Called
Notes
Transcript
Ministry is a calling on one’s life
Ministry is a calling on one’s life
Paul was called into the ministry
“called to be an apostle” apostle means a person who is set our or sent fourth
Notice Paul didn’t choose this direction on his own
Notice Paul wasn’t in the ministry because he the ability to do so
Paul wasn’t in the ministry because it paid well
Paul wasn’t in the ministry to get anything out of it for himself
Power
Glory
riches
Paul was a minister of the gospel for one reason only: GOD HAD CALLED HIM
I read a book over the summer written by a man with many years of pastoral experience
Paul had a call on his life
He spoke about this subject of calling and made this statement: “If you can do anything else in your life than become a pastor do it, because if you can do anything else then you are not called”
Of all the people God could have called, he called the greatest enemy of the church
Peter Drucker (a leadership guru) listed the 4 hardest jobs in the US
The President of the United States
A University President
A CEO of a hospital
A pastor
According to facts and trends
84% of pastors are on call 24/7
80% expect conflict in their church
54% find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming
Despite these facts, less than 1% leave the pulpit each year
Coming into the ministry is a call upon the life
Paul said he has been separated (set apart) to the gospel of God
The calling of a minister is not to make people happy, build a church, or conform to certain expectations of culture or trends
The calling of a minister is to further the gospel of God
What is the Gospel? The good news of Jesus Christ
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is the primary function and calling of a minister
Whether you are called to be a pastor
Whether you are called to be a deacon
Whether you are called to be a Sunday School teacher
Whether you are called to teach kids
The Primary function of that call is to preach Jesus to a lots and dying world