Knowing Jesus,
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making Jesus known
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Web manager Simon Ford
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
EDGE Autumn 2006 - Water Walking 3…
Welcome
Fruit Pastille Challenge.
Who can keep 2 or 3 fruit pastilles in their mouth their longest without chewing
Worship
Word
Think of the Peter you know from the Gospels. Think of all the times he engaged mouth or hand before engaging brain!
Mark 9:2-5
John 18:8-10
Matt 16:21-23
And yet what is different from the story of Water Walking: Matt 14:24-29
(This time Peter asks for permission, he waits for Jesus to call him)
What do you understand by the term “called by God?”
Do you believe that everyone has a calling form God, a mission to be on?
(If no – are we just extra parts God created just in case?)
What are some of the general ways we are called – i.e. things Jesus wants us all to be
(Salt and light, witnesses, faithful etc.)
BRIEF VERSION
How can we make sure we are doing things that are in line with what Jesus wants every day?
NORMAL VERSION – TO BE ADAPTED / DISCUSSED AS APPROPRIATE TO YOUR GROUP
But what about specific calling? Individual, unique for each person?
What are some of the things you could be called to be?
(Ensure this is not limited to missionary and minister or even teacher and nurse. God calls factory foreman, graphic designers, musicians, porters, technicians, office workers, bus drivers…)
What is the difference between calling and career?
I am called by God to do something for God; a career can become my God and something I do for myself
How do I receive a calling?
How much is direct voice form God e.g. 1 Samuel 3
How much is it what I’m good at, what I’ve already got talents for?
How much is it what seems right?
How much help can I get from others?
Take a look at this account of Parker Palmer about the importance of others in discerning our call, or discerning what isn’t our calling!
…because of his growing prominence in educational circles, he was offered the presidency of an educational institution. It would have meant an increase in pay, status, and influence—from a career stand-point, it was a no-brainer.
But the Quakers have a tradition where, when faced with an important decision about calling, they gather a half-dozen friends to serve as a "clearness committee." This committee gathers primarily to ask questions so as to discern God's calling more clearly. (Palmer confesses, however, that in his case, "Looking back .. it is clear that my real intent in convening this group was not to discern anything but to brag about being offered a job I had already decided to accept!")
For a while the questions were easy—what would Parker's vision be for this school; what mission would it serve in society, and so on.
Then someone asked what appeared to be a very simple question: "Parker, what would you like about being president?"
Oddly enough, Parker had to think about this one for a while. "Well, I wouldn't like all the politics involved; I wouldn't like having to give up my study and teaching; I wouldn't like to have to raise funds...."
"Yes," the questioner reminded him, "but the question was what would you like?"
"I'm coming to that," he said irritably, then proceeded to list several more irksome things. "I wouldn't like to have to give up my summer vacations, I wouldn't like..."
The question was called for a third time. Palmer writes,
I felt compelled to give the only honest answer I possessed, an answer that came from the very bottom of my barrel, an answer that appalled even me as I spoke it. "Well," said I, in the smallest voice I possess, "I guess what I'd like most is getting my picture in the paper with the word president under it."
I was sitting with seasoned Quakers who knew that though my answer was laughable, my mortal soul was clearly at stake!
They did not laugh at all but went into a long and serious silence—a silence in which I could only sweat and inwardly groan.
Finally my questioner broke the silence with a question that cracked us all up – and cracked me open: “Parker” he said, “can you think of an easier way to get your picture in the paper?”
Witness
Pray for each other, that each person would discover their calling form God, so that they can live the life God wants for them and not settle for an ok – get along with whatever comes along life!