Finding God's Will: Rediscover Your Calling
Rev. Blake Altman, Lead Pastor

God intends to change you by His Word. How is He at work in you to do that?  Read the following passage and consider these questions. 

READ

Acts 10:34-48 (ESV)

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

QUESTIONS (40 minutes)

What is a calling?
1. Pastor Blake said that a calling is not an occupation (which is an over-secularization) nor a mere internal feeling (which is an over-spiritualization). Your calling is the use your abilities, desires, and opportunities to promote the good of others for the glory of God. Callings are from God and confirmed through the Church. How is this different from how we normally think about calling?

2. How does having a narrow or truncated view of "calling" negatively affect us?

3. What callings do we typically rank as "superior"? If so, why might that be?

4. Where in the passage can we find the following three things regarding calling?

a) you may have a sense of calling, but not be able to act on your calling right now.
b) you need to be reminded of your calling often.
c) God's call in your life reduces the power of your circumstances.

5. The principle about calling as taught in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, 12-14 is: "Stay where you are...unless and because." Why might the command be "stay" instead of "go"?

How do you find your calling?
6. Discuss the following three things needed to find your calling. Do you agree or disagree? Is there more that should be on this list?

a) When the internal desire is matched by external present circumstances.
b) Find a mentor. (For some, this means be a mentor!)
c) Discover you calling by trial and error.

PRAYER (15 minutes) 

Take prayer requests. Pray together that we would assist each other in finding our callings, and that through this we might promote others' good and God's glory.