An Exploration of Spirit-Led Listening

Discerning the Missional Implications of Theological Pneumatology

“According to the theology of misión integral,¹ biblical mission must include both proclamation and demonstration of the good news of the Reign of God through Christian teaching, prescience, and social engagement for transformation.”²

- Robert Chao Romero

The Missio Dei, or mission of God, is God's character to reconcile and renew humanity's connection with Him, fostering a harmonious relationship. Faith communities worldwide carry the mission of God, requiring discernment through Theological Pneumatologies and Spirit-led Listening for practical engagement. The Reimagining Church Project explores why the Churches of Christ need innovative faith communities in North America and the theological foundation behind them. As change agents guided by the Spirit, innovative faith communities shine as beacons of hope, attracting and nurturing spiritually stagnant individuals. Through active Spirit-led listening participation, Churches of Christ will embark on a spiritual pilgrimage of revitalization. Engaging in Spirit-led listening aligns with Jesus' metaphor of the Holy Spirit as wind or breath (John 3:8), bringing a fresh perspective and renewed purpose. The transformative nature of the Holy Spirit permeates creation, as seen in the mission of God through listening.

The Holy Spirit: The Theological Foundation

Insights from biblical examples and missiological analysis emphasize the significance of Spirit-led listening in forming innovative faith communities.³ Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus reveals the Holy Spirit’s ability to revive spiritually lifeless people. Embracing Spirit-led listening, the Churches of Christ connect with the life-giving divine presence, establishing new and innovative faith communities. The Holy Spirit infuses fresh vitality, motivating them to explore uncharted realms of faith. Through Spirit-led listening, the Churches of Christ are liberated from stagnant traditions and embrace the Spirit's vocation to create transformative environments in worship, fellowship, and ministries. As change catalysts fueled by the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and vitality, these communities become beacons of hope, nurturing those who have lost spiritual fervor. The Bible stresses collective discernment and Christian community involvement in understanding God's intentions. Early church decisions were reached through prayer, communal discussion, and Holy Spirit guidance (Acts 15:22). Attentive listening guided by the Holy Spirit is most effective in a united and accountable community that recognizes the diverse gifts of its members.⁴

The Bible stresses the importance of the Holy Spirit in guiding innovative faith communities. Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit’s aid and guidance (John 14:16-17, 26). In the Missio Dei context, the Holy Spirit reveals God's will, convicts hearts, assigns visionary actions, and directs tasks. Discernment and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in decision-making are crucial, as urged by the apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:18, Romans 12:2). When exploring missional implications, innovative faith communities should rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, Scripture meditation, and seeking wisdom from other creative faith communities.⁵

The Old Testament records the Holy Spirit inspiring and empowering individuals for various tasks. For example, in the book of Exodus, the Spirit empowered Bezalel to be skilled in craftsmanship to construct the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2-5). The Spirit also came upon various prophets and leaders, such as Moses (Numbers 11:17), Joshua (Numbers 27:18), and others, enabling them to carry out their roles. All these are participants in the mission of God.⁶

The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit grants spiritual gifts to innovative faith communities, strengthening the Church and advancing God's kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). By utilizing these gifts, communities discern the missional significance of theological pneumatology, heeding the promptings of the Holy Spirit. s. Examples show the Holy Spirit guiding missionaries (Acts 13:2-4, Acts 15:28), and Paul's theology offers valuable perspectives on pneumatology (Acts 16:6-10, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13).⁷ The Holy Spirit led Paul, granting spiritual discernment (Acts 16:6-10, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Churches of Christ's Spirit-guided discernment brings revival and progress. Embracing Spirit-led listening unlocks transformative essence, initiating innovative faith communities. HS revitalizes spiritually dormant individuals (John 3).⁸

Spirit-led listening revitalizes as the Holy Spirit instills wisdom, motivating the Churches of Christ to explore uncharted faith practices. Embracing Spirit-led listening breaks free from stagnant traditions, creating transformative spaces for worship, fellowship, and ministry. For example, the Holy Spirit profoundly shapes Hispanic Christian spirituality.⁹ The Spirit’s pivotal role as God's love embodiment influences spirituality, fostering connections, empowering transformative endeavors, and building community.¹⁰ The Spirit, an ever-present divine agent, inspires holistic spirituality amid unique trials. Transformative presence grants healing, reconciliation, and justice, igniting significant transformation.¹¹

Exploring Spirit-led Listening Among Churches of Christ Ministry Practitioners

Spirit-led listening intersects Christian spirituality, emphasizing humility, attentiveness, and obedience. Theological pneumatology aids the Churches of Christ in navigating challenges and fulfill the gospel mission.¹² Theological pneumatology values Spirit-led listening for insight, wisdom, and understanding in discipleship, church planting, and evangelism in pursuing discernment (1 Corinthians 2:12). Mission scholars explore the implications of the Spirit on the church's mission, empowering and guiding missionaries in God's labor. Theological pneumatology discerns the Spirit’s nature and work in vibrant faith communities, recognizing the Spirit's profound influence. Theological pneumatology also emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in fostering unity among diverse peoples, which is critical for innovative faith communities' mission. Missiologists stress intense dependence on the Holy Spirit for guidance, gifts, and empowerment in mission work.¹³ The Holy Spirit enables bold gospel proclamation and active engagement in God's mission. 

