seven
Vision Casting
102
Vision Casting
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
“Where there is no vision the people perish…”
Session Overview
In this session we discuss the difference between containing and casting your vision, and the difference between
mediocre and passionate pursuit of purpose. The session will also help you take steps in learning how to cast your
vision with purpose.
Have you ever met an avid fisherman? If so, you know how seriously fishermen take the sport. For them, casting is
much more than dropping a line in the water and hoping for a bite. A dedicated fisherman is well prepared and
equipped, has the proper tools and tackle, knows exactly what is needed to catch which fish, where to catch fish,
and knows how to read the water. Most of all, they enjoy every part of the process!
By the conclusion of this session you will:
▪ discover and understand how to best cast your vision
▪ discover and understand it takes clarity, purpose, skill, and joy to do so
▪ understand this level of commitment must be a way of life
103
What the Bible Says About This Topic
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision the people perish…” This is a familiar scripture used to put a charge
on the importance of having a vision. Nobody wants to perish! So, coming up with a clever vision statement seems
to be a must! Looking at that same scripture in another translation, it reads, “without revelation (instruction in the
Word of God’s truth)….” So, now we understand that we are to look at the Word when casting our vision.
Jesus had a vision and His life had a purpose. He is our ultimate model on how to cast vision. Look at the story in
John 4 about the woman at the well and you will see His vision was personal. Consider Matthew 13 where Jesus is
preaching to and then feeding thousands and you will see how his vision was global. The parables emphasize the
practicality of His vision. And, talk about radical! Acts 1:8 sends His message “…to the ends of the earth.” Jesus was
realistic about vision. He warned us in John 16:33 “in this world you will have trouble…” but He was simultaneously
idealistic when he reminded us in the same passage, “…but take heart! I have overcome the world.” We are meant
to have a vision – to cast our unique, God-given vision. Jesus is our model and our guide.
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”
Matthew 10:34 (MSG)
“All Jesus did that day was tell stories—a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy.”
John 4:27a (NKJV)
“And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman…”
104
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Matthew 13:34-35 (HCSB)
“Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and He would not speak anything to them without a parable, 35 so
that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open My mouth in parables; I will declare things
kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Psalm 118:124 (NLT)
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Luke 4:8 (NCV)
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written in the Scriptures: You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
105
Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on
speaking and don’t be silent.”
Acts 18:9 (HCSB)
“And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all
humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men
will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”
Romans 12:7-9 (HCSB)
“After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your
daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young
men will see visions.”
Joel 2:28 (HCSB)
106
Faith-to-Action Application
Jesus has called you to be a fisher of men. If you are going to be a fisherman, you must learn how to cast with
purpose. Jesus tells us he is the source of living water. You must know this Living Water. Jesus offers you his
powerful, quenching, refreshing, clear, soothing, cleansing, life-giving, energizing, flowing, living water. You must
know this source and continue to explore and expand your relationship with Him.
As you draw closer to Him, Jesus gives the clarity, purpose, skill, and joy you need to cast your vision – your vision
that is personal and global, practical and radical, realistic and idealistic.
You must learn to live like dedicated fisherman – to be well prepared and equipped to carry out your vision. You
must possess the best possible tools for the job. You must be crystal clear on what your vision is aiming to catch.
And, you must learn to enjoy the process – every step of the way!
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach Have you ever heard the proverb, “where there is no vision, the people perish?”
Coached Yes
Coach Do you think that is true?
Coached Probably.
Coach Do you have a vision?
Coached Kind of.
Coach That’s great!
107
Effective Approach
Coach What does the proverb “where there is no vision, the people perish” mean to you?
Coached It seems to puts a severe urgency on the act of having a vision.
Coach What is your vision?
Coached I want to love God and respect and preserve his creation.
Coach That is a great desire. Tell me what that looks like?
