You're a Small Group Coach.

I don't know how you became one.

Maybe you knew that you had a burden for shaping the leaders who shape our congregants and you pursued it.

Maybe you had no interest in that kind of leadership, but someone else saw it in you and asked you to step into the role.

Maybe the Coach vision was clear when it was cast for you.

Maybe it was ambiguous.

Regardless of where you are in that picture, allow me to encourage you by setting you up for discouragement.

———> Expect people to be messy.

You’re thinking, “Joey I know. I get it.”

But think messier.

So messy that you dread having to call them and address the issues they have after a week of dealing with your own work and family and personal issues.

Plan for the worst people. Expect them. Look forward to them.

Paul shows us this in a letter to Timothy, his Small Group Leader,

“But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Then he says, “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy.”

The invisible God can be seen in your patience. The love of God can be seen in your mercy, modeled after Jesus and fueled by the Holy Spirit.

When someone does something stupid (and it will be stupid!) don’t go, “Great, now I have to address yet another stupid situation.”

Instead go, “Thank you God for yet another opportunity to be patient with this person, helping form them into the nature of Jesus just like you are doing with me.”

It is a gift that God would allow you to deal with messy people and offer them endless mercy because messy people reveal a merciful God.

You get to address the sin in their life with patience and mercy. You get to do that! I pray that this reality (discouraging to the secular world) ironically encourages you.