The mission is a profound participation in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. Embracing this ongoing work of the Holy Spirit fosters humility, cooperation, and dependence on the Spirit’s leadership. The mission of God goes beyond cultural barriers, empowering innovative faith communities for transformative tasks—for example, language and rites. Through the Spirit, reconciliation and unity embody God's Kingdom as described in Revelation 5. Missiologists value the Holy Spirit in church renewal, and theological pneumatology emphasizes the ongoing transformation of individuals, communities, and societies.¹⁴ The church engages in the mission of God, infusing new life through the Spirit's guidance and pursuit of spiritual dynamism.¹⁵ Theological pneumatology sees supernatural dimensions in the mission of God. Missiologists value divine intervention and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the mission. Signs, wonders, and miracles authenticate the gospel, drawing people to God. They actively pursue the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in their projects instead of budgets, plans, or business-like issues.

Missional Engagement in Faith Communities

Embracing Spirit-led listening empowers the Churches of Christ in missional endeavors, maintaining the Restoration Movement. Attentive Spirit engagement reveals God's intentions and roles contextually. Spirit-guided discernment recognizes redemptive opportunities and responds faithfully to the divine call.¹⁶ To participate in Spirit-led listening, individuals must be sensitive to God's voice and remain open to how the HS may operate within and through missionaries, communities, and circumstances. It entails cultivating an attitude of humility, attentiveness, and obedience, acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is the primary driving presence in the mission, and the Churches of Christ's task is to cooperate and align themselves with God's intent. Solidarity takes shape through the mutuality of the community.

Experiencing Spirit-led listening enhances the comprehension of God's intentions, as it uncovers His desires, establishes a connection with His heart, shapes their principles, empowers them for their purpose, and provides continual guidance and direction. Most Churches of Christ are driven by the number of baptisms or attendance to a building. This transformative practice will align missionaries in the Churches of Christ with God's strategies and enable them to engage wholeheartedly in His mission of redemption. Spirit-led listening intersects with various dimensions of Christian spirituality and faith. It encompasses the connection with God through solitude, communion, social justice, and the study of Scripture. The discernment and decision-making process, the spiritual growth and transformation journey, and the Churches of Christ's involvement in mission and outreach can bring about profound change. This can be accomplished by influencing their beliefs, actions, and character, enabling them to walk in harmony with God's goals and truly experience the abundant life found in Christ.

By consistently engaging in Spirit-led listening practices and fostering an attitude of openness and receptivity, missionaries in the Churches of Christ can significantly enhance their missional engagement and align themselves more closely with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This ongoing and intentional process requires surrender and a deepening relationship with God and others in vulnerability. They, missionaries, can discern their distinct role in the missional narrative by intentionally and actively engaging with the Holy Spirit contextually. This process entails following the guidance of Spirit-led listening in the community with others, seeking clarity and affirmation with the fruits produced, understanding God's timing, and relying on His empowerment as He did in the New Testament narrative. It is a continuous and dynamic formation that necessitates openness, humility, and surrender to the Spirit's guidance. This allows missionaries to discover and embrace their distinct contributions to God's redemptive work and reconciliation without being professional missionaries.¹⁷

When the Churches of Christ align with God's mission, enhancing missional engagement, Spirit-guided discernment brings purpose, effectiveness, and passion. This discernment empowers missionaries with redemptive opportunities, spiritual gifts, and boldness, bringing hope and transformation. Effectively navigating Spirit-led listening requires humility, spiritual disciplines, seeking guidance, and staying receptive. Deepening intimacy with God enhances discernment. Responding faithfully involves embracing God's invitation to the unknown. Spirit-led listening facilitates the mission of God's response, confirming God's will and empowering missionaries. The Spirit's presence aligns the Churches of Christ with God's purposes and unique call. The theological foundation of Spirit-let listening revitalizes faith communities, guiding innovative and transformative engagement. It reveals God's heart, discerns personal calling, connects to the global Church, empowers mission, and aligns with kingdom values. Missionaries participate in God's redemptive work, advancing His kingdom. The Churches of Christ's direct response unlocks a deeper understanding of their role in God's mission. Seeking the Spirit's guidance reveals their role in God's work.¹⁸

