Embracing God's Call: A Journey of Service
Summary
Stepping into success as a follower of Christ involves answering God's call and embracing biblical leadership. This journey is not about personal gain but about serving others and fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. The story of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 19 illustrates the importance of being ready to respond to God's call. Elisha's immediate and sacrificial response to Elijah's call exemplifies the commitment required to follow God's path. He left his past behind, symbolized by burning his plow, to embrace the new life God had for him.
In Ephesians 4, Paul emphasizes that God has equipped each of us with unique gifts for the building up of the church. This passage reminds us that every Christian is called to ministry, whether in a formal or informal capacity. Ministry is not limited to pastors or church leaders; it is a calling for every believer to serve and bless others. The collapse of Enron serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor leadership. In contrast, biblical leadership is rooted in service, sacrifice, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus exemplified true leadership through delegation, advocacy, and sacrifice. He called us to follow His example by serving others and spreading the gospel. The call to ministry is not just for personal spiritual growth but also for the growth of God's kingdom. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, resist the temptation to remain passive, and actively participate in God's work.
Key Takeaways:
1. Answering God's Call: Like Elisha, we must be ready to respond to God's call with immediacy and sacrifice. This involves leaving behind our past and embracing the new life God has for us. Our sacrifices are meant to bless others and further God's kingdom. [30:00]
2. Biblical Leadership: True leadership is rooted in service and sacrifice, not manipulation or personal gain. Jesus exemplified this by serving others and sacrificing Himself for our sins. We are called to follow His example and lead by serving. [42:14]
3. Every Christian's Call to Ministry: Ministry is not limited to church leaders; it is a calling for every believer. Whether in a formal or informal capacity, we are all called to serve and bless others, contributing to the growth of God's kingdom. [56:25]
4. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: Biblical leadership and ministry are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot fulfill God's calling on our own; we need the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength to lead effectively and impactfully. [44:55]
5. Stepping into Success: Success in God's eyes is not about personal achievement but about fulfilling His purpose for our lives. We must be willing to step out in faith, burn the plows of our past, and embrace the mantle of ministry that God has prepared for us. [01:02:13]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[20:49] - Live Oak Church's Reputation
[30:00] - Elijah and Elisha's Story
[36:01] - The Collapse of Enron
[37:26] - Leadership Deficit
[40:46] - Crisis of Leadership
[42:14] - Biblical Leadership
[44:55] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[46:41] - Jesus' Leadership Example
[49:31] - Taking Up the Mantle
[50:29] - Elisha's Faithfulness
[53:10] - Modern Example: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
[55:04] - Bonhoeffer's Decision
[56:25] - Every Christian's Call to Ministry
[58:19] - Different Ways to Serve
[59:05] - Ministry 101 Class
[01:02:13] - Responding to God's Call
[01:04:11] - Preach and Reach
[01:05:50] - Closing Prayer and Response
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 19:19-21
- Ephesians 4:11-13
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Observation Questions:
1. In 1 Kings 19:19-21, what actions did Elisha take when Elijah called him, and what do these actions signify about his commitment? [30:00]
2. According to Ephesians 4:11-13, what roles does Paul say God has given to the church, and for what purpose?
3. How does the sermon describe the leadership style of Jesus, and what are some examples given of His leadership? [46:41]
4. What was the main reason for the collapse of Enron as discussed in the sermon, and how does it contrast with biblical leadership? [37:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Elisha's immediate response to Elijah's call teach about the nature of answering God's call in our lives? [30:00]
2. How does the concept of biblical leadership differ from worldly leadership, according to the sermon? [42:14]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that every Christian is called to ministry, and how does this align with Ephesians 4:11-13? [56:25]
4. How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit play a role in fulfilling God's calling, as discussed in the sermon? [44:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on Elisha's willingness to leave everything behind to follow God's call. Is there something in your life that you need to "burn" to fully embrace God's calling? [30:00]
2. Consider the qualities of biblical leadership discussed in the sermon. How can you incorporate service and sacrifice into your leadership roles, whether at work, home, or church? [42:14]
3. The sermon emphasizes that every Christian is called to ministry. What steps can you take to discover and engage in the ministry God has for you? [56:25]
4. Think about a time when you felt the Holy Spirit guiding you in a decision or action. How can you be more open to the Holy Spirit's empowerment in your daily life? [44:55]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to serve others. Identify one area in your life where you can step out in faith to serve or lead.
