Topic 8 Worksheet

Practicing 15-Aspect Discernment in a Ministry Coaching Conversation

Course Title: Coaching Ministry Foundations
Topic 8: Life Coaching Conversation for Ministry
Presentation Title: The 5-Step Ministry Coaching Conversation
Reading Title: Seeing the Whole Person: Christian Philosophy 15-Aspects Discernment for Problems and Goals
Case Study Title: I Thought It Was Just a Job Problem

This worksheet helps students practice using the Christian Philosophy 15 aspects inside the five-step Ministry Coaching Conversation. Topic 8 emphasizes that a simple model brings confidence and consistency, helps the coach listen to where the person is, explores story and background, brings Scripture and Ministry Sciences insight, and closes with restoration prayer.

Part 1: Opening Scripture Reflection

Read the following passages from the World English Bible.

Genesis 3:9
“Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”

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

Psalm 23:3
“He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

James 1:5
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”

Reflection

1. What does God’s question, “Where are you?” teach you about beginning a coaching conversation?

2. Why should a Life Coach Minister draw out counsel instead of forcing quick advice?

3. What does Psalm 23:3 teach about the goal of ministry coaching?

4. Where do you need God’s wisdom as you learn to coach others?

Part 2: Understanding the Purpose of 15-Aspect Discernment

The Christian Philosophy 15 aspects help the Life Coach Minister see the whole person before God. Many coaching problems are not just emotional, spiritual, financial, relational, or practical. They are often connected to several areas of life at once.

A person may say:

“I need a new job.”
“My marriage is hard.”
“I feel stuck.”
“I do not know my calling.”
“I am angry all the time.”
“I want to grow spiritually, but I keep failing.”

The 15 aspects help the coach ask better questions without becoming the fixer, therapist, or controller.

Personal Reflection

1. When someone shares a problem, what do you usually notice first?

2. Do you tend to focus more on spiritual issues, emotional issues, practical issues, relational issues, or action steps?

3. Which area do you tend to overlook?

4. How could the 15 aspects help you slow down and listen more wisely?

Part 3: The Five-Step Ministry Coaching Conversation

Topic 8 teaches a five-step Ministry Coaching Conversation:

1. Welcome and Permission

2. Listen and Clarify

3. Discern Truth and Grace

4. Identify Faithful Action

5. Close with Prayer and Accountability

The Topic 8 transcript describes this as a sacred flow: Soul Map, Genogram, Scripture, Insight, and Prayer. The five-step conversation is not a rigid formula. It is a faithful pathway for Spirit-led ministry.

Practice Prompt

Write one sentence you could use in each stage.

1. Welcome and Permission
Example: “Would it be okay if I listen, ask some questions, and help you discern a faithful next step before God?”

My sentence:

2. Listen and Clarify
Example: “Where are you right now in your soul?”

My sentence:

3. Discern Truth and Grace
Example: “What truth do you need to face, and what grace do you need to receive?”

My sentence:

4. Identify Faithful Action
Example: “What is one faithful next step you can take this week?”

My sentence:

5. Close with Prayer and Accountability
Example: “Would you like to close by asking God for wisdom and strength for this step?”

My sentence:

Part 4: Case Study Reflection

Review the case study “I Thought It Was Just a Job Problem.”

Luis thought his problem was only his job. As Priscilla listened, she discovered that his work disappointment was connected to anger, shame, family history, marriage communication, fatherhood, identity, faith, and practical decision-making.

Reflection Questions

1. What did Luis believe the problem was at first?

2. What deeper issues did Priscilla begin to hear?

3. What did Luis’ anger reveal about his soul?

4. Why was it important for Priscilla not to immediately tell Luis to quit or stay at his job?

5. What did Luis need to say to his wife?

6. What did Luis need to believe about God?

7. What faithful next steps did Luis choose?

Part 5: 15-Aspect Discernment Practice

Use the chart below to reflect on Luis’ situation.

Part 6: Guided 15-Aspect Questions

Use these questions as a ministry coaching practice tool. Do not ask all of them in one conversation. Choose the ones that fit the person and situation.

Quantitative Aspect

How often does this happen?
How long has this been going on?
How much time, money, energy, or attention is involved?

Spatial Aspect

Where does this problem usually happen?
Where do you feel most stuck?
What places help you feel more peaceful or focused?

Kinematic Aspect

What pattern keeps repeating?
Where do you feel movement, and where do you feel stuck?
What rhythm needs to change?

Physical Aspect

How are sleep, health, fatigue, work conditions, or physical stress involved?
What is your body telling you?
What physical habit may need attention?

Biotic Aspect

How is this connected to your stage of life, family responsibilities, aging, parenting, or bodily limitations?
What life-giving practice may help?
What are you trying to carry that may be too much for this season?

Sensitive Aspect

What emotions are strongest right now?
What hurts the most?
What fear, grief, anger, regret, or desire is beneath the surface?

Analytical Aspect

What are you believing about yourself, God, or others?
What conclusion have you drawn from this situation?
Is there a lie or distorted belief that needs to be challenged?