Conclusion

Theological pneumatology in the mission of God lays a profound foundation for the Churches of Christ, fostering discernment through Spirit-led listening. This guidance from the Holy Spirit ensures that actions are in harmony with God's redemptive plans, underscoring its importance for missionaries. The framework of Spirit-led listening offers invaluable insights into missional implications and fosters a vibrant community rooted in the restoration movement, proclaiming the Gospel faithfully. The central inquiry of the Reimagining Church Project is why Churches of Christ need to set up innovative faith communities in North America. To be innovative is to go with the direction the Wind (Holy Spirit) leads. This fact leads to two questions: What is the theological foundation for initiating creative faith communities? This theological foundation is the Missio Dei as the characteristic of God in action in the world, not a strategy that follows business models. So, how do ministry practitioners incorporate theology when establishing innovative faith communities? By creating spaces of Spirit-led listening. These spaces should be fluid and mobilizing as the contextual needs appear. These spaces are not classrooms, nor is it a pedagogical curriculum. Instead, it is the revelation of God’s heart embodied in each individual while listening to each other in clarity and accountability.

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Dr. Omar Palafox (@pthemexx) is a dedicated academic and practitioner in  Intercultural Studies. Currently serving as the Funding Director of Comunidad Hispana C3 (@ComHis3) in Abilene, he brings knowledge and experience to his role, holding a DIS in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MDiv in Missions from ACU, an M.S. in Bible Doctrinal Studies, and a B.S. in Bible from LCU. His expertise extends beyond the U.S., actively teaching in various Spanish-Online schools, including Red de Institutos Bíblicos (RIB) and Texas International Bible Institute (TIBI). With a passion for spreading the teachings of the Churches of Christ, he also serves as a bilingual missionary and church planter. Engaging with a broad network of professionals, he is an esteemed member of organizations such as the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS), the American Society of Missiology (ASM), Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana (FTL), the Network of Theological Entities (RedET), the Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH). In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Palafox has made significant contributions as a consultant for the Mission Resource Network (MRN) in Latin America and Ashrei Spiritual Formation in Mexico City. His research findings and insights have been published in numerous articles and book chapters, covering diverse topics such as spirituality, the mission of the church, and the interdependence of missionaries in Latin America and the U.S.

1. René Padilla (1932-2021), a Latino figure in the Evangelical Church, proposed the concept of Misión Integral or Integral Mission. This term encapsulates his theology that combined evangelism with social responsibility. In contrast to a division between spiritual and physical, Padilla emphasized that the gospel's mandate includes spiritual salvation and practical care for the poor, disenfranchised, and marginalized. The Church's mission extends beyond personal salvation to encompass societal transformation, addressing social justice, economic inequality, and environmental stewardship. Integral Mission has influenced holistic approaches to mission within global Christianity, particularly in the Majority World. See René C. Padilla, Mission Between the Times: Essays on the Kingdom (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs), 2010. 

2. Robert Chao Romero, Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2020), 169.

3. Shawn B. Redford, Missiological Hermeneutics: Biblical Interpretation for the Global Church (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2012).

4. Daniel McGinnis, Missional Acts: Rhetorical Narrative in the Acts of the Apostles (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2022).

5. Susan Hope, Mission-Shaped Spirituality: The Transforming Power of Mission (London, UK: Church House), 2007.

6. Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative, reprint ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2018).

7. Eldin Villafañe, The Liberating Spirit: Toward an Hispanic American Pentecostal Social Ethic (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2021).

8. Anna Ruddick, Reimagining Mission from Urban Places: Missional Pastoral Care. London: SCM Press, 2020).

9. William Dyrness and Oscar García-Johnson, Theology Without Borders: An Introduction to Global Conversations (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015).

10. Nina Kurlberg and Madleina Daenhadrt, Theologies and Practices of Inclusion: Insights From a Faith-Based Relief, Development and Advocacy Organization (London: SCM Press, 2021).

11. Romero, Brown Church, 175.

12. David J. Bosch, William R. Burrows, Darrell L. Guder, and Martin Reppenhagen, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, 20th Anniversary ed. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2011).

13. J. Kevin Livingston, A Missiology of the Road: Early Perspectives in David Bosch’s Theology of Mission and Evangelism, 1st ed. (The Lutterworth Press, 2013).

14. Matthias Wenk, (2002). “The Holy Spirit as Transforming Power Within a Society: Pneumatological Spirituality and Its Political/Social Relevance for Western Europe,” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 11: 130-142.

15. Jody B. Fleming, Wesleyan Pneumatology, Pentecostal Mission, and the Missio Dei: Renewing the Spark of the Spirit through a Latin American Case Study (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2021).

16. Wonsuk Ma and Brian Woolnough, eds., Holistic Mission: God’s Plan for God’s People (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2010).

17. Warrick Farah, ed., Motus Dei: The Movement of God to Disciple the Nations (Littleton, CO: William Carey Library, 2021).

18. Adam Dodds, The Mission of the Triune God: Trinitarian Missiology in the Tradition of Lesslie Newbigin (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2017).