Staff Development Day · 2026
Logistics
Room assignments and schedule for the day
| Ministry Teams | Room |
|---|---|
| HIS – Daniel | 235 |
| Missions – Madison | 210 |
| Worship/Comms – Jud | 234 (The Den) |
| Facilities/Business Office – Richard | 208 |
| Groups – David | 215 |
| Students – Eric | 214 |
| Pre-school/Kids – Ivy | C221 |
| Development Teams | Rooms |
|---|---|
| Ivy | 235 |
| Richard | 234 (The Den) |
| David | 215 |
| Pierce | 208 |
| Jud | 214 |
| Daniel | C221 |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Session 1 (Room 1206) |
| 9:45 AM | Individual Prayer |
| 10:30 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM | Development Team |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch (Square) |
| 12:15 PM | Ministry Team |
| 1:15 PM | Session 2 (Room 1206) |
Development Team Guide · Listening Prayer
Sent to the Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1–14
Earlier today you spent time alone — slowing down, clearing out, and getting into a posture to hear. This time together is a continuation of that. We’re still listening. We’re still present. Now we’re doing it together, and we’re listening about something specific: being sent.
The primary way God speaks is through Scripture. What we’re about to do is enter a passage — not to study it, but to let it speak. We’ll read it, sit inside it, and pay attention to what surfaces. Trust what comes. Write it down.
Read the passage aloud — slowly. Have one reader or read in sections.
Read each prompt, scripture, and question below. After the question, pause 20–30 seconds. Give people room to stay in the moment before moving forward.
In your mind’s eye, you’ve been transported to this valley. It’s vast, parched, cracked. Bones everywhere — very dry bones. You’re standing in the middle of it.
“He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.”
Ezekiel 37:2
What are you thinking? How do you feel being here?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
As you look at the dry bones, you sense they represent something — or someone. A place of failure or confusion. A relationship that feels dead. A neighborhood, a workplace, a person who feels far from God.
If you could name it, what would it be?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
Think about your ‘one’ — the person God has already been placing in your mind. Or think about a specific place where you live, work, or spend time that feels spiritually dry.
See it clearly. Who or where comes to mind?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
While you’re standing there, God shows up. He asks you a question.
“He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?'”
Ezekiel 37:3
What does He look like? How does He greet you?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
He tells you to speak to the bones. He’s not asking you to fix anything — He’s asking you to say something. A word. His word, through your voice. The same God who spoke through Ezekiel, who speaks through Scripture, is commissioning you now.
“Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!'”
Ezekiel 37:4
What do you say?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
As you speak, something begins to happen. Rattling. Bones coming together. Tendons forming. Flesh covering. But there’s no breath yet — no life.
“There was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone… but there was no breath in them.”
Ezekiel 37:7–8
What are you feeling as you watch?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
God tells you to speak again — this time to call the breath. To invite the Spirit to bring what only He can bring. He’s not sending you alone. He’s sending you with Himself.
“Prophesy to the breath… ‘Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'”
Ezekiel 37:9
What do you say to call the breath?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
The Spirit comes. Breath enters. What was dead stands to life — a vast army rising in front of you.
“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.”
Ezekiel 37:10
What do you see? How does this connect to your ‘one’ or the place God is sending you?
— pause 20–30 seconds —
God says: I am sending you to speak life. I am sending you to places and people that look dead. I am sending you with my Spirit. Will you go? Will you speak? Will you believe I can bring life where there is only death?
“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live… I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.”
Ezekiel 37:14
What’s your response? Where and who will you go to?
— 2–3 minutes of silence —
Write down what you experienced — the dry bones you saw, your ‘one’ or place, what God called you to say, what happened when you spoke, and how you responded to being sent.
“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Ezekiel 37:10
Ministry Team Guide · End of Day Prayer
The Examen: Reviewing the Day
A structured prayer of review — walking back through your day with God
Leader note
Most of this session is silent and internal. Your job is to hold the space and ask the questions. The corporate closing will do the sending — your job here is to get people honest and ready.
One critical thing to establish before you begin: the Examen can easily drift into self-reflection if it isn’t framed carefully. The difference between reflection and prayer is direction — reflection looks inward, prayer looks toward God. Every question in this guide is meant to be asked of God, not just of yourself.
As you lead, remind your team: we’re not analyzing our day, we’re presenting it to God and asking him to show us what he sees.
Move slowly. The silence is doing the work. Don’t rush out of it.
Leader opens in prayer:
God, we’re still in the same conversation we started this morning. You’ve been present through all of it — the quiet, the Scripture, the valley, the bones. We want to walk back through this day with you now and see what you were doing. Give us honest eyes. Give us grateful hearts. We’re still listening.
Then frame it for the team — this part matters. Say it clearly:
The Examen is a way of praying back through your day with God — not evaluating yourself, but noticing him. Most of this will be silent. I’ll ask questions and give you space to sit with them.
Before every question, turn it toward God first. You might pray: God, show me. What do you want me to see here? Then wait. Let him answer before you do.
These are not journal prompts. They are prayers. Direct every question toward God before you answer it.
Leader says:
We start with gratitude. Before we look at anything hard, we notice what God gave us today. Not what you produced — what you received.
- God, was there a moment today — however small — where I felt genuinely present with you? Show me. Let me sit with that and give thanks.
- What did you give me today that I didn’t manufacture — a word, a thought, a feeling of clarity or peace? Help me receive it again right now.
- Is there a person today I’m grateful for — a conversation, a moment of connection? Bring them to mind. I want to thank you for them.
45–60 seconds of silence after each prompt
Leader closes movement with prayer.
Leader says:
Now we walk back through the day slowly with God. Ask him to show you what he sees.
- God, during my time in Scripture this morning — what word, image, or phrase did you give me? Where were you speaking most clearly?
- During the Ezekiel prayer time — who or what did you bring to mind when I stood in that valley? Is that person or place still with me now? Why?
- Was there a moment today that surprised me — something you brought to the surface I wasn’t expecting? What was it, and why did you bring it?
- Where did I feel most alive today — most connected to why I do what I do? God, what were you doing in that moment?
- Where did I feel most distant — from you, from the work, from the people I serve? What do you want me to know about that?
60–75 seconds of silence after each prompt
Leader closes movement with prayer.
Leader says:
This next part is just between you and God. Don’t share these out loud. Just sit with them and be real — with him, not just with yourself.
- God, was there a moment today where I felt you nudging me and I held back? What was it? Why did I hold back?
- Is there anything I heard today that I’m tempted to leave here — to not carry into this week? Be honest with God about why.
- Is there anything in my ministry right now that has become more about me than the people I serve? Just name it before him. Don’t explain it. Just name it.
60–75 seconds of silence after each prompt
Leader closes with a prayer of surrender.
Leader says:
Last movement. We’re not being sent yet — that happens when we gather as a full staff. But before we go there, ask God to make two things clear as you leave this room.
- God, what is the one thing you most want me to carry out of today? Not what I think I should say — what are you actually saying?
- What is one thing you’re asking me to do in response — this week, with my ministry, toward my one?
45–60 seconds of silence after each prompt
Leader closes with a prayer of commissioning.