The Shape of Calling

We don’t need to overcomplicate this – we all have a part to play in God’s kingdom.

Specific Calling

We also read in Scripture that God can call people to a specific task, role, location, or ministry function. In the Old Testament, we see God calling:

• Abraham to start a nation

• Moses to deliver a nation

• Deborah to lead a nation

• David to rule a nation

• Esther to save a nation

• And the prophets to speak to the nations. However, these are all pretty big and unique examples of specific callings and can be hard to relate to. Are there any examples of more ‘common’ callings we might be able to relate to easier?

Thankfully, we also read about God giving specific calls to more common-day works: working with crafts (Exo 35:30-35, 36:1), to be musicians (1 Chrn 15:16), to hold secular jobs (Dan 1:3-5), to be involved in social reform (Neh 13:1-31).

In the New Testament, we read about God calling people aside to a specific ministry function. We read about specific callings in Ephesians 4:11-12:

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ...”

We can think of,

• John the Baptist – called to prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 3:4-6)

• Priscilla – called to be a teacher of teachers (Acts 18:26, Rom 16:4)

• Phoebe – called as a minister in the church of Cenchreae (Rom 16:1)

• Junia – called to be an apostle for Christ (Rom 16:7)

• Timothy – called and graced as a local church pastor (1 Tim 4:13-15).

Though we all share in the general call to be Christ’s witnesses and live out the gospel, God may grace you with a specific call that will shape and define your ministry.