Sometimes it feels like your people know all the right answers, but are having none of the right experiences. What can you do about that? Although you can’t force it, you can help reorient them to focus on the right things. If they get more intentional about becoming aware of God’s presence and love in their lives, they will naturally begin living out that reality by serving and making disciples.
The fact is, sometimes we feel a sense of God’s presence on an emotional level and sometimes we don’t. We know he is always there, regardless of how we feel. How can you help people connect to the love and presence of God even when he feels far away? The presence of God is necessary for all of us to continue living as active disciples of Jesus, serving others, building relationships, and sharing the gospel in natural ways.
How can you help your congregation experience the presence of God?
Helping your people tap into their awareness of God’s presence is especially important during times of trouble or when people have difficult journeys ahead of them. Those are the times they come to you for answers. And those are the times you can direct them back to the presence of God.
Sometimes we sense his love and presence in the big things—the major changes and challenges in our lives—and sometimes we sense his love and presence in the small things—a gentle breeze or the sun on our face. Our goal in increasing people’s awareness of God’s love and presence is not manufacturing emotion, but getting in touch with how God is already speaking and then recognizing his presence all around us.
6 Questions that Raise Awareness of God’s Presence
The right awareness begins with the right questions. Guide people in your congregation by considering questions like those below. They are best addressed within small groups or in intentional relationships like mentoring, coaching, or discipleship.
- When are you most aware of God’s presence and love?
- When are you least aware of God’s presence and love?
- Under what circumstances are you most likely to seek out his presence?
- How does God manifest his love for you?
- How might you be able to best grow in experiencing God’s presence and love?
- What changes might be beneficial to you?
Then continue that guidance by asking them to meditate on any of the numerous ways people have experienced God’s love and presence in scripture. The story of Elijah hearing God’s voice in the cave (1 Kings 19) while he’s at his lowest might be a good place to start.
Resources
Every person is different and we all reflect God in different ways. So why is our typical approach to discipleship the same across the board? The Discipleship Difference lays out an intentional, holistic, and relational approach to discipleship that is individualized to meet each person wherever they are.
Guide for Discipling covers the 8 areas that Jesus helped his own disciples to grow. There is room to choose the area that you feel God is asking you to lean into and offers you guidance in to help you determine your next steps toward Jesus. To learn more about the 8 areas of discipleship download the free Map of Discipleship.
Become a Christian Coach
Coaching is an effective tool for discipleship and ministry. By learning the basics you can come alongside people and help them identify key areas for growth, implement spiritual practices, discover their gifts and talents, and lean into the calling God has on their life. Christian Coaching Tools has 2 ways you can quickly learn the fundamentals
- Christian Coaching Essentials– this brand new book includes bonus materials to help you put what you learn into practice!
- The Christian Coaching Essentials Cohort- if you learn best an interactive learning environment this is for you. Learn more at christiancoachingtools.com.