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There have been some milestones in my kids’ development that my wife and I have celebrated.  One is when they were potty-trained and the other is when they were finally able to feed themselves (both came with many clean up opportunities)!  There have been many dinner times in my house that have ended with a bath because of the amount of food that was smashed into my kids’ hair or rubbed all over their arms and legs.  However, it was these times that gave my kids the necessary practice so they would be able to feed themselves.

Just like my wife and I had to train our children to be able to feed themselves, our goal as leaders should always be to help those whom we are leading become self-feeders.  Jesus makes this very clear in John 15:5 when He tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Our goal is to coach people into a growing personal relationship with Christ because they are “remaining in Him.”

Here are 3 Steps to developing Self-feeders:

1) Feed them

When somebody comes into a relationship with Christ we must give them what it takes to begin the growth process.  We need to make sure they are getting the Biblical truths in their life that will help them establish a growing walk with Christ.

2) Help feed them (and be willing to clean up the mess)

As people begin to grow we must give them a chance to feed themselves.  This can be messy, but it is necessary if we want to see them become self-feeders.  There have been times that I have met with men and helped lead them in their devotion time with God.  This gives me the opportunity to coach them on how to pray, read their Bible and hear from God.

3) Let them feed themselves

We always want to be a support to those we are leading, but we must let them begin to feed themselves without trying to step in all the time. As leaders, we want those we are leading to be able to feed themselves spiritually because that will allow them to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.  Once they can grow then they can begin to help others begin this process of learning to be a self-feeder.

Think about it…

• What can you do to begin to help others become self-feeders?
• What are the possible problems of not teaching those we are leading to become self-feeders?
• What can you do to help those you are leading begin to teach others how to become self-feeders?

Prayer point: Ask God to give you wisdom on how to help those you are leading become self-feeders.