📝 Worksheet 12.4: My Christian Gratitude Discernment Ministry Role Plan

Course: Christian Gratitude Discernment Ministry
Topic 12: Applying Gratitude Discernment to Ministry Roles
Purpose: This worksheet helps leaders clarify how they will apply Christian Gratitude Discernment in their own ministry role, especially in chaplaincy, Life Coaching Ministry, Soul Center leadership, mentoring, teaching, and group facilitation. This follows the Topic 12 worksheet assignment in the course template.

Opening Thought

Christian Gratitude Discernment is not used the same way in every ministry role.

A chaplain may need to sit quietly and ask permission.

A Life Coaching Minister may use structured questions and next steps.

A teacher may explain the Grace-and-Truth Discernment Map clearly.

A Soul Center leader may guide a group with safety and participation.

A pastor may need to teach, comfort, correct, and refer wisely.

The faithful leader asks:

What is my role?

What has this person consented to?

What does this moment require?

Should I be non-directive, semi-directive, or directive?

What support or referral may be needed?

Part 1: My Ministry Role

Check the roles that apply to you now or may apply in the future.

☐ Chaplain
☐ Life Coaching Minister
☐ Soul Center leader
☐ Pastor
☐ Elder or deacon
☐ Small group leader
☐ Mentor
☐ Church volunteer
☐ Ministry team leader
☐ Recovery ministry leader
☐ Teacher or course facilitator
☐ Prayer minister
☐ Discipleship leader
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Describe your current or future ministry role.

Who are the people you are most likely to serve?

What kinds of burdens, questions, or spiritual needs may they bring?

Part 2: Role Clarity

Complete the sentences.

In my role, I am called to:

In my role, I am not called to:

My role gives me permission to:

My role does not give me permission to:

When I am unsure about my role, I should:

Part 3: Chaplain Consent-Based Role

Use this section if you serve or may serve in a chaplain-like role.

A chaplain uses Christian Gratitude Discernment with permission, presence, respect, and setting awareness.

Consent-Based Questions

Write three questions you could use before offering prayer, Scripture, advice, or gratitude reflection.

Example:

“Would prayer be welcome right now?”

Presence Before Prompting

Write one sentence you could say before asking any gratitude question.

Example:

“This sounds very heavy. We do not need to rush past that.”

My sentence:

Gentle Gratitude Discernment

Write one question that helps someone notice grace without pressure.

Example:

“Has there been even one small mercy in the middle of this?”

My question:

Chaplain Boundary

Write one boundary sentence you may need to remember.

Example:

“I should not assume the person wants spiritual reflection unless I ask permission.”

My boundary sentence:

Part 4: Life Coaching Minister Role

Use this section if you serve or may serve in coaching, mentoring, discipleship, or structured growth conversations.

A Life Coaching Minister may use Gratitude Discernment more intentionally because coaching often includes goals, growth, reflection, accountability, and next steps.

Coaching Questions

Write one question for each prompt.

Grace Noticed

“What grace are you noticing?”

My version:

Pain Named

“What pain needs to be named honestly?”

My version:

Story Examined

“What story are you living inside right now?”

My version:

Thought Renewed

“What thought may need renewal before God?”

My version:

Boundary Considered

“What boundary may be needed?”

My version:

Next Faithful Step

“What is one faithful step you will take this week?”

My version:

Part 5: Non-Directive, Semi-Directive, or Directive?

Read each description and write which approach is best: non-directive, semi-directive, or directive.

1. A grieving person says, “Please do not tell me to be thankful right now.”

Approach:

Why?

2. A coaching client says, “I want help building a daily gratitude practice.”

Approach:

Why?

3. A small group leader plans to make everyone answer all 15 prompts out loud.

Approach:

Why?

4. A hospital patient says, “Would you pray with me?”

Approach:

Why?

5. A course participant asks, “Can you explain the Grace-and-Truth Discernment Map?”

Approach:

Why?

6. A discouraged believer says, “I feel numb and do not know what I need.”

Approach:

Why?

7. A Life Coaching Ministry client asks for homework between sessions.

Approach:

Why?

8. A person discloses abuse, danger, self-harm, or a serious safety concern.

Approach:

What additional action may be needed?

Part 6: My Approach Tendencies

Some leaders naturally listen. Some naturally teach. Some naturally fix. Some naturally avoid hard moments.

Check any statement that may describe you.

☐ I tend to speak too quickly.
☐ I tend to avoid correction even when teaching is needed.
☐ I tend to give advice before asking enough questions.
☐ I tend to overuse worksheets or tools.
☐ I tend to stay vague when a next step is needed.
☐ I tend to become too directive when people are hurting.
☐ I tend to become too passive when someone needs guidance.
☐ I tend to forget referral and safety limits.
☐ I tend to assume people want prayer or Scripture without asking.
☐ I tend to handle sensitive moments carefully.

One tendency I need to watch is:

A healthier practice I want to develop is:

Part 7: Choosing the Right Approach

Use these discernment questions before offering Christian Gratitude Discernment.

What is my role here?

What has the person consented to?

What is the person’s condition right now?

☐ Stable
☐ Grieving
☐ Angry
☐ Numb
☐ Afraid
☐ Exhausted
☐ Confused
☐ In crisis
☐ In danger
☐ Seeking growth
☐ Ready for structure
☐ Needing teaching
☐ Other: ______________________________________

What does this person seem to need first?

