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Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Saturday Schedule
9:00 a.m. Introduction to the Day
9:10 a.m. Worship
9:30 a.m. Discernment: The Basics
11:00 a.m. BREAK
11:15 a.m. Discernment: The How
Bible Study on God’s Will, God’s Call
12:15 p.m. LUNCH
1:00 p.m. Discernment: What Does God Say to You?
1:45 p.m. Planning:
Where Is God Leading Us in Our Ministry?
3:00 p.m. Closing
________________
Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Intro to the Day
A. Welcome
B. Purpose for coming together:
1. You are needing some new direction and want to do some planning
2. Before doing that, it is good to seek God’s guidance & counsel
3. So today we will ask:
a. Where is God leading us in our ministry?
b. What is God’s will for us as a church?
C. This process is called discernment = seeking to know God’s will
As part of that process:
1. We will WORSHIP
a. At the very start, we will Invite God’s presence into our midst
b. We will place ourselves in the Spirit
2. We will LEARN
a. To discover what discernment means
b. How discernment has worked in the lives of other Christians
3. We will engage in BIBLE STUDY:
a. To learn more about discerning
b. To root ourselves and our understanding about:
God’s will, God’s call
4. We will PRAY
a. Not only in worship, but at various points throughout the day
b. Not only by speaking, but by being quiet
5. Most important: We will LISTEN
a. God WILL come to us today
b. God will be part of our worship, learning, bible study, prayer, conversation
c. If you would know God’s will, listen for it
d. You may find it in:
A hymn, a bible verse, an insight learned, your conversation with others,
a prayer, the quiet of your contemplation – your being with God
e. But you have to listen for it
f. Jesus said after many of his teachings and parables:
“Let anyone with ears to hear, listen!” (Mk.4.9, 23)
g. He also said, “Pay attention to what you hear.” (Mk.4.24)
h. When interrupted by his mother and brothers wanting to see him, Jesus said: “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Lk.8.21)
i. Listening will be your most important task today
6. Finally, after worshiping, learning, studying, praying and listening hard all day,
a. We will discuss what you heard
b. We will apply what we heard to the planning before us
c. We will see where the Spirit is leading
QUESTIONS
Worship
________________
Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Worship
L = Leader C = Congregation
Silence to prepare for worship.
Stand
CALL TO WORSHIP
L O Lord, open my lips:
C And my mouth shall declare your praise.
L Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
C As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
HYMN # 249 LBW “God Himself Is Present”
Sit
PSALM 100
L Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
C Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
L Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;
C we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
L Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
C Give thanks to him, bless his name.
L For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
C and his faithfulness to all generations.
Silence for reflection
PRAYER
L Let us pray. God our Father, you have created us as your people, and you sustain us with your hand. Help us always to give you thanks, for you alone are worthy of thanksgiving and praise and honor, now and forever.
C Amen
PSALM 119:33-41
L Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,
C and I will observe it to the end.
L Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
C and observe it with my whole heart.
L Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
C Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.
L Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.
C Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.
L Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.
C See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.
L Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
C your salvation according to your promise.
Silence for reflection.
PRAYER:
L Let us pray. Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord.
C Amen
LESSON: Mark 4:2-9, 14-23
Jesus began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." And he said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."
He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
Silence for reflection.
Stand
HYMN #475 LBW “Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove”
CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
L The Lord be with you
C And also with you.
L Let us pray:
C Come, Holy Spirit. Visit our hearts and our minds as we seek guidance and knowledge of the Father's will. Fill us with Christ's love. Inspire us with insight for ministry. Unite us in faith and hope until God's dreams become our dreams for our life together. Bless us in this holy time of discerning. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen
L The Lord almighty order our days and our deeds in his + peace.
C Amen
________________
Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Discernment: The Basics
I. DEFINITIONS
A. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray: “Your kingdom come, you will be done.”
