This week as we value ‘Trust & Truth,’ we’re going to look at the word discernment.

Does anyone know what discernment/discerning means?

It’s a big fancy word but simply is a skill that helps us to wisely work out if something is true or not.

Discernment means spotting the truth beneath the surface. It is the ability to see what’s really true, not just what looks right on the surface. It’s a skill we grow with practice.

For example…

A friend tells you a story about someone at school that sounds shocking. Discernment is pausing to check if it’s true before sharing it, instead of spreading gossip.

Or

You read a post online that seems believable but could be misleading. Discernment is researching, asking questions, and deciding what is actually true before believing or sharing it.

In the Bible, Paul talks about this when he prays for the church,

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.^{Philippians 1:9-10}

Paul encourages us to grow in our knowledge and insight so we can help work out what is true and not true in this world. It is important for all of us to grow this skill. Take a look at these 5 examples of how you can show discernment:

1. Listening deeply
   Discernment begins with listening: to facts, to voices, to feelings, to conscience, and often to a still small voice of God. When we listen poorly, we risk misconstruing or ignoring truth.
2. Questioning bravely
   Sometimes truth is uncomfortable. Discernment often demands that we ask hard questions. This could be of ourselves, of what we believe, and of those around us. A trusting community encourages healthy questioning.
3. Humility
   We bring to decisions what we know. Including, our experience, our values, our faith - but we must be humble about blind spots. Recognising biases and listening to others helps us discern better.
4. Courageous speaking
   Once we discern something important, trust calls us to express it wisely and kindly, even when it’s hard. Truth without love can hurt; trust without truth can deceive.
5. Trusting in God’s guidance
   For those who follow Jesus, discernment is not only human reasoning - it’s guided by prayer, scripture, community. We trust that God desires truth and will guide us.

Pick one of the 5 skills above that speaks to you today, and share how you’ll live it out in your actions this week.

Let’s finish with a prayer,

Loving God, grant us ears to listen,
eyes to see, and hearts to receive truth.
As we strive to live with integrity,
help us discern wisely.
To trust in what is good, to question what misleads,
and to speak truth with love.
In moments of uncertainty, guide our steps.
In moments of fear, strengthen our courage.
May we build a community of trust and truth,
grounded in your faithfulness.
Amen.

*Image from Freepik