1 From Membership to Discipleship
Let s Review 2 Membership Stage Understanding the Human Problem God s Provision Understanding the Nature of Salvation Welcome to God s Family Bible Study Methods Growing in Your Relationship with Jesus Christ Power for Living the Christian Life
Tonight s Lesson Understanding the Call of God Worship Experience
Understanding The Call of God
Session Nine: Understanding The Call of God Objective: How to identify the call of God. Preliminary Questions: Have you established devotional and prayer time with God? Have you established Bible Study? Have you completed Sessions One through Eight?
Understanding The Call of God The more time one spends in prayer and in the practice of spiritual disciplines, the easier it is to hear and discern the voice of God. God s voice could come as an audible inner voice, or as spontaneous thoughts, visions, feelings, or impressions as He speaks to your spirit. He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)
The Components of God s Call The Caller The Called The Calling
The Caller - God God must be the caller Rom. 10:14-15 In the Old Testament God called the prophets and God was understood through the prophets. Jews were not the only persons to have prophets. 4 basic religions claim prophets, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zorasterism
The Called Matthew 22:14 Matthew 10:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to drive out evil, and to heal every disease and sickness. Romans 8:28-30 God calls according to his purpose. God predestined, justified, and glorified. To be called by God, God must first get your attention. We are called to take part in something that is already going on. We are called from something to something.
The Calling The calling is that which we do in response to God. We sense God s realness. Our God who called us was in the calling business prior to our call. One must always renounce manipulation and be careful that they are not manipulated by others trying to be God.
Key Points to A Prophetic Call Prophets are engaged in reshaping of traditional ideas about God. Prophets gave the world new understanding of God s character and God s purpose. You can t speak about seeing, and knowing, God without being known of God. Knowledge of God and obedience to God are inseparable. Prophets make the judgment of God widely known, not only to religious affairs but secular affairs.
Moses Burning Bush Ex. 3:1-10 Moses mystery: He sees a bush engulfed in flames but is not consumed by fire. Ex. 3:1-3. Moses message: Take your shoes off. Why? Because you are standing on holy ground. What of the matter? The Lord has heard the cries and will deliver his people. Put your shoes on: The Lord tells Moses that He has chosen him to deliver his people.
Samuel and Eli 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Samuel has been called to replace Eli as the spiritual leader of Israel. Samuel s message from God. While Samuel is still a young boy, the Lord speaks to him about Eli. Samuel receives the message one night as he is sleeping. At first he thinks it is Eli. The Lord repeats the message, The Lord tells Samuel that he will soon severely punish Eli and his two wicked sons.
The Call of Saul 1 Sam. 10:1-9 Samuel anoints Saul and tells him that several signs will demonstrate that he has indeed been chosen as Israel s king. Two men will tell Saul that the donkey s have been found and that his father is worried about him. Three men will offer Saul two loaves of bread. Saul will meet some prophets coming down from a hill playing music. The ministry of the Spirit will come upon Saul and cause him to prophesy with the prophets.
The Call of David 1 Sam. 16:1-13 The Lord tells Samuel that he has selected someone to replace Saul as King and directs Samuel to anoint one of Jesse s sons. Jesse introduces each of his seven oldest sons to Samuel, but none of them meet the Lord s approval. The Lord tells Samuel to anoint David, Jesse s youngest son, when he does the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David
Gideon Judges 6:11-23 The angel of the Lord appears to a man named Gideon and tells him that he will rescue Israel from the Midianites. The angel greets Gideon Mighty hero the Lord is with you. Gideon grumbles.the angel tells Gideon Go with strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. Gideon asks for a sign to be certain that he is to rescue Israel. Gideon comes home to prepare a meal for the angel, the angel touches the meal with his staff fire flames up and consumes the food, convincing Gideon the angel was sent from the lord
Jonah 1:1-17 God commands Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach against its wickedness. Jonah refused and boards a ship going to Tarshish in the opposite direction from Nineveh. God sends a violent wind that threatens the ship. There is furious storm, fear of sailors because its Jonah s fault. Jonah is thrown overboard, makes a confession, is swallowed by a fish, and proceeds finally to preach in Ninevah.
Saul to Paul Acts 9:1-31 Saul the great persecutor of the church, receives a vision of Jesus and is blinded by a heavenly light. When he regains his sight, he begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. What Saul sees is a brilliant blinding light from heaven. What Saul hears is Jesus say to him, Why are you persecuting me?
Jesus John 1:29-34 John says he is not the Messiah John says he is not Elijah John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord. 1:22-30. John baptizes Jesus and introduces the Savior.