Coached I have a heart for God’s creation. I want to educate people from a Christian/biblical point of
view how we need to take responsibility for our earth and the amazing creation God has
given us.
Coach Wow, that is big. How does your vision relate to others on a personal level, yet reach out
to everyone/all mankind?
Coached It is clearly a win-win situation for everyone, individually and as a human race.
Coach How is your vision relevant to the practical and every day issues in your lives and still
radically challenging, stretching you to grow in faith?
Coached There are numerous ways to be responsible in every day issues that will be simple to
implement. However, to live out the vision God has given me beyond my own family, to my
community and beyond, will take loads of faith, certainly growing and stretching me. That is
why I have you!
Coach How can your vision be realistic, understanding limitations and truth in your
circumstances, yet still see all the possibilities that God has placed in front of you?
Coached I think that as long as I am obedient to God in taking action on this vision, he will work out
all the details.
108
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. Have you set a date to do your own vision casting? If yes, please give the date. If not, please commit to a
date here: ___________________
2. How do you feel as you look forward to casting and living out your vision?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the first step you will take?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. If you aren’t excited, what is holding you back or standing in your way?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What might be possible if you cast your vision with purpose and care?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What are you doing to be well prepared and equipped?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
7. What will happen if you do not cast your vision?
a. What price will you pay?
b. What price will people who would have otherwise been impacted pay?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
109
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Pray daily this week for God to affirm, redirect, or develop your vision.
2. What is the vision you believe God has for you? Write down your crystal clear vision.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. This week, share your vision, with three trusted friends and record their reactions.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. To begin bringing your vision into reality, write five goals that, when accomplished, will improve your overall
life balance. Be sure to include goals for worship, work, and play.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. What is your vision?
2. Tell me how your vision is both personal and global.
3. Tell me how your vision is both practical and radical.
4. Tell me how your vision is both realistic and idealistic.
110
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
111
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
112
Session Eight
Define Your Mission
113
Define Your Mission
James 2:17 (TNIV)
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Session Overview
Coaching helps people discover how God wants to change the world through the crown of His creation – YOU! In
the last session, you pondered and prayed over a vision for your life. Hopefully, you have gained a good enough
sense of what that is so you are now ready to start the next step, which is defining your mission. This is where ideas
are transformed into action.
The Amplified translation of the Bible offers insight into this concept of moving our faith to action.
“
So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power
(inoperative, dead).” James 2:17 (AMP)
Those are strong words! And true! If we say we believe, yet do not act or speak differently, then we are only kidding
ourselves and others. It could be said we become hypocrites or phonies if we say one thing yet do another, or fail to
do anything at all.
114
Your vision states what you see is possible. Your mission states how you will accomplish your vision. Well crafted
mission statements should be:
1. short and clever
2. easy to understand
3. meaningful and lasting
The authors of this program both have vision and mission statements. For the sake of an example, here is Debbie’s:
VISION STATEMENT
I envision a world in which all believers impact others for Christ
by walking journeys illuminated solely by God's Word.
MISSION STATEMENT
My mission is to equip believers for living out their God-ordained purposes
with Holy Spirit-led coaching, seminars, workshops, retreats, consultations, and resources.
A mission statement keeps you on track and moving toward your vision. It embraces and reinforces your values. A
mission statement lets the world know what is of highest importance to you, and how you operate. Mission
statements help you decide on priorities and goals. As you know by now, there are many things you could do with
your time, but not all of them will support your mission statement. Ideally, your mission will reflect your gifts,
calling, values, passions, and commitment to being who God created you to be. By the conclusion of this session,
you will:

