Coaching and Message-Based Discussion Groups
At our church, we have a saying,
Discussion leads to discovery,
Discovery highlights decisions,
Decisions determine destiny!
The adult learning model forwards the idea that "grown-ups" learn differently than children. Children need to be taught in a top-down leadership model that teaches, or tells, them what to do.
It sounds like, "Don't cross the road without looking both ways", or "Put your coat on before you go outside."
Turns out adults learn better from questions and prefer being trusted with application. That would sound more like, "What are some ways we could safely cross the street?", or "How will you know if you should wear a coat?"
Maybe those aren't the best examples.
How about a values-based example.
Let's say the point the pastor wants to get across is about having personal devotions. They could tell people they need to read through the Bible in a year, or read for a certain amount of time each day, or that they need to have a prayer journal or any number of practices that may have worked for them.
But perhaps the coaching way would be to list a number of options and encourage people to connect with God regularly in a way that is meaningful to them personally.
In our small groups we would then encourage people to talk about possible ways to connect with God devotionally and then close with a call to action that asks each person how they will move forward.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT OPTIONS!
There is no actual transformation that happens through discussion. Transformation must include a decision and an application.
Luke 11:28 says, "Blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it."
Just knowing what is good or right doesn't mean we are doing it.
How can we better connect what we know with our real lives?
How can we lead people to make decisions that will determine their destiny?
Most adults don't need to know more. It's not a lack of information that is holding people back from growing in the faith walk.
People need to make informed decisions. And the most successful decisions happen in the context of relationships.
If you really want your small groups to be impactful and life-changing, include some coaching discussion questions and build in a call to action portion that will take the concepts out of the idea cloud and into real life!
Change may not be easy, but walking out our faith in real life is bringing the kingdom to earth and isn't that what it's all about?
Learn more about asking good questions in our Coaching Courses!