An Authentic Calling: Representing Christ and His Kingdom through the Church

Session 5 A Call to Community Understanding an Authentic Call as a Call to Community

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 1.9 (ESV)

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

~ Acts 2.42 (ESV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

~ 2 Corinthians 13.14 (ESV)

. . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ~ 1 John 1.3 (ESV)

There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ~ Ephesians 4.4-7 (ESV)

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I. Understanding an Authentic Call as a Call to Community

. . . God’s call to ministry is perceived in unity, first with the Scriptures and then usually with the fellowship or group of people to whom we are accountable. I have seen too many people who have angrily rejected the leadership of the Body just so they can go and do their own thing, even if it is their own “Christian” thing. I am not talking about total agreement here. The group of people I was most com mitted to, the Fishermen’s Fellowship, did not want me to go to Mississippi at all. But they knew that I was submitting my life to them and God’s call became plain to them as they saw me and knew my gifts. Then I could leave that local fellowship with some kind of sense of direction and support. My brothers and sisters could trust my

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