Common Decision-Making Practices
When it comes to decision-making, it is so easy for leaders to find themselves on one side of the spectrum or the other:
feelings or instinct ———————— rigorous cost analysis or risk analysis
On the one hand we might say we want to leave room for the Holy Spirit to lead us and on the other hand we cite references like Luke 14:28-32 about counting the cost. What I have so often found is that people at both sides of the spectrum are often more guided by personality or circumstances than by doctrine.
We need a better standard for making decisions because . . .
- Feelings can be unreliable.
- A rigid analysis can be stifling.
Decisions That Line Up with God & His Purposes
Let’s look at the passage referenced above, Luke 14:28-32, about counting the cost.
The verse before this passage: “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk. 14:27)
The verse after this passage: “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Lk.14:33)
These verses about counting the cost are in the context of fully following Christ … discerning what it will take to follow Him and then pursuing it to the abandonment of what stands in the way. Making decisions therefore needs to be about lining up with the Lord and His purposes, not our personalities or circumstances. Following are a number of articles to read about lining up with God:
A Better Way to Do Church Ministry?
It’s About Lining Up with God
Lining Up with God: What It Means, Why It Matters
Lining Up with God: How to Come into Alignment with God
Lining Up with God’s Purposes
In addition to the content on this page, the Steering the Church Toward God’s Purposes Leadership Guide gives some brief thoughts about how cost and risk analysis as well as our feelings or instincts fit into decision-making.
All Posts about Decision-Making:
- Making Decisions That Line Up
- Decision-Making Questions for Lining Up
- If You Find Yourself Making All the Decisions
- Pluses & Minuses of Getting Others Involved in Decision Making
- Who Makes the Final Decision?
- Stifled in Decision-Making?
- Rushed Decisions
- Delayed Decisions
- Derailed Decisions
- Retrofitted Decisions
- Decisions Reveal Faith in God’s Power?
- Decisions You Don’t Have to Be Ashamed to Make
- Decisions Examined at Foot of the Cross
- Making Decisions from a Place of Humility
- Making Wise Decisions
- Making Decisions Void of Legalism
- Foolish Not to Pray
- Wisdom & Discernment Needed
- Decisions from a Renewed Mind
- Equipped for Making Good Decisions
- The Spirit Helps Us Make the Right Decisions, the Right Way
- The Spirit Provides Guidance and Wisdom in Decision-Making
- Decisions Worthy of Bearing His Name
- Strongholds Affecting Decision-Making
- How to Demolish Strongholds So We Make the Best Decisions
- Protection for the Decision-Making Process
- Decisions Made from Our Raised Position