The LPD uses an ABC approach for disciple making.
A is for Assessment: generating insights or awareness that recognizes a need for development.
B is for Basic training: creating the action steps that form a personal development plan.
C is for Coaching: instilling a culture of accountability through coaching conversations.
The LPD Residency Program is designed to help church pastors and leaders be effective disciple makers through coaching conversations that help church leaders move beyond managing people for performance and compliance, or simply running church programs. Our goal is to help empower and unleash disciple makers to expand God’s kingdom through the local church.
Coaching is an essential component in the making “great commission” disciples. However, for coaching to be effective there must be a clear, specific goals established and training aligned with a plan to implement action. For example, if I don’t have the goal to complete an Ironman triathlon then I don’t require an Ironman triathlon coach, or the 26 week Ironman training plan!
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 ESV
If James is correct, what are you doing about that? It is not merely that you are saved and you know Jesus but what are you doing because you are saved and you do know Jesus?
A disciples’ action plan creates a pathway for Christ-like transformation. The LPD Residency Program utilizes the 70-20-10 model of learning and development as a suggested practice for disciple making. We believe that disciples are most effectively transformed when the proportional breakdown of their basic training is:
10% Teach [Formal training, workshops, programs, reading books]
20% Train [Peer relationships, socializing, networking, mentoring, coaching sessions]
70% Task [On-The-Job practice with corrective feedback, assignments, coaching conversations]
The current focus of disciple making teaching leaves up to 90% of the task of disciple making undone. However, revitalizing the church to refocus on disciple making by creating a ‘Basic Training’ culture is not an easy accomplishment. It will be challenging for pastoral leaders to abandon their ‘Teach-For-Content’ approach for a Basic Training approach for teaching content is both what they were trained to do and the normative expectation of congregations.
The hope is that we can revitalize the church to ensure successful achievement of our mandate to make“great commission” disciples through the evidence of personal transformation
How has your church remained focused on disciple making during this current COVID-19 opportunity that will help you both survive today and thrive tomorrow?
The LPD Church Planters I am coaching view our current COVID-19 crisis as a God given opportunity to revitalize their church and their ministry by establishing a coaching culture. I would love to share these insights with you and encourage you as you lead your church and ministry. We are all in this together.
Steve Sharpe
