Teachable vs. Coachable
There are many areas of life where being coachable is critical. You hear it in sports, in business, and even in leadership circles. But I don’t hear much anymore about being teachable. For most of us, that idea seemed to stop once school was over.
Instead of being taught something new, it feels like everything today is about being coached while in the act of performing. Coaching is valuable—but lately I’ve been reminded that sometimes I need more than coaching. Sometimes, I need to be taught. Or even re-taught. From scratch.
There are moments when I have to unwind my old way of thinking, start over, and approach a subject from a brand-new perspective. Coaching in motion isn’t always enough. I need the kind of instruction that allows me to stop, listen, and learn.
Coach vs. Teacher
Let’s look at the definitions:
Coach: A person coaching in sport, involved in the direction and training of a team or athlete.
Teacher: A person who teaches or instructs, especially as a profession; instructor.
On the surface, these look similar—but they’re not the same.
A coach is a guide, someone who encourages, corrects, and helps refine your performance. But a teacher goes further—they instruct. They give you the building blocks, the framework, the step-by-step path forward when you don’t yet know what to do.
Instructions are for people who don’t yet know the way—whether it’s in a board game, an IKEA project, or a recipe. In life, too, we need teaching.
Jesus: Our Teacher
This made me ask: When I think about Jesus, is He my coach, or my teacher?
I looked it up:
Number of times Jesus is called “Teacher” in the Bible: 60.
Number of times He is called “Coach”: 0.
Jesus taught His disciples. Of course, He corrected them when needed, but more than anything, He gave them instruction for life and truth.
Here are just a few examples:
“Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.” — Matthew 4:23
“For He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” — Matthew 7:29
“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” — John 3:2
“Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them.” — John 8:2
I won’t list all 60, but the point is clear: Jesus is our Teacher. He taught then, and He is still teaching today through His Word and Spirit.
Slow Down and Learn
Lately, I’ve been challenged to slow down, open Scripture, and let Jesus teach me. When I give Him the space, I see new things. I learn. I re-learn. I begin to see with fresh eyes.
And this doesn’t just apply to faith. Whether in business, family, or friendships, there are always new things to learn if we remain teachable.
So my best advice? Turn toward the Great Teacher and give Him room to show you the way forward.
-Mark
