Effective Christian Life Coaching:
In Light of a Biblical Worldview
LIFC 201-D02
April 30th, 2018
Effective Christian Life Coaching
A recent study shows that even though organizations spend billions of dollars on seminars and
other staff development programs, less than 10 percent of attendees usually show any meaningful
change. The lack of support and follow-up on the trainees is probably the biggest reason why
these seminars do not work for most people. Life coaching helps bridge this missing link and this
would explain why most people who get a life coach end up experiencing tremendous
improvement. But what is the difference between Christian and secular life coaching?
Christian life coaching is not to be confused with other Christian jargon like disciplining and
counseling. For instance, the goal of disciplining is to help the Christian attain spiritual maturity,
while the role of counseling is to help bring healing or offer direction to clientele. However, the
purpose of coaching is to help the individual attain a completely new level of excellence. The
main purpose of a Christian life coach is to use professional coaching skills to help their clients
to effect change in their lives within the context of their personal Christian worldview. The
following are some of the important life coaching concepts are part of a biblical worldview.
The human condition –0After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of
Eden, the earth was cursed and man became subject to physical death. As a result, man
now has to struggle in order to make ends meet and everything that God had described as
“very good” is now subject to decay (Romans 5:12-19).
Human nature –0As a direct consequence of the fall of man, human beings became
morally corrupt. Man not only lost the authority they had enjoyed over the earth but they
also lost the intimacy they had previously enjoyed with the creator. The desire to exercise
authority is a God-given desire that rests in every human begin but that is often misused
because we lot the purity of heart at the fall of man.
Reconciling to God –0It is not possible for one to attain their God-given potential
without first being reconciled with God. Reconciliation happens when man accepts that
God sent his son, Jesus, to die for our sins and believes that he rose from the dead after
three days.
Knowledge of God –0This is the most important intimate relationship a person can attain.
The only way to attain the abundant life that the Bible promises is to cultivate a close
relationship with God. This is also a prerequisite for realizing the full potential of an
individual.
Renewal of mind –0a personal relationship with Jesus Christ leads to an inward
transformation that begins to reshape the thoughts of an individual which eventually
shows in their changed external behaviors
Eternal perspective –0As Christians, we have an eternal perspective that gives us hope
even in death. The eternal perspective gives us a different approach to our assignment on
earth because we begin to view our time on earth as a preparation for eternity.
Limited potential –0Human beings are limited or as the hymn says, our strength at best is
weak. However, by fully depending on God’s help, we can get an inexplicable infusion of
energy that can allow us to achieve impossible things. We, therefore, reach out to God in
faith for a higher potential that goes beyond what can be attained through human effort
Divine provision –0God is our source and he provides for all our needs according to his
riches in glory. Apart from providing for our needs, he also shapes our desires and wants
so that we want what he wants for us.
The call –0The purpose of any goal setting is to help us achieve or realize the call of God
upon our life. Every Christian has a unique call upon his life and this call can be made
clear as one develops their intimacy with God through prayer, worship, and Bible study.
Stewardship –0As Christians, we believe that God owns the earth and everything in it.
We believe we are fully in his family, and like all family members we have
responsibilities. Our responsibility is to be a steward who takes care of the Master’s
property. When all is said and done, the faithful stewards will be rewarded.
The value of “self” –0As Christians, we appreciate that the value of “self” is not based on
any personal accomplishments or attainment of predefined goals. The value of “self” is
founded on the truth that all humans are made in God’s image; we are valued because we
reflect who God is. Additionally, self-esteem is not established through the approval of
others but rather through our acceptance just as we are by God.
What is a Christian life coach, and is the concept biblical?
Christian life coaching is a relatively new field still working out its professional identity. As
such, there is no formal definition as to what a Christian life coach does. However, life coaches
in general are marketed somewhat akin to personal trainers. A person with a specific goal or who
is going through a particular change in life may employ a life coach to help guide and encourage
him through the transition, just as a personal trainer may help a client with a fitness goal. Life
coaches can also help clients who feel stuck and in need of new direction. They might specialize
in business and in helping clients adopt new work techniques. They may specialize in relational
difficulties and help clients overcome personal quirks. Or they might specialize in health and
help clients learn new living habits. In essence, a life coach is someone who walks alongside a
person for a season of life and coaches him through it. A "Christian life coach" would be a
Christian who is employed as a life coach or one who includes Christian spirituality in coaching.
Some of the concepts behind Christian life coaching are biblical. We are called to "encourage
one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We see Paul exhorting believers to
live holy lives. We are told to "carry each other’s burdens" (Galatians 6:2). The concept of
mentorship or discipleship is sprinkled throughout Scripture. Clearly, Christians should be living
in community, and we all need help sometimes in meeting certain goals. Inasmuch as a life coach
assists with these things, there is nothing explicitly unbiblical about it.
Some difficulties arise because life coaching is not a well-defined profession. Presumably,
Christian life coaches have training that others in the Body of Christ do not. They should have
honed skills to promote growth and an understanding of practical steps to personal change.
Finding a mature believer to be a mentor might prove just as helpful as employing a life coach.
The other difficulty with life coaching can be its focus on self-improvement. We are called to
live holy lives and to engage in the process of sanctification. But we must remember that change
does not ultimately occur because of good coaching techniques or strong willpower. It occurs
because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The decision to employ a Christian life coach depends on circumstances, personal preference,
and God’s leading at the time. God may choose to stimulate sanctification through a life coach,
or He may prefer to challenge the church to more actively engage in helping others along the
way. No matter the choice, it is important to remember that "he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
