We Can All Get Better

 Have you ever wondered why professional athletes need coaches? They are the best in the world. They epitomize excellence every time they take the court or the field. And yet every one of them has a coach or a manager. Is this superfluous, or is this necessary?

I listened to a professional surgeon address this idea of coaching. He hired a retired surgeon to be his coach. Not for a day or a week or even a month. But for a year. This coach did not find any glaring errors. But he found a list of small things that would make a professional surgeon better. Coaching made him a better surgeon.

In the ministry, we train disciples, help them get started. And if they are successful, we let them go on their own. Conference is not a time to learn how to be better at preaching or teaching. Conferences are public events, like a championship game. It is a time to shine, not a time to improve.

We are too young of a Fellowship to have retired successful pastors who could work as coaches. But could you imagine the excellence that could begin to be exposed if we did? How many times have you heard a guy preach who is a terrible public speaker? But because he is God's man, no one can correct his flaws or instruct him on how to get better. We think that anointing makes up for terrible conduct in the pulpit. If anyone says anything then they are rebels.

All professional athletes have coaches. Professional orchestras have conductors. Business professionals have managers or corporate officers. Pastors are on their own. God help the successful pastor who grows so big that he cannot be improved. We can all get better. It is a rare man who does not need coaching.

No church will grow beyond the ability of the pastor to preach and teach in public. He owes it to himself, and to his church, to be better. There is no virtue in remaining ignorant and unlearned if you can be better.