BIG QUESTION #1

(re)Center Christ

How can we re-center every message, ministry, and mission on Jesus Christ?

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Jesus Speaks

“But what about you?... Who do you say I am?” — Matthew 16:15

Our Foundational Conviction

Every ministry problem is ultimately a Christ-centeredness problem before it is a strategy problem. Jesus Christ must continually remain—and, whenever necessary, be restored—to the center of every belief, every relationship, every decision, every ministry, and every mission.

Why “(re)Center”?

The lowercase “r” is intentional. Some people are discovering Jesus Christ at the center of their lives for the first time. Others are returning our Savior to the center after realizing something else has quietly taken His place. Throughout life and ministry we are continually invited to (re)Center Christ. This is the only Big Question that intentionally uses “(re)” because every other question grows out of this foundational decision.

Before We Examine Our Ministry...

Let’s begin with ourselves.

It is possible to believe in Jesus Christ, preach about Jesus Christ, lead a ministry in the name of Jesus Christ—and gradually allow other concerns to occupy the center of our attention.

Programs
Problems
People
Politics
Preferences
Performance
Even ministry itself.

So our first Big Question begins closer to home:

Before I ask whether Christ is at the center of my ministry, am I willing to ask whether Christ is truly at the center of me?

This is not an accusation. It is an invitation—to pause, listen, pray, examine, and allow the Holy Spirit through Scripture to reveal what—or Who—is actually shaping the way we think, live, lead, and serve.

✍ JOURNAL — What is occupying the center of my attention right now?

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Why Begin Here?

Because Jesus Christ is not merely one subject among many subjects we need to rethink.

He is the Center from which everything else must be reimagined.

How we understand the Gospel.
How we pray.
How we make disciples.
How we lead.
How we evangelize.
How we understand Church.
How we engage our communities.
How we pursue unity.
How we think about our future.

Before asking “What should we change?” ask:

Where is Christ in the way I am thinking about this?

✍ JOURNAL — Where might my assumptions, experience, preferences, or pressures be shaping my thinking more than Christ?

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Anchor Scripture — Who Christ Is

Read Colossians 1:15–20 slowly and prayerfully. Notice what the passage says about the supremacy of Jesus Christ: His relationship to creation, His Church, reconciliation, and the way all things hold together in Him.

Do not begin by looking for a ministry strategy. Begin by looking for Him.

✍ JOURNAL — What does Colossians 1:15–20 reveal to me about Jesus Christ?

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✍ JOURNAL — What does this passage expose or invite in me?

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Anchor Scripture — Christ in Everything

Now read Colossians 3:17. Let its comprehensive language confront the tendency to divide life into places where Christ is central and places where He is merely acknowledged.

Colossians 3:17 reads: "Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!"

Ask: What would it mean for everything I say and do to be consciously shaped by the Lord Jesus?

✍ JOURNAL — Where is Christ already unmistakably central in my life and leadership?

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✍ JOURNAL — Where do I need to (re)Center Him?

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READ — Look for Jesus Christ

Read Scripture first. Then read thoughtfully. Don’t hurry. Look for Jesus Christ. Notice what the Holy Spirit brings to your attention.

What does this reveal about Jesus Christ?
What does this reveal about my relationship with Jesus Christ?
What might change if Christ—not my assumptions, experience, preferences, or ministry pressures—truly occupied the center of my thinking?

A Personal (re)Center Christ Inventory

Don’t rush through these questions. You are not taking a test. You are inviting the Holy Spirit to examine you.

My Attention

What receives most of my attention right now? When I think about my life and ministry, what occupies my thoughts more often than Jesus Christ?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Identity

Is my identity rooted primarily in belonging to Christ—or in my roles, responsibilities, achievements, influence, reputation, or ministry?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Thinking

When I face a difficult question, where does my mind go first—to experience, tradition, experts, strategies, preferred theology, or instincts? Do I intentionally seek the mind of Christ through Scripture and prayer?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Leadership

Am I learning to lead like Jesus—or merely trying to lead effectively? Are His character, priorities, relationships, compassion, courage, humility, and dependence upon the Father shaping mine?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Relationships

Would the people closest to me recognize the character and presence of Christ in the way I listen, speak, disagree, forgive, encourage, and serve?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Ministry

Could I become so occupied doing things for Christ that I unintentionally lose sight of Christ Himself?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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My Future

Am I willing to follow our Lord Jesus wherever He leads—even when He challenges my assumptions, disrupts familiar patterns, or asks me to change?

