Acts 26: 12-18
Paul was called with a mission to the gentiles to open their eyes.. didn’t occur right away but was revealed over time
In acts, Paul tells of his conversion story three different times
Exodus 3 – Moses
Beyond the wilderness
Not sure – lots of objections
To what is God calling me to, what is he calling me to currently?
Variety of calling stories within Scripture
Your story does not need to be the same as everyone else, it will be mysterious
Clarity of calling often needs to come through community
2/4/15
Do you think you’re call will ever get fuzzy?
It will. Revisiting your calling is important and necessary
Vocational calling
All Christians are called to service
Big issues in ministry- helping others discern their call, hopefully discerning before in college
Pastors have a unique call
William Temple and his 3 fold call
Called to Christ
Called to the People of God
Called to Service/Mission
Breadth of calling (you want people to discover the fullness of their calling)
To work (vocation)
To marriage (or singleness)
To family
To community (Church)
To service
Common Good
Call to Pastoral ministry
It is like the calls to other ministries
Different realm in the church
Churches are different creatures than other humanitarian/non-profit organizations
Different rhythms (weekends – evenings)
Work on day no one works, work stuff at nights
Call into ministry
Inner sense of Call from God (Pietist)
External call sending people of God (home congregation) receiving people of God (we want you!) two stage call
1st call called to preparation (seminary)
2nd call called to pastoral ministry called to missions (cross-cultural) called to non-congregational ministry sometimes there is a call to a specific pastoral identity