1. The Christian life could be characterized as “doing God’s will.”
2. But how do we know what God’s will is?
3. Discovering God’s will is done through discernment
4. Discernment comes from listening to God
B. Discernment is not just a spiritual word
1. Basic: Distinguishing one thing from another
2. For Christians = Is it God we hear and follow or some other voice?
C. Discernment is more than getting all the best information and engaging in debate
1. It might include research, but it is more than research
2. It might include debate and discussion, but it is more than these
3. It might include information sharing, forums, conversation, but it is still more
4. It might include business meetings and Roberts Rules of Order, but still more
D. Discernment distinguishes God’s voice from all these other “voices”
1. Discernment is a yearning for God
2. What is found in that yearning is God yearning for us
E. God’s yearning for us is where call is found
1. = Our call into relationship with him
PSALM 139:1-16
1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
1 CORINTHIANS 1.1-3
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. = Our call to follow God’s path of love and righteousness in Christ
1 PETER 1.15-16
15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 PETER 2.21
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
JOHN 5:30 – And who does Jesus follow?
30 I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
F. The goal in discernment is not just making the right decision
1. It is being in right relationship with God
2 Within this relationship of mutual yearning/loving, we seek to do as Jesus did:
a. Seek to do God’s will
b. To pray in love: “your kingdom come, your will be done.”
G. Therefore discernment operates in context of commitment = the sign of relationship
1. The commitment that we have to God
2. The commitment that God has toward us
3. When we discern God’s will, we are committed to act upon it
a. In faith in the living and loving God
b. In trust that the Omniscient God knows what is best for us
c. In hope and knowledge that what lies ahead, God will bless richly
d. “Spiritual discernment makes operational our faith that an ever present Guide . . . is present to lead us in the way of truth and love as individuals and congregations.” [Stephen Bryant, quoted in Discerning God's Will Together, p.21]
H. A truth we already know: God’s will is the best thing that can happen to us
1. We know this from scripture
2. We know this from our experience of the Christian life
I. Another truth: God meets us at the pivotal points in our lives
1. Individually AND corporately
2. We do not make our decisions alone
3. The question more often becomes: Will we invite God into the conversation?
4. Inviting God into the conversation is our goal today
J. Danny Morris and Charles Olsen, Discerning God’s Will Together:
1. “Discernment creates the capacity to see. To discern is to see through to the essence of a matter. Discernment distinguishes the real from the phony, the true from the false, the good from the evil, and the path toward God from the path away from God. Spiritual discernment sees reality from God’s perspective. It is sight from the outside in; discernment penetrates the inner nature of things. It is also sight from the inside out by people who know intuitively.” [p.18]
2. Other definitions [p.21]:
a. To find the authentic and valuable, recognizing the counterfeit
“like biting a coin to see if it is gold”
b. “To see to the heart of the matter with spiritual eyes; from God’s vantage point, to see beneath the surface of events, through illusions within human systems, and beyond the immediate and transient.”
II. BIBLICAL MODELS OF DISCERNING
A. Solomon was one of the first to ask for discernment
1 KINGS 3:5-14
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
1. Basic to definition of discernment – distinguishing between good and evil
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life."
2. Note the blessing that comes with the request for discernment
3. Note also the proviso in v.14: “IF you will walk in my ways….”
B. We see Elijah trying to distinguish the true voice of God on Mt. Horeb
1 KINGS 19:9-13
9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 11 He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
1. Why did Elijah wrap his face in the mantle? = prayer shawl
2. Many things/many voices come to us
a. God’s voice may not be in the major, the dramatic
b. God’s voice may be in the simple, even the silent
C. Seeing as God sees was what the prophet Samuel learned in discernment
1 SAMUEL 16:1-7
1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
1. You know the rest of the story – all sons passed except David, the youngest
2. Point:
a. We have to see with more than our eyes
b. We have to see with more than this world’s standards
c. We have to see as God sees when decisions are before us
3. As God was there to help Samuel see, so God is here to help us see
D. Discerning is present in the New Testament in the very first church in Jerusalem:
ACTS 11:1-18 – When new things came up
1 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
1. The first Christians were Jewish Christians
a. Kept Jewish law, circumcision and dietary practices
b. But God was leading the Church toward the Gentiles
2. Here we see the church in assembly clearly engaged in discernment - note the process:
a. The issue is defined (v.1) - a path has opened - is God leading here or is it from some other origin (human/evil)?
