General Guidance
• This guide was designed for use in a church board setting, but it has many beneficial applications.
• Not every decision requires the full discernment process. The process is most beneficial when addressing a major
issue or one over which the group is divided.
• God does not always have a specific will on every issue. In the words of Augustine, sometimes we are free to “love
God and do as we please.” The process of spiritual discernment can become paralyzing if based on the assumption
that God will always give specific guidance.
• Don’t be bound by the process. The following is a highly detailed outline meant to guide a group in the early stages
of using spiritual discernment in the decision-making process. As the group becomes more familiar with it, the
process can be engaged in a more natural and organic way.
• Spiritual discernment is not an efficient way of making decisions. But what would happen in our churches if leaders
truly believed that discerning the will of God is more important than making decisions for the sake of expediency?
• Spiritual discernment can be used proactively as well as reactively. Most decision-making is reactionary in nature.
An issue comes before us, and we must decide how to respond. But what if church leaders spent as much time
asking where God is leading as we do responding to needs that are already before us?
• What would happen in our churches if board or leadership meetings began to look more like prayer meetings than
business meetings? What if prayer was the primary work of the board or leadership team rather than a perfunctory
item on the agenda?
September 2020 — pg. 11
The Process of Spiritual Discernment
1. Clearly articulate the issue(s) to be discerned.
2. Identify any guiding principles (for an example, see Acts 1:21–22).
a. What biblical principle(s) is (are) involved?
b. How might it (they) impact our mission?
c. What core values are relevant?
d. What boundaries must be considered (requirements, policies, etc.)?
3. Present the various options allowed by the guiding principles.
4. Allow for an examination of conscience (in preparation for the next step).
a. Am I living with unconfessed sin?
i. Unconfessed sin can block one’s sensitivity to the Spirit and ability to hear from the Lord.
ii. Confession of sin is not punishment, but is a means of grace, healing and deliverance.
iii. In some cases, confession before the entire group may not be appropriate. In such cases, allow for an
alternative means of confession.
b. Do I have a personal bias on the issue? In some cases, this may be the most important step in the process.
Personal biases are usually hidden but may substantially affect one’s perspective and ability to listen to God
and others.
i. A bias is any desire, belief or opinion that has shaped my perspective on the issue prior to the start of the
discernment process.
ii. Biases — even if they are good and right — do not allow room for God to lead in unexpected or different
ways that may turn out to be better.
iii. It is very important that each one “put his or her biases on the table” by verbalizing them before the entire
group. In the act of confessing our biases we are also submitting them to God’s will. Doing so has a way of
diffusing biases and opening hearts to the Lord’s guidance.
5. Engage in a season of listening prayer.
a. It is important not to rush this portion, but to allow plenty of time to pray and listen for God’s guidance.
b. The “season” may be a portion of a meeting or a period of several days or weeks depending on the seriousness
of the issue or the degree of disagreement within the group.