Framing

• What seems to be the "heart of the matter" in this text?
• What is the heart of God in this scripture?
• What is the heart in those about whom the writer is writing?

Grounding

• What guiding principle(s) are revealed in this text?
• What values are being identified?
• What is the "why" behind or within this text?

Shedding

• What "letting go" in you might be implied or called for in this text?
• What part of your human nature blocks or gets in the way of living out the principle(s) or values in this text?

Rooting

• How were the biblical images and norms you identified in the text lived out within the faith community of the scripture?
• How are these same biblical images and norms being lived out in the stories of your life, the stories of your congregation or denomination?

Listening

• What is the Spirit saying to you in/through this text?
• What is God's yearning for you in this scripture?
• What inner promptings do you hear? Need to heed?

Exploring

• What paths or options seem to emerge from the principles you identified above?
• What creative ideas seem to fit the values that emerged in the texts?

Improving

• Who might help you in "improving" the paths or options? Choose a prayer partner to help you discern such improvements.

Weighing

• Which path seems to "fit" with you? Knowing who you are (your gifts, qualities, and characteristics), which option would best express the "principles/values" through you?
• How might you best "incarnate" this path so it is "good news" to you and others?

Resting

• Search your own heart so that the movement within your heart is centered upon God's yearning for you, your congregation, the church. Remember, God's yearnings for the church are shared vision, shared mission and values.