Discernment Prayer: Discerning Relationships

May 21, 2017 ~ Prev | Intro | Next

Discernment is the process of recognizing where God is active in your life, your community, and your world, and listening closely to hear what God wants you to do. Prayerful discernment involves letting go of preconceptions about the direction that the answers will take, instead remaining open to the leading of God. The Wesleyan quadrilateral of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience can help us to test the questions we bring to the process against these important elements of Christian wisdom.

This week use Wesleyan Discernment to seek guidance on the following question: How is God calling Christ United Methodist Church to make disciples for the transformation of the world at this point in time?

Begin with scripture. What scripture passages inform the mission of the church? How does the church form disciples?

Next consider tradition. How do Christian creeds, statements of faith, or other teachings address the church? What did Wesley teach about the work of the church? In what directions are church leaders drawing us?

Third, look to reason. What has CUMC been doing that has brought the love of God to our world? What are areas in which the church and its members needs to grow? What resources will help us to more fully live into being God’s community?

Finally, weigh the question against your experience. How has God spoken to you through CUMC? Into what ministry of CUMC has God been tugging at your heart?

Towards what actions and ministries is God calling CUMC?