Discerning Leadership
Where Spiritual Discernment Meets Church Leadership and Financial Clarity.
Discerning Leadership
Where Spiritual Discernment Meets Church Leadership and Financial Clarity
Welcome to Discerning Leadership Insights, a resource from the Church Training Center where we gather wisdom at the intersection of Spirit-led discernment, practical leadership, and faithful financial stewardship.
Here, church leaders find clarity, courage, and community as we explore real stories, reflective questions, and grounded practices that help transform leadership from decision-making into discernment.
Each reflection is an invitation—to pause, to listen, and to rediscover leadership as a spiritual journey of alignment, trust, and faithful response.
Crossing the Threshold: What Fear Tries to keep Us From Becoming
“Fear is the great illusionist. It looks larger than it is. It whispers lies about your worth, your strength, and your future. Fear is only an obstacle until you walk toward it—then it becomes the path.”
Those words, shared by my friend Tony Merola, stirred something deep in me.
In leadership and in life, fear often shows up right where vision is being born. It dresses up as logic, whispers as prudence, and tells us to turn back just when the Spirit is calling us forward.
But what if fear is not the barrier, but the threshold?
What if it’s the signpost that you’re standing on holy ground—invited to step where your eyes cannot yet see, trusting that the Spirit meets you there?
Discerning the Spirit in an Age of Outrage
In an age when every headline demands our outrage, discernment invites us to pause.
To breathe.
To ask not, “What should I say?” but “Is this mine to carry?”
The Spirit still speaks—not through the noise, but through the whisper that rises when we choose presence over reaction.
This is the discipline of our time: to be formed not by the feed, but by the Spirit.
The Mercy of Being Cast Out: Discernment at the Edge of Eden
At the edge of Eden, God’s sentence trails off—and the way of discernment begins. This is not exile as punishment, but exile as protection. A Spirit-led life begins where comfort ends.
How the Myth of Speed Is Silencing Your Church’s Discernment
“Many church leaders believe fast decisions prove effectiveness, and reaching an outcome means success. But in God’s economy, true effectiveness is measured by our willingness to listen and respond in faithfulness. This article explores how the pace of leadership—and our discomfort with silence—can keep us from hearing the Spirit’s gentle whisper, and offers practices to help leaders slow down and listen together.”
Budgeting with Integrity: A Spiritual Guide for Church Treasurers
“Church budgets are not just spreadsheets—they are stories of faith, trust, and hope made visible. Discover three ways to make your budgeting process a Spirit-led journey toward integrity and mission alignment.”
Discernment in the Boardroom: Spiritual Practices for Effective Decision Making
What if every board meeting began with more than an agenda—what if it began with an invitation to discernment? At Church Training Center, we believe decision making is more than just business; it’s a sacred practice. Discover three practical ways to foster Spirit-led discernment in your next meeting and help your board move from routine debate to faithful, courageous leadership.