The Call of the Disciples Mt. 4:19 Jesus meets the brothers by the Galilean sea. Jesus promises to make them successful soul winners. Repairing their nets Jesus calls them to leave their work and come with him. They renounce their nets and follow Jesus.
The Inward The inward call begins the process of preparing you for the ministry God equipped you to undertake. (Jeremiah 1:5) The inward call happens when you sense that a higher level of commitment and a surrendered life are required for the awesome task of being called by God. Benefits include the knowledge that your work in God s ministry can save many souls and bring people into the knowledge of Christ and the advancement of the Kingdom The benefits of heeding the call will give wisdom about our finances to move from a position of lack to a position of abundance. Our communities will be made whole, reduce crime, poverty will be dealt with, and the needs of the people will be met through the Word.
The Outward Journey The outward journey manifests as the utilization of gifts for ministry that will be identified as you grow in ministry to fullfledged discipleship. The outward journey is symbolized by moving into the work of ministry that you are called to in the inward journey of the call. The outward journey provides measureable standard to be adhered to as you move in obedience to what God has called you to do.
Spiritual Gifts 2 Timothy 1:5-7
Identification Of Spiritual Gifts Spiritual gifts are essential to facilitating the work in ministry. (Romans 12:3-8;1Corinthians 12:7) Spiritual gifts are given to all believers by the Spirit of God to benefit others and not ourselves. (1 Peter 4:10) The mere presence of spiritual gifts, does not guarantee fruitfulness and faithfulness. Rom. 11:29
Definition of Spiritual Gift A spiritual gift is a God given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified. Each believer has at least one spiritual gift no matter what his or her natural abilities. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Spiritual gifts are supernatural enablement so that supernatural results are produced.
Gifts for Offices Apostle: one sent forth with a message to establish churches. Prophet: one with the God given ability to speak forth a message from God s word that edifies, exhorts, and comforts the body. Evangelist: a messenger of the good news; one who shares the gospel clearly that others may come to faith in Jesus. Pastor: a shepherd; one who feeds, tends and protects the flock. Teacher: an instructor who teaches the truth of the Word in a clear and understandable way.
Straight Thinking about Gifts Spiritual gifts are not for one individual, small group, but for every believer. Spiritual gifts are unmerited and not an evidence of our spirituality. Spiritual gifts are not to be viewed as a barometer of our worth.
Avoid Spiritual Gift Temptation 1. Taking credit for what God has given us or accomplished through us. 2. Inflated estimation of ourselves because of the spiritual gift God has granted us. 3. Distorted thinking because of the spiritual gift, and lack of humility. 4. Building ministry on the spiritual gift without character.
Gift classification Each believer has a special gift. If you are a follower of Christ then you have been gifted by God to serve the body of Christ, the Church. Broadly speaking, the spiritual gifts given to believers fall into two categories serving and speaking. Neither category is more important than the other, because all the gifts are intended to equip the saints and build up the body. Every gift is important. If you don t know your gift spend some time reflecting on the ways you are meeting the needs of others in fulfilling your particular role within the church.
Session Ten: Worship Experience Objective: To learn more about worshipping God. Preliminary Questions: Have you completed Sessions One through Nine? Do you sense a level of growth in your relationship with God?
Worship Experience Worship is praise, adoration and reverence of God both in public and private. (Genesis 18:2) To worship means to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to reverence. (Exodus 34:8) Worship is to celebrate the worthiness, the majesty, and the Presence of God. Worship is to adore reverently, to love deeply, to regard with respect, and with great awe and devotion. (Matthew 4:10) Worship is the response of the people to God s unconditional love. Worship is an expression of gratitude for the gift of Salvation. A Corporate worship experience occurs when our human spirits are touched by the Holy Spirit.
John 4:24 Worship Confusion The woman asks, why is it that Jesus insist that Jerusalem is the only place to worship, while Samaritans claim it is at Mt. Gerizim. Jesus says that true worship involves not the where but rather the how; that is God must be worshiped in spirit and truth.
Worship Contrast Mk 7:4-8; 7:24-30 Mark 7: Jesus teaches about inner purity and rewards the faith of a Gentile woman by healing her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus says the Pharisees twist God s laws to avoid responsibility. Jesus meets a broken hearted mother who is not Jew but she worships Him and her daughter is healed.
Attributes of Worship Worship is a lifestyle that is grounded in holy, obedient living that is based on the Word of God. Worship is a manner of living that all us to present ourselves, as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God so that we can experience His transformative work in our lives. (Romans 12:12) Worship prepares one to come into the very presence of God Worship helps to change our thinking, our way of relating to others and God by moving us into the realm of sanctification.