6. Reflect on the story of Enron and the consequences of poor leadership. How can you ensure that your leadership or influence is rooted in integrity and service?
7. Jesus exemplified leadership through delegation and advocacy. How can you delegate responsibilities in your life to empower others and advocate for those in need? [46:41]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Embracing God's Call with Sacrifice
Stepping into success as a follower of Christ requires an immediate and sacrificial response to God's call, much like Elisha's response to Elijah. Elisha's story in 1 Kings 19 demonstrates the necessity of leaving behind our past to embrace the new life God has for us. This act of burning his plow symbolizes a complete commitment to God's purpose, showing that true success is not about personal gain but about serving others and fulfilling God's kingdom. As believers, we are called to make sacrifices that bless others and further God's kingdom. [30:00]
1 Kings 19:21 (ESV): "And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him."
Reflection: What is one thing from your past that you need to leave behind to fully embrace God's call for your life today?
Day 2: Leading Through Service and Sacrifice
True biblical leadership is characterized by service and sacrifice, not by manipulation or personal gain. Jesus exemplified this through His life, serving others and sacrificing Himself for our sins. As followers of Christ, we are called to lead by serving, following Jesus' example. This involves putting others before ourselves and using our leadership to empower and uplift those around us. The story of Jesus' leadership challenges us to redefine success as fulfilling God's purpose through service. [42:14]
Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: In what ways can you serve those around you today, following Jesus' example of leadership through service and sacrifice?
Day 3: Every Believer's Call to Ministry
Ministry is not limited to pastors or church leaders; it is a calling for every believer. Ephesians 4 reminds us that God has equipped each of us with unique gifts for the building up of the church. Whether in a formal or informal capacity, we are all called to serve and bless others, contributing to the growth of God's kingdom. This call to ministry requires us to step out of our comfort zones and actively participate in God's work, using our gifts to serve others. [56:25]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What unique gifts has God given you, and how can you use them to serve others in your community today?
Day 4: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Biblical leadership and ministry are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot fulfill God's calling on our own; we need the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength to lead effectively and impactfully. The Holy Spirit empowers us to step out in faith, resist passivity, and actively participate in God's work. As we rely on the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to lead and serve in ways that bring glory to God and further His kingdom. [44:55]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you in your daily life and ministry today?
Day 5: Redefining Success in God's Kingdom
Success in God's eyes is not about personal achievement but about fulfilling His purpose for our lives. We must be willing to step out in faith, burn the plows of our past, and embrace the mantle of ministry that God has prepared for us. This involves redefining success as serving others and contributing to the growth of God's kingdom. As we align our lives with God's purpose, we find true success in His eyes. [01:02:13]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: How can you redefine success in your life to align with God's purpose and kingdom today?
