Beginnings

Time Needed: 30 minutes

“Finding one’s call or mission, seeing how one’s gift(s) fits that call and engaging in the disciplines necessary to carry out such a call is the plan of God for all disciples. Discovering on’es calling is to discover one’s role as an actor [in God’s story]. Call breaks the power of false categories and integrates the various parts of our life: home, work, play. As soon as a disciple wants to work with God in God’s story, he or she will see with God’s eyes and hear with God’s ears … There is so much need. Where does one begin? What should I do? This is where calling comes in – it directs us to our row in the garden.” (Todd Hunter, “Calling, Mission and Gifts: How They Integrate In A Disciple’s Life”)

Scripture Meditation:
“I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
Jesus, John 10:10

A word with God: (our objective)
God, I believe that when you created me you had a specific purpose in mind. I believe that as I find and live out that purpose I will experience more “life” than I have even known. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see how my past and present are to affect my future.

Teaching:

Calling is more than the sum of your gifts and experiences and passions. Our calling is like a journey. We are each called to travel with God on His mission. God calls every woman and man to enter into creative partnership with Him in His mission to renew the creation and reconcile humanity to Himself. We desire to assist you in discovering your unique calling and mission.

This Assessment Tool will help you explore these three areas of your life:

Your Experiences and Abilities: Your experiences and abilities are where you’ve traveled so far, and what tools and resources and knowledge you’ve picked up along the way. This road you’ve already walked can help you discover the road that lies ahead. Some of the road you’ve already walked may have been a detour, but it has also brought you to where you are today. Some of the tools you’ve acquired so far will be helpful for the journey, and some won’t really matter, and that’s okay.

Your Passions: Your passions are why you journey, your desire for the destination. Your passions envision the country that you journey towards. They will also sometimes shape your route, guiding you when there are forks in the road that seem to both lead to the same land.

Your Spiritual Gifts: Your spiritual gifts are the special tools that God gives you directly for your journey. Some you’ve carried for a long time, while some have yet to be given. Some of these tools are used only for a certain part of the road, maybe even a single use, while others you come back to again and again.

How do these things fit together?
Through this assessment process we are seeking to weave these three strands together to get a sense of the larger tapestry of your life. By examining how your gifts, passions, and experiences are woven together we hope to help you uncover your calling from God. “Calling is also helpfully understood as a strong inner impulse given by God that pulls us toward a particular course of action on God’s behalf (in his name) for the sake of his work in the world.” (Todd Hunter)

The call of God is life-giving. It encompasses the specific, unique purpose God created you for. You will find that the more you live according to that calling the more you will feel deeply fulfilled, knowing your life has eternal meaning.

The call of God is also very personal, and it involves relational interaction between God, the individual, and their community of faith. Much discernment is required, and our spiritual gifts, our passions, and our experiences, along with the wisdom of trusted friends and the "still small voice" in our souls, will help us discover the way.


Perhaps an example from the scriptures will help.
Moses, the man of God, may provide us some clarity through his life.

Look up the following verses in Exodus to discover what experiences and abilities defined Moses:
2:3 _____________________________________
2:5-10 _____________________________________
2:12 _____________________________________
2:15 _____________________________________
3:1 _____________________________________

Try to define Moses’ passions as described in the following verses:
2:11-13 _____________________________________
3:2-4 _____________________________________
33:18 _____________________________________

We don’t know everything about Moses’ spiritual gifts, but we do know God gifted Him with:
Exodus 4-11 miracles
18:12-27 and as a prophet and a leader

God gave Moses the experiences, passions, and gift that allowed him to fulfill his calling: to lead his people out of slavery and, after a transforming encounter with God, into the Promised Land of blessing. Of course, Moses couldn’t do this alone, just like we can’t fulfill our callings alone. Moses needed the help of Aaron and Miriam, as well as members of the next generation – Joshua and Caleb.

Exercise:
1. How do you feel about this process?

2. What would you like to learn about yourself? About God?

3. “God, what do You want me to know about this?" (listening prayer – 5 minutes)