Understand the difference between vision and mission statements

Write a personal mission statement

Write a ministry mission statement

Set goals in support of your mission statement
115
What the Bible Says About This Topic
Every one of us has a specific, God-given mission on this earth. It is our duty to intentionally seek God’s plan for our
lives.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” -- Romans 14:12 (KJV)
“We shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick/dead.” -- I Peter 4:5 (KJV)
There are many examples of people in the Bible who had specific missions:
NOAH: A novice shipbuilder, encouraged to continue work on the ship that saved enough people and animals from
this sinful world to survive after the catastrophic flood (Genesis 6:7, 8, and 17)
ABRAHAM: An obedient, faithful man with whom God established a covenant to make of him a great nation for
generations (Genesis 12)
MOSES: A stutterer called to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery to the edge of the Promised Land (Exodus 3)
JOSHUA: The son of Moses’ aide, Nun, called by God to lead the Israelites over the Jordan River to the Promised
Land upon the death of Moses (Joshua 1)
A Word about Commitment
If your mission statement has a back-door exit, you are not committed to it. Consider the example of Daniel, who
when put in the lion’s den, did not look for a way out. His mission was to show the divine protection God has for His
people (Daniel 16:16-23). And, we know from previous sessions, that lack of commitment will not produce results.
John 14:12 (HCSB)
“I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than
these, because I am going to the Father.”
Acts 20:24 (TNIV)
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord
Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
116
Joshua 24:16 (TNIV)
“Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!”
Matthew 6:33 (NASB)
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
John 4:34 (TNIV)
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Joshua 24:15 (TNIV)
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …….But
as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
James 1:22 (NASB)
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
117
Matthew 16:26 (NASB)
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul?”
118
"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You
don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep
that going is three meals a day. Travel light.”
Matthew 10:9-10 (MSG)
“teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20 (NASB)
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
Matthew 7:21 (NASB)
119
Faith-to-Action Application
What does this mean?
When we align our mission with any of life’s challenges we experience a joy and
contentment that’s beyond explanation. As we apply God’s word to our lives and obey His call in James 1:22, “…be
ye a doer of the word and not a hearer only, deceiving your own selves,” goals, actions, and plans will come to
fruition.
As our mission is truly based on biblical principles and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will definitely experience a
mission that empowers us to reach greater goals than we ever thought we could attain, and conquer internal and
external obstacles to our divine mission.
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach In knowing your background, I believe your mission is teaching and exhorting people in the
women’s department of your church.
Coached I don’t know, maybe you’re right
Coach I also believe that you are passionate about how to help women find their God-given purpose.
Coached Hmm, possibly.
Coach Well don’t you think so?
Coached Yeah.
Coach Maybe you should go and talk to your pastor and let him tell you what your mission is.
Coached Okay, thanks coach.
120
Effective Approach
Coach What do you envision as your life’s mission?
Coached After seeking God and relying on the Holy Spirit, my mission is working with teens and helping them
to develop life skills based upon biblical principles and the mandate to ‘train a child in the way he
should go.”
Coach Great! So I hear you say that your mission is based upon scriptural knowledge and the call of God
on your life?
Coached Yes.
Coach Share with me how your mission is intertwined with your values and passions.
Coached My value system is based upon excellence, determination, consistency in biblical teachings, spiritual
growth, love and respect for God’s people. I have a passion for helping young people make that
transition from teen years to adulthood.
Coach That is a blessing and a special call, because it takes a unique individual to relate to teens of today.
Tell me how you will assist the teens in finding their mission and developing a mission statement?
Coached After I have developed a rapport with them and gained their trust, I will allow them to do selfdiscovery by using surveys and questionnaires to help them identify and prioritize some goals and
hold them accountable for developing an action plan to bring their goals and mission to fruition.
Coach Great! And God bless you as you go forward with that.
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. How does a person go about finding his/her life’s mission?
2. How does a mission statement align with one’s vision?
121
3. How does applying biblical principles give one’s life purpose?
4. What are defining characteristics of a mission statement?
5. A well-crafted mission statement should be…
6. How does scripture reinforce a need for a purpose-driven life?
7. How can you influence others to identify their own personal mission statement?
122
Faith-to-Action Application
1. Write a mission statement for a specific ministry in your church.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Write your own personal mission statement and align it with your church ministry mission statement.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Share how your personal mission in life parallels with a biblical character.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Peer Coaching Prompts

What breaks your heart?

What specific scripture holds the most meaning for you?

What in the world will not happen unless you do it?

What do you value most?

How will you change your life to achieve your mission?
123
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
124
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
125
Session Nine
Living Your Mission
126
Living Your Mission
Philippians 3:14 (TNIV)
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “
Session Overview
As servants of Jesus Christ, we must intentionally allow ourselves to be equipped, empowered, and encouraged to
fulfill the challenge set for by Jesus in Matthew 20:24-26 (MSG).
“…..He (Jesus) said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes
to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever
wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be
served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
Just as Jesus came to serve, so must we. By holding each other accountable for fulfilling the purposes to which we
are called, we participate in God’s plan to advance His kingdom. We must move our faith from simple belief in Jesus
to become a follower of Jesus. A life that reflects His love for us and others should be our goal.
What the Bible Says About This Topic
King Solomon wrote extensively about making choices. Some proverbs warn of the consequences of choosing
poorly.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” -- Proverbs 1:7
(NIV)

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” -- Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)
127

“Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.”
– Proverbs 11:14 (MSG)
Some proverbs and psalms encourage better choices by showing the benefits of choosing wisely.

“Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.” -- Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” -- Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

“In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your paths.” -- Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
The role of a Christian life coach is to guide and encourage the person being coached to identify God’s plan and live
in accordance with His perfect design for that person’s life. Reflect on the scripture references once again, and
specifically consider how they apply to coaching people to live out their visions. Maximize this time by looking up
each scripture in various translations in order to gain deeper understanding of God’s Word.
Proverbs 1:7 (TNIV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
128
Proverbs 11:14 (MSG)
“Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.”
Proverbs 16:3 (KJV))
“Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.”
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
“In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your paths.”
129
“From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were
equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves
behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried
materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,”
Nehemiah 4:16-17 (TNIV)
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the
dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke
and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
II Timothy 4:1-2 (TNIV)
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Isaiah 40:29 (TNIV)
130
Faith-to-Action Application
This will help a person who is willing to apply and follow the steps listed below to be doer and not a hearer only:
Step 1 - Agree on the end result (the desired outcome).
Step 2 - Put this on paper. You can revise it later.
Step 3 - Start with the desired outcomes. Then, working backward, mutually brainstorm about some possible
interim goals.
Step 4 - Agree about which of these alternative interim goals you will pursue.
Step 5 - Arrange the goals in order from the first and most realistic to the end result.
Step 6 - Put this list on paper.
Step 7 - Try to answer some tough questions, especially as you consider the first one or two goals:
o
Is the goal so specific that you know exactly what needs to be done?
o
What’s the first step to achieving the goal?
o
When you reach the goal, how will you know you’re there?
o
What will be the specific evidence that you have succeeded?
Important Note: You may not be able to fill out the entire seven-step process in detail in the very beginning.
However, as progress is made, one can revise, skip, or even abandon any goal. The idea is to come up with a plan
for moving forward, knowing that plans can always change, and that you have the capacity to “course-correct.”
As the process continues, the coach can continue review, evaluate, and make observations in order to bring goals to
fruition. However, the coach must NOT blame, scold, or judge the person being coached. Instead the coach CAN
and SHOULD encourage, build up, confess, strengthen, and show kindness and care for the person(s) being
coached.2 Coaches can also help a person fulfill his/her mission by: stimulating confidence, giving feedback, keeping
hope alive, and thinking with experience, participation, image, and connectedness3.
2
Collins, Gary R., Helping Others Turn Potential Into Reality CHRISTIAN COACHING, Colorado Springs, Co., 2001`
3
-----Ibid.
131
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach I have identified some goals that you need to work on. What do you think about them?
Coached They are okay.
Coach What I want you to do next is develop a plan of action.
Coached Okay.
Coach Now, this is what I think you need to do next. You should set up some objectives.
Coached Okay.
Coach I want you to start working on this tomorrow.
Coached Okay.
Coach Are there any questions?
Coached No.
Coach Good, then I’ll see you next week.
132
Effective Approach
Coach I see you have identified and prioritized your goals. How do you feel about your
accomplishments so far?
Coached I feel empowered and really feel like I am on the move and coming out of my rut.
Coach Once you have written your goals, what is your next step?
Coached Since I have my goals, I will develop a plan of action to bring my goals to fruition.
Coach Very good. When will you start?
Coached I’m starting on the objectives now!
Coach Excellent. When will you have all the objectives and timelines completed?
Coached I will have them completed by our next session.
Coach Good, when you come next week, I will be excited to hear what you have completed.
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. List at least three scriptures that emphasize that plans and missions are directed by the Lord.
2. What specific questions should a coach ask in order to help a person understand strategy?
133
3. Explain the SMART acronym for mission development.
4. List the seven steps to identifying one’s mission as suggested by Gary Collins:
5. Explain the process of “agreeing on the end result.”
6. A coach should remember not to _____________ , ___________ or ____________when assisting one
in identifying the fulfillment of their mission.
7. Identify positive techniques a coach should use to move the person they coach in identifying his/her mission.
134
Action Requests
1. Brainstorm ideas for ‘stimulating confidence’ in a client
2. Develop a scenario of a coach/client relationship, ‘keeping hope alive’
3. Develop a tool or method to help your client track progress in issue identification, mission statement
development, and action steps toward plan fulfillment.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. To begin bringing your vision into reality, write five goals that, when accomplished, will improve your overall
life balance. Be sure to include goals for worship, work, and play.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Peer Coaching Prompts

What do you want to accomplish by this time next year?

What are five things you could do this week to move you toward that goal?

Which of these alternatives is most attractive to you?

What are the incremental milestones to your achievement of your main goal?

When do you think you could realistically achieve those?

