📝 Worksheet 9.4: Redemptive Discernment Decision Guide

Course: Introduction to Spiritual Growth
Topic 9: Spiritual Discernment II — Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and Redemptive Wisdom
Worksheet Focus: Testing decisions, impressions, callings, relationships, and next steps through Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, timing, spiritual fruit, and community confirmation.
Connection: This worksheet completes Topic 9 by helping students practice redemptive discernment with humility, courage, and wisdom.

Student Name: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Part 1: What Are You Discerning?

Choose one decision, impression, burden, relationship, conflict, calling, ministry opportunity, or next step that needs discernment.

Do not write confidential details that should not be shared.

Briefly describe what you are discerning:

Why does this matter spiritually?

Which phrase best describes this situation?

Check one:

☐ I feel led toward something.
☐ I feel warned or restrained.
☐ I feel confused.
☐ I feel burdened for a ministry or person.
☐ I feel called to serve in a new way.
☐ I need to make a relationship decision.
☐ I need to address conflict.
☐ I need to repent or obey something already clear.
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Part 2: Scripture Test

Christian discernment begins with Scripture.

1. What Scripture passage, biblical command, or biblical principle may speak to this situation?

2. Does this direction violate any clear teaching of Scripture?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

Explain:

3. Does this direction honor the character of Christ?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

Explain:

4. Does this direction move you toward love, holiness, truth, mercy, justice, faithfulness, and wisdom?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

Explain:

Part 3: Holy Spirit and Spiritual Fruit Test

The Holy Spirit does not lead us away from the character of Christ.

Read Galatians 5:22–23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
— Galatians 5:22–23, WEB

Which fruit is being produced by this direction?

Circle any that apply:

Where do you see this fruit?

Which fruit seems missing or weak?

Circle any that apply:

What might that reveal?

Is this impression producing spiritual maturity or spiritual impulsiveness?

Part 4: Motive Test

Ask God to search your heart.

Psalm 139:23–24 says:

Search me, God, and know my heart.
Try me, and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.
— Psalm 139:23–24, WEB

What motives may be present in this situation?

Check any that may apply:

☐ Love
☐ Obedience
☐ Compassion
☐ Faithfulness
☐ Desire to serve
☐ Fear
☐ Pride
☐ Anger
☐ Anxiety
☐ Loneliness
☐ Desire for approval
☐ Desire for control
☐ Desire for recognition
☐ Escape from responsibility
☐ Resentment
☐ Impulse
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Which motive most needs to be surrendered to God?

What prayer do you need to pray honestly?

Part 5: Counsel Test

Wise discernment includes mature counsel.

1. Who is one spiritually mature person you can ask for counsel?

2. Why is this person trustworthy?

Check any that apply:

☐ Knows Scripture
☐ Shows spiritual fruit
☐ Will tell me the truth
☐ Does not flatter me
☐ Understands my situation
☐ Has experience in this area
☐ Prays with wisdom
☐ Respects appropriate boundaries
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

3. What question should you ask this person?

Examples:

What fruit do you see in this direction?
What warning signs do you notice?
What Scripture should I consider?
Am I rushing or delaying?
What responsibility am I overlooking?

My question:

4. What counsel have you already received?

5. Are you willing to be corrected?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am struggling with that

Explain:

Part 6: Timing Test

Not every right thing is right now.

1. Are you rushing?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

If yes, what may be driving the rush?

☐ Anxiety
☐ Fear
☐ Excitement
☐ Pressure from others
☐ Desire for relief
☐ Desire for recognition
☐ Anger
☐ Impatience
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

2. Are you delaying?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

If yes, what may be driving the delay?

☐ Fear
☐ Avoidance
☐ Lack of clarity
☐ Wisdom
☐ Need for formation
☐ Need for counsel
☐ Need for healing
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

3. What would patient faithfulness look like right now?

4. What would courageous obedience look like right now?

5. What is one small step you can take without forcing the entire future?

Part 7: Responsibility Test

Sometimes people chase a new calling while avoiding a current responsibility.