☐ Presence
☐ Listening
☐ Prayer
☐ Scripture
☐ Reflection questions
☐ Teaching
☐ A worksheet
☐ A next step
☐ Referral
☐ Safety support
☐ Other: ______________________________________

What approach fits this moment?

☐ Non-directive
☐ Semi-directive
☐ Directive
☐ Referral or safety action first

Why?

Part 8: Grace-and-Truth Discernment Map Role Practice

Choose three prompts from the Grace-and-Truth Discernment Map that fit your ministry role.

☐ Grace Noticed
☐ Grace Missed
☐ Pain Named
☐ Lament Invited
☐ Thought Renewed
☐ Story Examined
☐ Embodied Reality Honored
☐ Relationship Discerned
☐ Boundary Considered
☐ Gift Received
☐ Sin Confessed
☐ Mercy Remembered
☐ Forgiveness Discerned
☐ Hope Held
☐ Next Faithful Step

My three selected prompts:

Why do these prompts fit my ministry role?

How could these prompts be misused in my role?

How can I use them safely and wisely?

Part 9: Consent-Based Ministry Language

Write ministry sentences you can use in real conversations.

Before prayer:

“Would it be okay if…”

Before Scripture:

“Would it be helpful if…”

Before a Gratitude Discernment question:

“Would you like to reflect on…”

When someone does not want spiritual conversation:

“Thank you for telling me…”

When someone feels pressured by gratitude:

“We do not need to force gratitude…”

When someone needs more care than your role can provide:

“This matters enough that…”

Part 10: Safety and Referral Boundaries

Christian Gratitude Discernment is not a replacement for emergency, medical, counseling, legal, pastoral, addiction recovery, abuse intervention, or crisis care.

Check any situation that requires referral, reporting, supervision, or additional support.

☐ Suicidal thoughts
☐ Self-harm
☐ Threats toward another person
☐ Abuse or domestic violence
☐ Child, elder, or vulnerable adult danger
☐ Addiction crisis
☐ Medical instability
☐ Severe depression or anxiety
☐ Psychosis or severe disorientation
☐ Legal danger
☐ Unsafe reconciliation pressure
☐ Trauma symptoms needing professional care
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Write the support contacts available in your setting.

Pastor or ministry supervisor:

Counseling referral option:

Medical support option:

Crisis or emergency support:

Domestic violence or abuse response resource:

Addiction recovery support:

Legal or safety resource:

Other trusted care resource:

Part 11: My Ministry Role Plan

Complete this plan.

My primary ministry role is:

In this role, I will usually use this approach:

☐ Non-directive
☐ Semi-directive
☐ Directive
☐ A combination depending on the moment

Explain:

The people I serve will most need:

☐ Presence
☐ Listening
☐ Encouragement
☐ Prayer
☐ Scripture
☐ Coaching questions
☐ Teaching
☐ Group facilitation
☐ Accountability
☐ Referral wisdom
☐ Safety awareness
☐ Other: ______________________________________

The biggest risk in my role is:

The most important boundary in my role is:

The phrase I want to remember is:

Part 12: Scripture Reflection

Read the following Scriptures.

“What do you want me to do for you?”
Mark 10:51, WEB

“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
Proverbs 20:5, WEB

“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him.”
2 Timothy 2:24–25a, WEB

Choose one Scripture.

Scripture chosen:

What does this Scripture teach about my ministry role?

How does this Scripture correct or strengthen my natural leadership style?

How can I apply this Scripture in Christian Gratitude Discernment?

Part 13: Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: Chaplain-Like Moment

A person says:

“I know I should be thankful, but I am scared and angry. Please do not give me a religious speech.”

Write a non-directive response.

What should you avoid saying?

What gentle question could you ask?

Scenario 2: Coaching Moment

A person says:

“I want to become less resentful and more grateful, but I need structure.”

Write a semi-directive response.

What practice could you assign?

What follow-up question could you ask next time?

Scenario 3: Teaching Moment

A group leader says:

“I want everyone in my group to answer all 15 prompts out loud so we can go deep.”

Write a directive teaching response.

What safer approach would you recommend?

What boundary should be included?

Part 14: Final Reflection

Complete these sentences.

In chaplaincy-like moments, I should remember:

In coaching-like moments, I should remember:

In teaching or training moments, I should remember:

The approach I most need to grow in is:

One faithful step I will take this week is:

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Teach me to serve according to my role.

Give me the tenderness to listen when someone needs presence.

Give me the wisdom to ask good questions when someone needs reflection.

Give me the courage to teach clearly when someone needs guidance.

Give me humility to know when something is beyond my role.

Keep me from pressure, pride, control, and careless words.

Help me offer Christian Gratitude Discernment with consent, safety, truth, grace, and resurrection hope.

Let the people I serve experience your kindness, not my need to fix them.

Amen.

Final Reflection

After completing this worksheet, write one paragraph describing how your ministry role should shape the way you use Christian Gratitude Discernment.

Simple Practice for This Week

Choose one ministry conversation this week.

Before speaking, silently ask:

What is my role here?

What has this person consented to?

What approach fits this moment: non-directive, semi-directive, or directive?

Then use one appropriate sentence:

Non-directive: “Would it help to talk about what feels heaviest right now?”

Semi-directive: “Would it be helpful to use three prompts: grace noticed, pain named, and next faithful step?”

Directive: “This week, practice writing one grace noticed each day.”

Afterward, write three sentences.

What approach did I use?

What went well?

What would I do differently next time?