b. Information is gathered:
Peter's vision (= a godly sign, v.5-10)
Peter's experience of the Spirit coming down upon the Gentiles "as upon us" (v.11-15)
Six others also witness and therefore corroborate Peter's witness (v.12)
c. The evidence is tested against guiding principles: Jesus’ words = scripture (v.16)
d. Reading the signs = interpretation/drawing conclusions "who was I that I could hinder God?" – v.17
e. Letting go = critics of v.2 are silenced in v.18 - old ways/ideas/agendas are left behind - a new path is clearly obvious
f. Commitment to walk that new path – v.18 = “they praised God”
3. Notice that the decision was not based on just one piece of evidence
a. God will usually point to a new direction in more than one way - here four ways (vision, exp., witness, scripture)
b. Each piece of evidence is tested against the others and against God's Word and action
c. Do they all add up to the same conclusion? If yes, then it is God leading
4. This and decision not to demand circumcision of Gentiles put into a letter:
ACTS 15.22-29
22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, 25 we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
E. Many references in NT letters to discernment as what the Church does:
Rom.12.2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Eph.1:18: “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.
1 Cor.2.12-13: “We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.”
F. The NT church understood that not every voice was God’s voice:
a. They understood the power of false prophets
b. They understood the power of our own egos to lure us down wrong paths
1 THESSALONIANS 5.16-24
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
1 JOHN 4:1-8
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. 4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:9-14 - the test of foundation
9 For we are God's servants, working together;
you are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God
given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else
is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that
foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- 13 the work of each
builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be
revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.
14 If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a
reward.
From the above we can derive:
III. SOME BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
A. God is self-disclosing and wishes his will to be known
The whole of scripture attests to this fact
B. God discloses his will within our relationship with him
1. Individually and corporately
2. Because this relationship has value to us, we listen – we seek God’s will
C. God’s will can be known because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
1. Given at our baptisms
2. As promised by Christ:
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16.13
D. God’s will is the ultimate value in our knowledge and experience
1. Morris & Olsen: “God’s will is obviously a higher value than the other values that motivate us: efficiency, expediency, unity at any cost, ego, politics, economics, charity, or concern about what other people think.” [Discerning God's Will Together, p.39]
2. The question then becomes:
Can we be open to God’s will AGAINST all these that might motivate us?
E. The faith community is the proper context for discerning God’s will
1. The Church is the dwelling place of the Spirit – nearly 200 refs in NT letters
2. We are utterly dependent upon that Spirit for:
a. Our faith
b. Our life together
b. Our unity in Christ
c. Our guidance and our future
3. The Church is where the Word of God is also – preached, taught, lived
4. For decisions, we all bring different things:
Gifts, intuition, understanding, theology, feelings, information,
history (personal and corporate), options, insight, creativeness
5. Here also we pray for and help one another continually
6. When we share these in light of his Word, God communicates with us
7. God leads through the group, because the group is God’s holy people
F. The faith community continues discerning until God’s will is known
1. The process may be long or short
2. But a common sense of God’s leading is the goal
3. = Reaching a place whereby the Church sees their relationship with God:
a. Blessed
b. Fulfilled
c. Enriched by a new calling
d. Guided in that new calling
Morris & Olsen: “The process of discernment invites us into the heart and life of the triune God. Decision making can no longer be defined as doing what we think is best; it should be a search for the mind and will of God within a community of people with whom God has chosen to dwell.” [Discerning, pp.63-64]
G. The process of discerning God’s will is ongoing, not just a 1-time event
QUESTIONS
Next Hour: The How of Discernment & Bible Study
Break
________________
Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Discernment: The How
Open with silence and prayer.
IV. THE HOW OF DISCERNMENT
A. Many different practices over history
1. Different stages, steps defined
2. May or may not begin with the framing of a particular decision to be made
3. Goal of all is the same: knowing God’s will
B. Eight stages or steps derived from Acts 11 - not necessarily in this order
1. Define the issue
a. A new path has opened - a decision needs to be made - a new direction is needed
b. Is God leading or is it from some other origin?
c. Defining shapes the boundaries for discussion/discernment - this will be discussed, this won't
2. Let Go
a. = Leaving our egos and agendas behind
b. = Being open to God’s will
c. = Being committed to following God’s will
d. This step asks:
Are we truly ready to follow wherever God leads?