1. What responsibility has God already placed before you?

Consider:

Family
Marriage or close friendship
Work
Church or Soul Center
Financial stewardship
Apology or reconciliation
Repentance
Training
Health
Rest
Endorsement or accountability
Faithfulness in small things

My current responsibilities include:

2. Am I using this decision, calling, or impression to avoid something God has already made clear?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

Explain:

3. What obedience is already clear?

4. What small act of faithfulness should come before a larger step?

Part 8: Community Confirmation Test

God often confirms calling and direction through the body of Christ.

1. Who else is affected by this decision?

Check any that apply:

☐ Spouse
☐ Children
☐ Family
☐ Church or Soul Center
☐ Ministry team
☐ Workplace
☐ Mentor
☐ Friend
☐ Community
☐ No one else directly
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

2. Have mature believers confirmed this direction?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Some have
☐ I have not asked yet

Explain:

3. Have mature believers raised concerns?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

If yes, what concerns?

4. Do the people closest to you see spiritual fruit growing in this direction?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Mixed
☐ I need to ask

Explain:

5. What community confirmation or caution should you take seriously?

Part 9: Peace Test

Peace matters, but peace must be tested wisely.

1. Do you have peace about this direction?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Sometimes
☐ I am not sure

2. What kind of peace is it?

Check any that may apply:

☐ Settled trust in God
☐ Relief after prayer
☐ Relief from avoiding something hard
☐ Excitement
☐ Numbness
☐ Lack of conviction
☐ Calm after wise counsel
☐ I am not sure

3. Is this peace consistent with Scripture?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

4. Is this peace producing spiritual fruit?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

5. Does this peace lead toward faithful responsibility?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

Explain:

Part 10: “God Told Me” Language Check

Spiritual language should be used humbly.

1. Which statement best describes your current discernment?

Check one:

☐ “God has clearly commanded this in Scripture.”
☐ “I sense the Lord may be leading me, and I am testing it.”
☐ “I have a strong desire, but I need discernment.”
☐ “I feel pressure, but I am not sure it is from God.”
☐ “I am using spiritual language too quickly.”
☐ “I need counsel before speaking with certainty.”

2. What would be a humble way to describe this situation?

Example:

“I sense this may be from the Lord, but I am testing it through Scripture, prayer, counsel, timing, and fruit.”

My humble statement:

Part 11: Redemptive Discernment Summary

Complete the following statements.

Scripture says or suggests:

The fruit I see is:

The motive I need to surrender is:

The counsel I need is:

The timing question is:

The responsibility already clear is:

The community confirmation or caution is:

The next faithful step is:

Part 12: Final Decision Guide

Based on your discernment so far, which next step seems wisest?

Check one:

☐ Move forward with humility and accountability.
☐ Wait and continue testing.
☐ Seek more counsel.
☐ Repent or obey something already clear first.
☐ Repair a relationship before moving forward.
☐ Address a responsibility I have been avoiding.
☐ Slow down because the timing is not right.
☐ Take a small first step rather than a large leap.
☐ Stop because this direction does not align with Scripture, fruit, or wisdom.
☐ I am not sure yet.

Why?

Part 13: Final Prayer Exercise

Write a prayer of discernment.

Include:

Scripture
The Holy Spirit
Motives
Wise counsel
Timing
Responsibility
Community confirmation
The next faithful step

My Prayer:

Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, guide me into truth.

Open my heart to Scripture.

Search my motives.

Correct what is false.

Confirm what is from you.

Remove what is driven by fear, pride, anger, impulse, selfish desire, or confusion.

Grow the fruit of the Spirit in me.

Give me humility to receive correction.

Give me courage to obey what is clear.

Surround me with wise counsel.

Help me honor timing.

Help me fulfill the responsibilities already before me.

Let community confirmation strengthen what is true and caution me where I am blind.

Teach me to speak carefully when I say I am led by you.

Show me the next faithful step.

Amen.

पिछ्ला सुधार: शनिवार, 23 मई 2026, 6:51 AM