Developing a Personal Calling Statement Three components of a personal calling statement:
1. 2. 3.
Value Statements
Biblical Identity
Personal impact
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT): For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Component 1: Value Statements “Values statements describe the underlying assumptions and core-convictions that consistently shape your decisions and behavior. Your values are revealed in your behavior and not in your belief system.
Your values reflect your unique wiring…the way God has shaped you to live.” - The Missional Pathway, p. 34
Values
Meaning
Component 2: Biblical Identity Statement “Biblical Identity is who God says I am; my identity in relationship to God. Identity precedes activity and forms the foundation for missional living. It describes my worth from God’s perspective.” The Missional Pathway, p. 36
Underline key words and phrases from the verses below:
GENESIS 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind[c] in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,[d] and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created humankind[e] in his image, in the image of God he created them;[f] male and female he created them.
JOHN 17:23 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
ROMANS 8:16-17 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness[n] with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
ROMANS 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 12:4-5 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
EPHESIANS 2:6-7 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
1 JOHN 4:13 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
OR ANOTHER LIFE VERSE THAT YOU KNOW!? Who does God say you are?
“Identity is foundation, stating who the Bible says you are…your identity in Christ. Remember, a Biblical Identity Statement has nothing to do with doing. It is a concise statement of who God says you are.” The Missional Pathways, p. 38
Write a first draft of your Biblical Identity Statement:
Questions for follow up: • Does it communicate identity?
• Does it reflect the heart of God?
• Does it flow from an intimate relationship with God?
• Can you eliminate any words without losing the meaning?