Besides meeting with me on a regular basis, how will you keep yourself focused to live in accordance with
God’s plan for your life?
135
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
136
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
137
Session Ten
Consistency, Determination,
& Staying on Track
138
Consistency, Determination, &
Staying on Track
Philippians 3:14 (TNIV)
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Session Overview
This session is intended to bring closure to the progress made during the past ten weeks and to encourage further
steps in fulfilling your vision. By the conclusion of this session you will:

share accomplishments and be encouraged

review the meaning of diligence

review your commitment to a life of excellence

celebrate the excellence and accomplishments for God’s Kingdom
As Trinity Living comes to a close, we want nothing more than to help you establish a means for continuing
accountability to the call God has placed on your life. By now you understand the importance of an accountability
system as a source of encouragement. Studies show it takes at least 21 days to make a new behavior a habit. That
means you are well on your way to making significant change. It also means you are still vulnerable to obstacles to
making lasting change. The enemy understands the importance as well, and once he sees a chink in your armor, be
prepared for his attack. He will work through your weakness and try to get you to abandon the path of excellence
you have established.
This segment will also revisit II Peter 1 as it relates to staying on track with your mission. We can also be encouraged
that we serve a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father who is always by our side, coaching us through the challenges
of our life.
139
What the Bible Says About This Topic
In I Corinthians 9:24, Paul tells the church in Corinth that they are in a race. A race is usually competitive, and in
order to win the race, steps need to be taken with consistency, determination, focus, and patience (Hebrews 12:1).
We must use our tools to stay on track with our mission.

We have the Father who loves us. (John 3:16)

We have the Son who intercedes for us. (John 3:17)

We have the Holy Spirit who works through us. (Acts 1:3-5)
Paul contrasts the race in the Olympic-style stadium where many compete and only one wins with the Christian who
chooses to participate in the race God has designed. “So run your race…” (I Corinthians 9:24). Paul is implying that
the race in which the Christian participates is different. Our race will have different obstacles and different motives.
Know yourself and your motives. Know who you are serving. Are the goals temporary or eternal? We know our
destination, so how are we choosing to experience the journey?
We can find a balance between being upright and confident to being on our knees in prayer with humbleness.
James 4:10 tells us that God exalts us when we come to Him with a humble heart. To keep this balance, having an
accountability system is of great value.
Having a relationship with a Holy Spirit-led coach strengthens and
encourages us to finish what God has started in our lives.
140
II Peter 1:3-8 (NASB)
“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him
who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by
these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent
promises, in order that by them you might become
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very
reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply
moral excellence, and in your moral excellence,
knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in
your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance,
godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in
your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are
ours and are increasing, they render you neither useless
nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
141
I Corinthians 9:24 (AMP)
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that
you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.”
Philippians 3:14 (NASB)
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
I Corinthians 9:25 (AMP)
“Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do
it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.”
Acts 1:3-5 (MSG)
“In face-to-face meetings, he (resurrected Christ) talked to them (disciples) about things concerning the kingdom of
God…that they must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized you in
water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.”
142
Hebrews 3:13-14 (NASB)
“But encourage one another day after day…for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of
our assurance firm until the end.”
John 3:17 (NASB)
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
James 4:10 (NASB)
“Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.”
Hebrews 12:1 (NASB)
“…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
143

I have the Greater One living in me: greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
I John 4:4

I have the mind of Christ.
Philippians 4:7

I am a new creature in Christ.
II Corinthians 5:17

I am a believer and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind.
II Corinthians 4:4

I have no lack, for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works.
Ephesians 2:10