Quotes
"Elisha, I'm gonna really enunciate that, Elijah does all these things. Elisha, his apprentice, does twice as many miracles. His prayer and his gift that he asked of Elijah before he goes and goes off, is that he would receive a double portion of Elijah's spirit, right? This guy was on fire. This guy was incredible. This guy did so many miracles, but before he ever got to that point, he was plowing in his father's field. He was serving the kingdom that he was supposed to at the time, he was plowing in his father's field, and it says that he was 12th with 12 teams of oxen. If you've ever done agricultural work and you're plowing, the ground's usually a bit dry and dusty, and if you're 12th in line, that's not a fun place to be." [00:50:29] (44 seconds)
"Biblical leadership looks like this. See, first off, some people in here, you have already decided that you will never be in a leadership role. You've already decided that maybe for whatever reason, you'll never be in a leadership role, but God often calls the unexpected. God often calls the unexpected. The first king that God chose for Israel? was the youngest son of a shepherd, a little ruddy, skinny, wiry guy that was hanging out with the sheep and was stinky, King David." [00:42:14] (32 seconds)
"God often calls the unlikely, and he requires us, once he calls us, to serve. God requires service. See, the world's leadership, the reason that there's such a deficit is because it's not real leadership. What you hear on podcasts and what you're watching on YouTube about leadership hacks and tricks and the books that you read, if you're not careful of your source, all it teaches you is how to manipulate people. It just teaches you how to manipulate people so that you can maximize the output while minimizing the input. Biblical leadership is opposite. We maximize the input, and we allow God to produce the output." [00:42:24] (45 seconds)
"When we lead, we serve others. Jesus got down on his hands. And his feet, and took the position of a slave and washed his disciples' feet. We serve. Biblical leadership is based on serving. It's based on a holistic view of people. It's based on a holistic view of people. I was talking to a really brilliant business leader, good friend of mine, a couple weeks back, and he said something that just really stuck with me because he is in charge of recruiting and training the leaders that come through his company up to, in the beginning, to serve." [00:43:08] (34 seconds)
"Jesus never took the easy path, he showed us great effort and then he encouraged us in Luke, he tells us that we should strive through the straight gate. And Jesus shows us sacrifice. He sacrificed in the way that he lived, he sacrificed in the way that he loved, and he sacrificed in the way that he died. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a German pastor during the time of World War II and the rise of the Third Reich said this, he said, if God call a man, he bid him come and die." [00:47:21] (33 seconds)
"Every single one of us, this church, he has called to volunteer ministry in some way. You know, our church structure in our handbook gives off our staff, this is really cool, and I love this, it gives our staff a couple of days off every year so that they can go somewhere not at this church, not associated with Live Oak Church, to do ministry somewhere else. Because even pastors volunteer in ministry, even when you give your entire life, every single one of us, is called to biblical leadership or to ministry." [00:59:05] (34 seconds)
"Answering the call, who's ministry for? That's a great note to switch right there, right? Great transition. Bonhoeffer died a martyr. The disciples died a martyr. Jesus shows us an example of sacrifice and service, but who is really, who is ministry for? Because leadership, biblical leadership is ministry. And the answer is very simple. By the way, who is in the blank? Answering the call, who is ministry for? Every Christian is called to ministry. Every single Christian." [00:56:25] (29 seconds)
"You are called to ministry whether you are in authority, you are under authority, or you feel like you have no authority at all. And I'm talking about official and I'm talking about unofficial. I'm talking about influence. Every single person. Every single person in this room that is a follower of Christ this morning, and if you're not, I really pray that after this message, you would be so inspired that you say, hey, you know what, I am gonna be a follower of Christ and I am gonna step into what he has planned for me. But if you are already a follower of Christ, you are called to ministry. Ministry is called for every single believer. It is for us all. It's also for the church collaboratively, or wholly, or corporately. Ministry is for the church." [00:57:25] (45 seconds)
"God has a plan for your life. And the only question this morning is, will you burn the plows and take up the mantle of ministry? Let's pray. God be with us this morning. God, as we prepare our hearts to respond to what you have, this word, God, that is for some gonna be a big challenge. God, for some, this is so encouraging, and this is freeing, and they feel like, yes, I finally understand what I've been thinking about and praying through and experiencing." [01:05:50] (28 seconds)
"But there are others, God, that are gonna be struggling with this, and they're still gonna be resisting it. God, I'm asking, Father, that your spirit would lead every single one of us. God, that we would respond to what you have for us in this moment. God, that we would do that. And know that you have a plan for our life, good works that you have prepared for us to do ahead of time, before we were ever born. You had plans for us. Let us step into the success that comes from living into those plans. It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen. Prayer team is here." [01:06:50] (34 seconds)
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