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

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Ses s i on 6: A Ca l l to Ser v i ce

C. Case studies illustrating the call to serve

1 Cor. 1.26-31 (ESV) For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1. Jesus our Lord in his divine humility, Phil. 2.5-11

2. Our Lord in the Upper Room, John 13.1-17

3. Paul the Apostle, Acts 20.22-24 (ESV) – And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23] except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. [24] But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

D. Unique insights for spiritual leaders: What is the role and responsibility of those specially called to serve the Christian community?

1. Outline of those specially called and their duties

a. To build up the body of Christ, both in terms of numbers and maturity, Eph. 4.11-13 (ESV) – And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

b. To defend the faith once delivered to the saints, Jude, Titus 1.9; 2 Tim. 2.22