✍ JOURNAL — My response

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Pray. NOW!

Pause. Become still before God. Welcome the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher. Ask the Father to renew your mind through His Word.

Lord Jesus, where have I allowed something—even something good—to compete with Your rightful place at the center?

Holy Spirit, what do You want me to see?

Listen before declaring.
Learn before defending.
Pray before deciding.

✍ JOURNAL — What am I sensing I need to keep listening for?

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INVITE • INVOKE • INQUIRE • INVOLVE

INVITE

Invite Jesus Christ to take His rightful place at the center—not ceremonially, not merely verbally, but intentionally.

✍ JOURNAL — Lord Jesus, where have I been leading, deciding, planning, speaking, or serving without consciously recognizing Your presence and leadership?

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INVOKE

Invoke His presence and authority. Jesus is not simply a source of inspiration for our plans. He is Lord. We are not asking Him merely to bless what we have already decided to do.

✍ JOURNAL — Jesus, what do You want?

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INQUIRE

Ask Christ-centered questions.

Before asking: What works?

Ask: What reflects Christ?

Before asking: What will attract people?

Ask: What will help people encounter and follow Christ?

Before asking: How do we preserve this ministry?

Ask: What is Christ calling us to become?

Before asking: What should we do next?

Ask: Lord Jesus, where are You leading?

✍ JOURNAL — Which Christ-centered question do I most need to ask right now?

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INVOLVE

Involve Jesus Christ in every dimension of life and ministry: every conversation, relationship, decision, meeting, plan, conflict, message, and mission.

ReCentering Christ is not merely adding more references to Jesus.

It is learning to recognize and respond to His presence, purposes, priorities,

and leadership in everything.

From Me to Ministry

We began by asking:

Is Christ truly at the center of me?

Only now are we prepared to ask:

Is Christ truly at the center of the ministry I lead and serve?

That question takes us from personal examination into ministry exploration.

✍ JOURNAL — What might become possible in our ministry if we begin with Christ at the center?

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HEED

What is Jesus Christ inviting me to believe... become... and live out?

Write down one response. Not ten. One.

✍ JOURNAL — My one response

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SEED

Who needs to join me in this conversation?

✍ JOURNAL — Name / person / team

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Every conversation becomes another opportunity to see a little more clearly.

PROCEED

Don’t stop with personal insight. Carry what you are discovering into the ministry you lead and serve.

✍ JOURNAL — My next faithful step

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✍ JOURNAL — When will I begin?

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Your Next Step

Explore the (re)Center Christ Ministry Hub.

>>>CLICK HERE

Now examine your messages, ministries, mission, leadership, relationships, structures, strategies, and plans through one foundational question:

Where is Jesus Christ in this?

Carry This With You

Jesus Christ is not merely one subject among many. He is the Center from which everything else must be reimagined.

Anchor Scriptures: Colossians 1:15–20 • Colossians 3:17

Jesus Speaks

Our Foundational Conviction

Why “(re)Center”?

Before We Examine Our Ministry...

Why Begin Here?

Anchor Scripture — Who Christ Is

Anchor Scripture — Christ in Everything

READ — Look for Jesus Christ

A Personal (re)Center Christ Inventory

My Attention

My Identity

My Thinking

My Leadership

My Relationships

My Ministry

My Future

Pray. NOW!

INVITE • INVOKE • INQUIRE • INVOLVE

INVITE

INVOKE

INQUIRE

INVOLVE

From Me to Ministry

HEED

SEED

PROCEED

Your Next Step

Carry This With You

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