Are we willing to let something die to allow God to start something new?
What will we lay aside to be open to new gifts of grace/ministry?
e. Letting go can only occur with trust and faith in God
3. Stay rooted in God's Word and action among us
a. = Guiding principles
b. How does scripture inform us? = God's Word to us
c. How does our mission and our history inform us? = God's Action among us
d. Engage in Bible study as a group and as individuals as part of the process
4. Gather information
a. This is the listening stage:
b. Listening to the voices of all in the discerning community
c. Listening to the voices of those who might be affected by a decision
d. Listening for the promptings of the Spirit of God within these voices
e. This stage can include:
research, reading, conducting forums, interviewing people, etc.
f. This stage should definitely include frequent prayer, silence, perhaps guided meditation
= listening to God
= being open to visions/dreams/leading from God
5. Derive options from information gathered
a. What options seem available?
b. Are these the only ones? = Be open to creative surprises
c. Are the options the best that they can be? Improve as necessary
d. Always check options to see if they fit with the guiding principles
6. Read the signs
a. = Sorting through the options in response to God’s leading = interpretation
b. Which seem from God? Which seem from human ego? Which from evil?
c. What fruits might be expected from each path?
d. What are pros and cons for each path? How do they weigh out?
e. Are there signs that can be read that define direction or call?
One pastor: "I see call when a door opens, but there are obstacles, then gradually the obstacles fall away."
Another: "I see call when all the doors I want to remain open slowly begin closing and a new path opens."
Another: "When several unconnected events seem to point to the same thing, I see call."
Another: "When a dream or vision is corroborated by external events, then I see call." (cf. Acts 11)
7. Test each path
a. Weigh all the evidence together - remember God usually points out new paths in multiple ways
b. The test of Jesus: Will it bear fruit? (Mt. 7:15-20)
c. The test of Paul:
Is it built on the foundation of Jesus Christ? (1 Cor. 3:9-14)
Is it filled with good for all? Is it filled with peace? (1 Thes. 5:16-22)
d. The test of John:
Does it confess Jesus as Lord or does it speak from the world? (1 John 4:1-6)
Is it filled with God's love? (1 John 4:7-8)
e. Final Test: Ignatius of Loyola (16th c), founder of Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Does the new path bring feelings of moving toward God or away from God?
Is there Consolation or Desolation in the choice?
Consolation = whatever helps us love God more
Desolation = whatever pulls us away from God
f. Allow consolation to bring consensus and move to a decision/selection/direction
g. If there is no consensus or if desolation seems the consequence, then continue with discernment
= Revisit and check each step as necessary until discernment is achieved
8. Commit to the Path with thanksgiving
a. Final step after consensus is achieved
b. Like Acts, praise God for guidance and inspiration
c. "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." (Acts 15:28)
A Jesuit brother writes:
“At its peak, [consolation] is an experience of love for God so direct that everything on earth, including intimate friends and relatives, is loved and appreciated as gifts from God…. It is not the same as feeling happy; it can include feeling grief over genuine tragedy…. It is an experience of feeling centered, at peace within, full of confidence in God…. It is any inner experience or state that enables us to make balanced judgments about reality and wise assessments about the value of persons, words, and deeds….
“Spiritual desolation is at its core the experience of loving neither God nor neighbor, but rather acting out of fear or compulsion.” [Tad Dunne, quoted in Listening to God by John Ackerman, Alban, p.87]
C. These steps are not necessarily taken in order
1. Order differs somewhat from Acts 11
2. Some may occur before others - reading signs may actually start the process of discernment and testing
3. May return to some steps more than once
e.g. revisiting guiding principles
4. Process involves listening and asking God for guidance throughout
Rooting: Bible Study of God’s Will, God’s Call
I. GOD’S WILL
A. Doing God’s will as our purpose
1 PETER 4.1-2
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin) 2 so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God.
1 JOHN 2.15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
B. God will teach us his will.
PSALM 143.7-10
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.
C. What is the Father’s will?
PSALM 40.7-8
7 Then I said, "Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
JOHN 6.37-40
37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day."
ROMANS 8.27
27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
GALATIANS 1.1-5
1 Paul an apostle--sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead -- 2 and all the members of God's family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
D. How do we know it is God’s will?
JOHN 7.14-18
14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?" 16 Then Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.