I am a spirit being-alive to God.
I Thessalonians 5:23, Romans 6:11

I am a joint-heir with Christ.
Romans 8:17

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise.
Psalm 66:8
144
Faith-to-Action Application
What is the prize? Paul is comparing the prize that is given to the athlete in the stadium games to the prize God has
for us. What do we know about the stadium prize? The verse says it is a wreath that withers. It is temporary. (I
Corinthians 9:25) Is that what is desired by the followers of Christ? Or, is there more?
Winning the best prize! After all, that is what we want, isn’t it? I Corinthians 9:25 says that the prize for the
follower of Christ does not wither; it is a crown of eternal blessedness. I Corinthians 9:24 says we are running a race
especially designed for us. If that is the case, won’t your crown be especially designed for you also? Having a goal
and knowing what it will be like when achieved is motivating for most people. Choose to move towards the crown
of eternal blessedness God has waiting for you. You will finish the race and look forward to the challenges and
blessings from being a participant in the race God has designed just for you. A phrase that is occasionally spoken, “I
know who wins…I read the end of the book,” applies here. We are also told to encourage one another and hold
onto the power tools available to us today (Hebrews 3:13-14).
As we re-read II Peter 1 from session one, what do we know about diligence? With that diligence, we can “run the
race that is set before us” knowing that God will supply all the tools we need. Like a surgeon, we do the work and
ask the nurse for the tools needed. We let God carry the weight and we use our skills to accomplish the mission
specifically.
Sample Coaching Conversations
Ineffective Approach
Coach What is needed for you to keep on track with your goals?
Coached I just need to keep working.
Coach Yes, you do. Everyone needs to work towards their goals for at least two hours every day. Can
you do that?
Coached I don’t know but I might spend time once a week reflecting on my goal.
Coach That probably will not be enough. Don’t you want to stay on track?
Coached I do, but it seems so hard.
Coach Yes it is hard, but you won’t get there unless you do what I say.
145
Effective Approach
Coach What do you need in order to stay on track with your mission?
Coached I need diligence.
Coach Tell me more about what you mean by diligence.
Coached I need to stay on track and ask my Peer coach to hold me accountable to getting things done. I
know God’s Word says I have the power of Christ within me to accomplish my mission.
Coach What are some ways you can access that power of Christ within?
Coached I know that at any time, He is available. I just need to make the decision to pray and focus on Him
consistently.
Coach Tell me more about what you gain when you focus on Christ.
Coached I can live my life more excellently for Christ. I can run the race Paul refers to, take the steps
needed to stay on track with my mission.
Coach What is your next step in this process?
Coached I’m going to ask my Peer coach to also be my study Peer. I want to learn more about what God’s
Word says. I’m going to find a designated time to consistently seek and grow in my relationship
with Christ.
Coach What else will be important when studying God’s Word?
Coached Taking advantage of the power tools He has offered! His love, my relationship with Christ, and
listening to the Holy Spirit.
Coach Fabulous power tools!
146
7 Power Questions
Take your time, pray about your answers, and then write them under each question.
1. From the time since you completed the first session, how has your view of excellence and authenticity changed?
2. How do you now describe your life of excellence and authenticity?
3. What have you learned in this program about living authentically?
4. How has clarifying your vision and mission benefited you?
5. What is the most important action step you have taken and why?
147
6. Which area of your life still requires action steps to bring balance? Which changes would you make to allow
further growth and movement forward?
7. What value is there in continuing the path of living a life of excellence and authenticity?
Action Requests

Recognize that there are giants in your life. Like David, you have the ability to face Goliath. Walk in
confidence and just as David carefully selected his pebbles, with excellence select three things to move you
forward on the race uniquely created for you. (prayer, the word, and …)
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Establish a time with your peer coach to further hold each other accountable for decisions made during the
Trinity Living program.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Establish a means to further celebrate your peer coach’s accomplishments.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
148

Read the following scriptures and discover what His words tell us (We are greatly loved by God): Colossians
3:12, Romans 1:7, I Thessalonians 1:4, Ephesians 2:4
Peer Coaching Prompts
1. In what manner do you desire to be held accountable for taking additional steps for the path of excellence
and authenticity?
2. What are some tools you can use to support you when there are challenges in your life of excellence?
149
Peer Coaching Notes
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
My PC’s Goal:
Date of this Session: ______________Date/Time of Next Session
By the date and time noted above, my PC is committed to taking the following incremental step(s) toward achieving
the six-week goal:
Evaluate the incremental goals against the S.M.A.R.T. model.
Is the goal specific? _____Yes _____No
How will results be measured? __________________________________________
Is the goal achievable? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal realistic? _____Yes _____No
Is the goal time-sensitive? _____Yes _____No
New discoveries made by my PC during this session:
Notes for the next session:
New discoveries I made about myself, as a coach, during this session:
150
Peer Coaching Reflections
My Peer Coach’s (PC) Name:
E-mail:
1st Phone
2nd Phone
By the power of the Holy Spirit and with the support of my Peer Coach, my goal is to
Reflections from Session Dated: ___________________
Next Session Date, Time, and Location:
By the date and time noted above, I am committed to taking the following incremental steps(s) toward achieving the
goal:
Reflections on this session:
Random Thoughts:
151
i
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/authenticity.html
ii
Author and Source Unknown
iii
The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John C. Maxwell, Executive Editor, pg. 1563
152