Formative Aspect

What skill, habit, discipline, or practice is needed?
What have you learned from past experiences?
What ability is God inviting you to develop?

Lingual Aspect

What needs to be said?
What words have you been using to describe yourself?
Is there a conversation, confession, apology, or written plan that needs to happen?

Social Aspect

Who else is involved?
How are relationships being affected?
Who could support you wisely?

Economic Aspect

How are time, money, energy, priorities, or stewardship involved?
What resource needs to be managed more wisely?
What is being wasted, protected, or invested?

Aesthetic Aspect

Where is there disorder, imbalance, or lack of harmony?
What would a more peaceful pattern look like?
What rhythm would bring better fittingness to your life?

Juridical Aspect

What is fair, unfair, responsible, or irresponsible here?
What boundary is needed?
What promise, duty, or obligation matters?

Ethical Aspect

What would love require?
Where is forgiveness, patience, courage, sacrifice, or compassion needed?
How can you act in love without enabling what is wrong?

Faith Aspect

What are you trusting right now?
What are you afraid to surrender to God?
What promise of God do you need to remember?

Part 7: Truth, Grace, and Action

Use the 15 aspects to discern Truth, Grace, and Action.

Truth

What reality needs to be named honestly?

What distorted belief may need to be challenged?

What responsibility belongs to the person being coached?

Grace

Where does this person need to receive God’s mercy?

What does this person need to remember about their identity in Christ?

What Scripture might speak grace into this situation?

Action

What is one faithful next step?

When will this step be taken?

Who should support or know about this step?

Part 8: Create a 15-Aspect Coaching Map

Choose one real or imaginary ministry coaching situation.

Presenting Problem:

Person’s Name:

What they say the problem is:

What may be underneath the problem:

Now identify the five most important aspects involved.

Summary

What is the main issue beneath the presenting issue?

What truth needs to be named?

What grace needs to be received?

What action needs to be taken?

Part 9: Boundary Discernment

A Life Coach Minister is not the fixer, therapist, attorney, doctor, financial advisor, or Holy Spirit. The 15 aspects can help the coach notice when referral or outside help may be needed.

Check any areas that may require referral or additional support.

[ ] Medical or physical health concern
[ ] Severe depression or anxiety
[ ] Suicidal thoughts or self-harm risk
[ ] Abuse, danger, or safety concern
[ ] Addiction or destructive dependency
[ ] Legal issue
[ ] Financial crisis requiring professional advice
[ ] Marriage crisis requiring counseling
[ ] Trauma or deep unresolved grief
[ ] Spiritual oppression needing pastoral support and prayer team care
[ ] Other: ___________________________________________

Reflection

1. What should the Life Coach Minister not try to diagnose, control, or fix?

2. What kind of referral might be wise?

3. How can the coach continue to offer spiritual encouragement while respecting limits?

Part 10: Practice Conversation

Use this scenario.

Scenario:
Maya says, “I feel like I am failing at everything. My house is messy, my kids are stressed, my husband says I am distant, and I cannot seem to pray. I know I should be grateful, but I feel numb.”

Step 1: Welcome and Permission

Write what you would say:

Step 2: Listen and Clarify

Write three questions you could ask:

Step 3: 15-Aspect Discernment

Which aspects may be involved? Check all that apply.

[ ] Quantitative
[ ] Spatial
[ ] Kinematic
[ ] Physical
[ ] Biotic
[ ] Sensitive
[ ] Analytical
[ ] Formative
[ ] Lingual
[ ] Social
[ ] Economic
[ ] Aesthetic
[ ] Juridical
[ ] Ethical
[ ] Faith

Choose the top three aspects you would explore first:

Step 4: Truth, Grace, and Action

Truth:

Grace:

Action:

Step 5: Prayer and Accountability

Write a short closing prayer:

Write one accountability question:

Part 11: Ministry Sciences Reflection

Ministry Sciences helps the Life Coach Minister connect biblical truth, human design, spiritual discernment, relational presence, and practical ministry skill. The Topic 8 transcript emphasizes that coaching ministry draws from Scripture, theology, ministry insight, and prayer, rather than separating “religion” from real life.

Reflection Questions

1. How does 15-aspect discernment help you see the whole person?

2. How does it protect you from giving shallow advice?

3. How does it connect theology to real life?

4. How does it help you avoid becoming the fixer?

5. How can it help a person move from confusion to faithful action?

Part 12: My Personal Growth as a Life Coach Minister

Answer honestly.

1. Which aspect do I most naturally notice?

2. Which aspect do I most often miss?

3. What kind of problems make me want to fix too quickly?

4. What question can help me slow down?

5. What Scripture can remind me that God is the true restorer of souls?

6. What is one way I will practice 15-aspect discernment this week?

Closing Prayer

Lord, teach me to see people as whole persons before You. Help me listen beneath the surface, ask wise questions, notice what matters, and bring Scripture with humility and permission. Keep me from trying to fix what only You can restore. Guide me to serve with truth, grace, wisdom, boundaries, and love. Amen.