MATTHEW 7.15-21
Jesus says, 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
E. Putting God’s will ahead of our own
MATTHEW 26.36-42
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."
II. CALL
A. The Lord calls those who are to be his people
DEUTERONOMY 28.9-10
9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.
B. The call comes through the Word
2 THESSALONIANS 2.13-14
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. Being called is by God’s will and purpose
ROMANS 8.18
18 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
D. Being called means being asked to listen
1 SAMUEL 3.1-10
1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
E. Being called means being asked to follow
MATTHEW 4.18-22
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
PROVERBS 3.5-6
5 With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.
F. Being called means being sent
MARK 3.13-15
13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, 15 and to have authority to cast out demons.
G. Called and sent to witness
1 PETER 2.9
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
H. Call is to freedom – ruled by love for one another
GALATIANS 5.13
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.
I. The life of the called person
COLOSSIANS 3.12-17
12 As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
J. Important: God does NOT call us to be successful! God calls us to be FAITHFUL!
1. Success is a word/concept of this world
a. Totally foreign concept in the New Testament
b. The word "success" does not even appear in the NT in NRSV, KJV or NIV
2. On the other hand, "faithful" occurs 40 times in NT in NRSV - 42 in NIV - 54 times in KJV
MATTHEW 24:45-47 - Jesus on faithfulness
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
LUKE 16:10-12 - faithfulness does not require a lot of wealth or even numbers
10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?"
4. So whose job is success? That's God's job:
HEBREWS 10:22-23
19 Therefore, my friends, since we
have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the
new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through
his flesh), 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22
let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he
who has promised is faithful.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24 - once again - read before
23 May the God of
peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be
kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The
one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
5. Note also: what will be the measure at judgment? Filled pews? No, the heart
1 CORINTHIANS 4:5
5 Therefore do
not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to
light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the
heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
JEREMIAH 17.10
10 I the LORD
test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their doings.
ROMANS 2:14-16
14 When Gentiles, who do not
possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not
having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law
requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears
witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will
judge the secret thoughts of all.
Close with prayer – grace for lunch
Lunch
________________
Discerning God’s Will
The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, leader/facilitator
Discernment: What Does God Say to You?
HYMN #684 WOV “Spirit of Gentleness”
I. EXPLORING THROUGH GUIDED MEDITATION:
A. We have been learning and studying quite a bit about discerning God's will and God's call.
B. We are desirous of following God's will and call into our future
C. Let’s bring that desire before God in prayer and meditation:
Relax into your seat and close your eyes
Let the chair fully support your body
Be aware of any tension in your body and let it go
Take some long deep breaths to help release
Then settle into comfortable relaxed breathing
As you relax, begin letting your mind go to a place where you know Jesus
It might be here in church – or in your home –
or on the seashore – or in some special place – perhaps in heaven
Go to that place where you know Jesus
See him in your mind’s eye, with a smile on his face
Sit down with him and enjoy his presence – enjoy his love
Feel the warmth of his love all around you – like the sun glowing on your face
Tell him about the need for new directions in our ministry together
Share your own feelings about it
See his look of interest and concern
Hand him any worries or anxieties you might have
Don’t hold any of them back – give them to him in faith and trust
See him take them from you
Feel the burden lift from you as he takes them
Now ask him to go with you to explore one of the new directions
Hear him say that he will
Now slowly take his hand and get up
Begin walking hand in hand with our Savior
Walk to a place where you see one of our options fully developed
You are in the future, and our planning has brought this result
Stand in the midst of this place and look all around
Note everything you see:
The size, the walls, the windows, the furnishings, the colors, the décor
Walk all through the place, exploring all its corners and all its rooms
Take a moment and sit down in that place with our Savior
Get the feel of the place
It’s just the two of you there – you and Jesus
Breathe in its smells
Feel its feeling
Look for the holiness of God in that place – is it there?
Now begin to see people in this place
See them interacting with the space and with each other
Note their faces, their ages
Get up with Jesus and walk among them
Note their activities, their work, their play, their worship
Note their attitudes -- Is it a happy place?
