Lesson Objective:
To help pastors understand the Numinous Element as the church’s collective experience of being led by God. This lesson equips leaders to intentionally cultivate environments where people encounter the presence of God through worship, prayer, creativity, and Spirit-led moments.
Introduction: The Need for the Numinous
Opening Thought:
“Church is not just a place we gather to talk about God—it’s where we meet with Him.”
Prompt for Reflection:
“Can you remember a moment when your church service felt truly led by the Spirit—not just planned, but filled with the sense that God was there?”
Key Scripture:
“The Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” – Genesis 28:16
“Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20
What Is the Numinous Element?
Definition:
The Numinous Element is the felt experience of God’s presence, power, and leadership within the church—especially in corporate worship, prayer, and leadership environments.
Why It Matters:
- It builds reverence and awe.
- It changes hearts beyond human words.
- It anchors the church in spiritual dependence.
- It reminds us: This is God’s church.
Key Expressions of the Numinous Element
Let’s walk through the most common and powerful environments where the Numinous is cultivated in the local church:
1. Worship Services
- Music – Not performance, but invitation.
- “Are we creating space for people to meet God, or just filling time?”
- A/V Ministry – Enhancing the message without becoming the message.
- Teaching – Spirit-led, biblically grounded, personally surrendered preaching.
- Guest Experience – First-time visitors often feel the spiritual tone as well as hospitality immediately.
- Key Focus: “Is our service designed for encounter, not just execution?”
2. Times of Corporate Prayer
“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” – Mark 11:17
- Prayer nights, pre-service prayer, prayer teams, and fasting rhythms.
- These are not optional extras—they are the lifeblood of spiritual vitality.
- Guiding Question: “Are we giving prayer a prominent place in the culture of our church?”
3. Encounter Events
- Encounter Weekends, Retreats, Prayer Rooms
- Times of extended worship, solitude, confession, inner healing.
- These create space for deeper moments that don’t always fit the Sunday format.
- Guiding Question: “Do we give people room to wrestle with God and hear from Him?”
4. Creative Expression
“Bezalel… was filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills…” – Exodus 31:1–5
- Art, dance, visual storytelling, spoken word, design, and more can carry the message of God’s glory in powerful ways.
- Creativity isn’t decoration—it’s revelation.
5. Leadership Discernment Moments
- Times in meetings, retreats, or conversations where you stop to ask:
- “What is the Spirit saying?”
- These moments often shape vision, redirect plans, and reveal hidden wisdom.
- Healthy Practice: Include Spirit-led pauses and prayer even in boardroom settings.
6. Signs and Wonders
- Healing, deliverance, prophetic words, and other moments of supernatural ministry.
- Caution & Call: We don’t chase manifestations—but we must not ignore them.
- Guiding Question: “Do we make room for God to move in ways we can’t control?”
Evaluation Activity: Cultivating the Numinous
Personal Reflection Exercise:
- Rank 1–5: “How evident is the Numinous in the following areas of our church?”
- Worship Services
- Prayer Culture
- Teaching
- Creativity
- Special Events
- Supernatural Ministry
- Leadership Discernment
Questions:
- Where is the Numinous strong in your church?
- Where have you drifted into routine and lost expectancy?
- What might it look like to reawaken a sense of God’s presence?
Application: Becoming a Presence-Centered Church
Challenge:
“Pick one area where you can make space for God to move more freely.”
- Add prayer moments into your staff meetings.
- Create response time after sermons.
- Schedule an encounter weekend or a worship & prayer night.
Prayer to Close:
“Holy Spirit, lead us. May we never run a church that doesn’t need You.”