Roles & Goals
The start of a new season is a great opportunity for reflection and realignment around God’s leadership in each of our lives. In every season, we have an invitation to seek God’s heart, catch His vision and to pursue that intentionally.
Roles & Goals is an exercise Jimmy Seibert’s family (Founder of the Antioch Movement) has done for years at the beginning of each season/year. As their kids grew, they helped them do this exercise, and now years later, they can look back and see all the things they learned personally, as a family, and the way God has led them through this simple exercise.
The Scripture is full of testimonies and promise of God’s good, wise and loving leadership for His people.
As we get started let’s review them:
God leads us
Proverbs 3:5-8 (MSG) — “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!”
Psalm 23:1-3 — “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”
Romans 12:1-2 — “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Our intentional response
Ephesians 5:15-17 — “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Psalms 90:12 — “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3 — “…Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
God’s committed response
Jeremiah 29:11-13 — “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
With those Scriptures as a backdrop, we want to encourage you to set aside time to seek the Lord and discern His heart through prayer, listening, and responding. As you do, we trust that you’ll be overwhelmed by His love and grace to lead you and walk with you into all that He has for you! We re excited to see all that God has in store for you in the year ahead!
We experience God’s leadership in our lives through His Word, His Voice, and our community.
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31-32
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” — Proverbs 11:14
Reflection time: Take time to review how God has spoken to you this past year and then ask Him to speak to you specifically for this year: write down those key Scriptures and phrases that He gives you to lead you.
Roles
We each have specific and unique roles that we need God’s wisdom and leadership in for each season of our lives. In this portion of our Roles and Goals exercise, take time to identify the various roles you have (child of God, husband/wife, father/mother, son/daughter, brother/sister, church member, professional vocation, student etc.) and one key Scripture and/or a key phrase about that role that you want to keep before you this year.
Here is an example:
Role 1: I am a Child of God
Romans 8:14-15 — “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God...”
Role 2: I am a husband
Ephesians 5:25 — “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her”
Role 3: I am a father
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 — “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Role 4: I am a pastor and leader
1 Peter 5:1-5 — “Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
Role 5: I am a friend and neighbor
Mark 12:28-31 — “One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Role 6: I am a member of the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:27 — “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”
Goals
After reflecting on the words God has given you for the year ahead and His leadership in your various roles, prayerfully consider goals or guidance the Lord has for you to pursue in the season ahead.
Consider these areas:
Spiritually: (Devotional time or a specific tool/resource, growing in one of the spiritual disciplines, etc. (1 Timothy 4:8))
1.
2.
Mentally (Books/podcasts, mindset like gratitude, life skill to learn like riding a bike or playing guitar, etc. (Romans 12:2))
1.
2.
Physically (Healthy exercise, eating, sleeping, etc. (1 Corinthians 10:31))
1.
2.
Financially (Adjustments needed for living simply, giving generously, and working diligently, etc. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12))
1.
2.
Family (A specific focus on family investment, relationships that need to be restored, mentoring someone as a spiritual father/mother, etc. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7))
1.
2.
Relationships (Discipleship investment, befriending someone for evangelism, accountability relationships, etc. (2 Timothy 2:2, John 13:34))
1.
2.
Work (What is your assignment/project to accomplish? (Proverbs 21:5, Colossians 3:23-24))
1.
2.
Church (How am I engaging with the 5 circles of church?; What is my specific assignment to serve the body this year?)
1.
2.
Stepping into a New Season with Purpose
As we look ahead to a new year, it’s not just about setting resolutions or checking off goals. It’s about responding to God’s leadership with intentionality. The Roles & Goals process isn't just a planning exercise—it’s an invitation to walk closely with God as you consider how your time, energy, and focus can align with His direction for your life.
After taking time to reflect, listen, and prayerfully map out the themes, roles, and goals for the season ahead, it’s important to ask:
How will this shape the way I actually live week to week?
You might have sensed some specific words or Scriptures that define this next season. Don’t let them stay theoretical—build them into your schedule and rhythm.
Map Your Week
Look at your daily and weekly schedule. What should change? Where do you need margin? Where should you add time for rest, relationships, service, or study?
Here’s a simple way to plan your weekly rhythm:
Daily & Weekly Rhythm
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Mark the Big Moments
Beyond your weekly flow, there are likely some big events, milestones, or priorities you already know you want to focus on this year.
Write them down by month:
Monthly Milestones
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
A Final Word
You’re not walking into this year alone. God’s love, leadership, power, and grace go with you. As you set your heart to follow Him, expect Him to meet you, guide you, and use you in ways that matter.
You’re ready—go forward with clarity and confidence!