Is there a feeling of God’s presence in this place?
Ask Jesus what he thinks of this place
Ask him if this is the place of his calling
Pay attention to his response – verbal or non-verbal
Now ask Jesus to lead you wherever he wants
Walk again with Jesus, hand in hand
Look around the place where he takes you
See all that you can see, like you did before
Take some time in this place – to feel it – to breathe it
Listen to what Jesus has to say to you
If you have questions, ask him
It’s almost time to leave
Prepare to leave by thanking Jesus for walking with you
Thank him for what he has showed you
Thank him for taking your burdens
Thank him for being your Savior
Say whatever prayer is on your heart right now
Then join me in the Savior’s prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven . . . . Amen
II. CHARTING OUR LISTENING:
Chart the answers for all to see:
A. We have been standing on holy ground
We ARE standing, right now, on holy ground
I want you to know that before we begin talking to each other
B. What did you see in your meditation?
Where did you go with Jesus?
Where did Jesus lead you?
What did Jesus have to say to you?
C. Broadening: In all your listening today, what has God been saying to you?
What things have stood out for you?
Has there been particular scripture passages that have jumped out at you?
What things seem most important to you?
Are there common themes you are hearing that seem important?
III. PLANNING
A. Still standing on holy ground
1. The Spirit is with us in this conversation
2. It’s time to put down on paper where you think the Spirit is leading us in our ministry together
B. Where will this church be in 5 years?
If all things are possible with God, then what will the ministry look like?
List the ministries that we will see
C. After the list seems complete for those attending, then note:
1. Discernment is an ongoing process
2. What is developed here is only a beginning
D. Next steps:
1. Follow the steps of discernment
2. Improving: Are the options the best that they can be?
3. Sorting/Weighing: Upon which option/path will the Spirit rest?
a. Test the spirits = Is it truly the Spirit’s leading or some other (ego, evil, the world)?
b. What are the signs that lead you to one conclusion or another?
c. What fruits will each path produce?
4. Allow the Spirit now to lure you to a particular path(s)
Remember:
We are seeking more than human judgment here
We are still standing on holy ground
Weigh each path against these questions:
a. John Cassian, 4th century:
Is it filled with what is good for all?
Is it heavy with faith and trust in God?
Is it genuine in the feelings that underlie it?
It is too light because of human show or novelty?
Is its merit lessened by personal self-seeking?
b. Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century:
In this path, is there a sense of peace and movement toward God?
Is it filled with faith, hope, love?
Does it make you feel in synch with God?
Does it make you feel grounded, alive and awake, awed, grateful?
Or Is there a sense of dis-ease and movement away from God?
Does it make you feel the absence of faith, hope, love?
Does it make you feel out of sorts, dull, mechanical?
Does it give you a sense of darkness or agitation?
5. Report on where the Spirit lured you
IV. TESTING FOR CONSENSUS -- use in situations where a decision is needing to be made
A. It’s time to bring all that we have done today to a final focus
B. If the Lord is truly leading us, then we shall know it by testing for consensus
C. Testing for consensus in a discernment process:
1. Choose one of the following positions that represent your sense of things:
a. I support this path (= Consensus)
b. I am concerned, but will support this path (= Consensus)
c. I am uneasy about this path, but will stand aside (= Consensus)
d. I cannot support this path (= Non-consensus)
2. Each person states their choice
D. After testing for consensus:
1. If consensus achieved:
a. Highest value of discernment:
God’s will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else
b. Does our consensus show us God’s will in this way?
2. If group is seriously divided:
a. Reconsider the guiding principle
b. Test for shedding by reminding people that we are seeking God’s will and none other
c. Take time for further prayer and reflection – employ silence
d. Check exploring, improving and weighing steps
e. The above steps may be taken over a longer period of time, including days, months
f. If consensus still not achieved, consider one of the following:
Use simple majority voting
Designate a trusted leader to decide for the group
Consider the biblical option of prayer and casting lots (Acts 1.26)
Discern that there is NO leading at this time, and make no decision
E. Close with prayer circle
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Morris, Danny E. and Olsen, Charles M., Discerning God’s Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church, Alban Institute 1997.
Ackerman, John, Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in Congregations, Alban Institute.