Supportive Relationships

[Coaching Lesson #9 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Developing Trusting Relationships, Phase 2]

Leadership can be a tough and lonely responsibility. We all need other people who can provide us with encouragement, support, and accountability.

When we rely on our own perspective of how we are doing, we can begin to rationalize and blind spots form that keep us from seeing our own faults and mistakes. To keep this from happening, we need a small group of “truth-tellers” in our lives that help us stay on track.

One of the important benefits of having supportive relationships with other believers is that of receiving encouragement. We all need the encouragement of others to help us overcome the discouragement we deal with at varying times throughout life.
 

David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 23:16-18)

Context: David is on the run with King Saul attempting to find and kill him. Jonathan sought out David to encourage and support him. He reassured David of God’s plan for him and renewed his commitment to David by making a covenant with him.

Jonathan did what only true friends can do—he gave David the encouragement that he needed during a very difficult time in his life.
 

Importance of Supportive Relationships

What do the following scriptures tell us about the importance of supportive relationships?

• Proverbs 11:25
• Proverbs 13:20
• Proverbs 15:31
• Proverbs 16:28
• Proverbs 17:9, 17
• Proverbs 18:24
• Proverbs 27:6
• John 15:13
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• James 4:4

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have a few trusted friends in your life that you rely on for encouragement and support…who will tell you the “truth” even if you may not want to hear it? If not, why not?
2. What are some things we can do to make it easier for people to speak openly to us when they perceive that we may be making a mistake or about to get ourselves into trouble?
3. In what ways can you encourage and support those in your coaching group?