Exemplar Coaching

Live by Design, Not by Default.

CoffeeChat 56 – License

Edition  56

License

Last Edition Recap
How have you applied the last edition to your life?
Opening Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the privilege of being in your presence—without Jesus this would not be possible. Amen.
Introduction
Almost everything these days requires a licence—driver’s licences, TV licences, business licences, professional licences. A licence is “a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a thing, or carry on a trade.”
Possessing a licence means you’ve received permission from the relevant authorities, but you must operate within stipulated boundaries. Without the proper licence, you simply don’t have permission to do what you want to do. Drive without a licence? Consequences. Operate a business without the proper permits? Shut down.
Then there’s the issue of renewals. Every licence expires and requires renewal. Your driver’s licence isn’t permanent—it must be periodically verified that you’re still competent, updated on regulations, and fit to operate.
Now consider this: if earthly authorities require licences for temporal activities, what about eternal matters? What licence grants you access to God’s presence? Who issued it? What are the terms? And crucially—does it require renewal?
Chat Point 1
  1. What licences do you currently hold, and what specific permissions does each licence grant you?
  2. What are the consequences—legal, financial, or practical—for operating without the necessary licences?
  3. Considering the licences you’ve discussed, what is the purpose of requiring periodic renewal rather than granting permanent licences?
  4. What potential dangers or consequences might arise if licences never required renewing?
  5. How does possessing proper licences and operating within their boundaries provide both freedom and responsibility?
Read
John 14:6
Romans 6
Key Focus
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 – “Therefore, we are the Messiah’s representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiah’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God!’ God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God’s righteousness would be produced in us.”
Chat Point 2
  1. What stood out for you whilst reading these passages?
  2. What is more beneficial—being a slave to sin or being a slave to righteousness, and what does each “licence” permit you to do?
  3. Using the analogy of a licence, how do we receive the permit to be in God’s presence?
  4. Read Matthew 28:18-20—what “licence” (authority) does Jesus possess, and what “licence” does he delegate to us?
  5. How is participating in Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) similar to renewing your licence, and why might regular renewal be important?
Final Thought
John 14:6 is unambiguous: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Without Jesus, you don’t have a licence to enter God’s presence. Full stop.
But here’s the extraordinary part: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 reveals that once you receive this licence through Christ, you become “the Messiah’s representatives”—authorised ambassadors operating under his authority. God didn’t just grant you access; he deputised you to extend that access to others.
Romans 6 presents the choice starkly: you’re either licensed to sin (which leads to death) or licensed to righteousness (which leads to life). You can’t hold both licences simultaneously. The licence Jesus provides isn’t just entry into heaven someday—it’s authority to operate within God’s kingdom right now, on earth.
But like earthly licences, this spiritual authority requires renewal. Not because Jesus’ sacrifice expires, but because our connection to the source needs continual refreshment. Holy Communion serves precisely this function—regularly renewing our awareness of the licence we hold, the price paid for it, and the authority it grants.
Is it important to you to have authority to operate within God’s kingdom here on earth? How are you planning to use this permission and privilege to help grow God’s kingdom?
My Action
What key insight or learning from this session resonates most with me, and what do I sense God is inviting me to do in response?
Shared Prayer
What are your prayer requests?​
Closing Prayer
God of all things, thank you for entrusting us with the work of your gospel—may we always be willing to renew our relationship with you as openly as possible. Amen.
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In-Between Chats: Personal Reflection
  1. Is it genuinely important to you to have the authority to operate within the Kingdom of God here on earth, and how does this authority shape your daily decisions?
  2. How are you specifically planning to use this permission and privilege to help grow God’s kingdom in your sphere of influence this week?
  3. If participating in Holy Communion is similar to renewing your spiritual “licence,” how regularly are you renewing your awareness of the authority Jesus has granted you, and what would more intentional renewal look like?
Edition Writer: Rev Kevin Zondagh

Methodist Minister, Personal Development Specialist, Life Coach, Relationship Coach and Executive Coach. Founder and Owner of Exemplar Coaching Pty Ltd and CoffeeChatConnect. "We should have the desire to custom design the only life we have. After-all, we buy designer everything. How much more should we Live by Design, not by default?"