Called and Blessed: Finding Your Identity in Christ

Throughout Epiphany, the focus shifts from unveiling who Jesus is to revealing who believers are in him: blessed. The congregation is invited to find identity not in status, wisdom, or achievements but in the simple, decisive act of being called by God. Scriptural reading from Zephaniah and Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians frames this truth — God intentionally chooses what the world calls foolish, weak, and lowly so that boasting is directed to him alone. Baptism and God’s gracious calling, not human merit, form the foundation of worth; value is received, not earned.

A child-friendly illustration about open hands clarifies how to approach God: coming with empty hands, not clutching accomplishments, comforts, or self-reliance, opens the way to receive divine blessing. Jesus’ Beatitudes are presented as declarations of blessing that invert worldly measures of success: the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those hungering for righteousness, the merciful and peacemakers are all blessed because Christ supplies what people lack. The cross, which looks like defeat and weakness, is shown as God’s decisive act of strength — the place where righteousness, holiness, and redemption are given.

Practical application follows: students, parents, caregivers, and those burdened by responsibility are reassured that worth does not depend on performance, position, or productivity. Where weakness exposes inability, grace reveals dependence and intimacy with God. Freedom from the need to prove oneself enables authentic service, love, and generosity toward neighbor. The rightful boast is not in personal achievement but in God’s choosing and Christ’s sacrifice. That identity — righteous, holy, redeemed, and blessed in Christ — becomes the lens for daily living, worship, and mission. The liturgy moves from confession and absolution into prayer and sending, encouraging the congregation to live out this received identity with gratitude and courage. Practical church matters and pastoral news close the gathering, reinforcing that life in Christ carries both spiritual assurance and communal responsibilities.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Value comes from being called God’s election, often sealed in baptism, is the root of worth; it reframes identity away from achievement and toward relationship. When belonging is a gift, failure and success cease to define ultimate value. This frees a person to serve without clutching at status or outcomes, trusting that God’s steadfast choice remains regardless of circumstance. [36:49]
• 2. Weakness is God's chosen arena God deliberately builds using what the world deems weak so that grace, not human power, is evident. The cross turns apparent failure into the locus of redemption, proving that divine strength operates through vulnerability and suffering. Recognizing weakness as the place God works invites honest dependence and removes the terror of falling short. [37:45]
• 3. Boast only in the Lord All commendation that truly matters points to God’s mercy and Christ’s work, not personal resume or moral accomplishment. Redirecting pride toward praise of God realigns ambition, humility, and purpose. This posture cultivates gratitude and removes the corrosive need to prove oneself to others. [45:34]
• 4. Come with open hands Approach God ready to receive, not clutching possessions, reputations, or self-righteousness. An open hand symbolizes trust in God’s provision and a posture of repentance and dependence. It invites continual blessing and deepens awareness that all good things come from God. [24:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:14] - Theme: Jesus calls you blessed
• [14:17] - Confession & Absolution
• [17:33] - Old Testament Reading (Zephaniah)
• [21:15] - New Testament Reading (1 Corinthians)
• [23:30] - Children's Lesson: Open Hands
• [27:50] - Gospel: The Beatitudes
• [33:13] - Illustration: Weak Overcome Strong
• [35:42] - Consider Your Calling
• [41:51] - Christ Supplies What Is Lacking
• [45:34] - Boast in the Lord / Application
• [59:20] - Announcements & Closing

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon:

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)
> For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one may boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and our redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Matthew 5:3-12 (ESV)
> “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
> “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
> “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.
> “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
> “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
> “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
> “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
> “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
> “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Observation questions

1. The sermon highlights that God intentionally chooses what the world considers "foolish, weak, and lowly." [21:15] What specific examples from the 1 Corinthians passage illustrate this point?
2. The children's lesson used the analogy of open and closed hands to explain how we approach God. [23:30] What does it mean to approach God with "closed hands" according to the sermon?
3. The Beatitudes are presented as declarations of blessing that invert worldly measures of success. [27:50] Which of the Beatitudes seems to most directly contrast with common worldly values?
4. The sermon states that "Where weakness exposes inability, grace reveals dependence and intimacy with God." [44:04] How does the passage from 1 Corinthians support this idea?

Interpretation questions

1. The sermon emphasizes that our value comes from being called by God, not from our achievements or status. [36:49] How does the phrase "God chose" in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 [37:45] challenge the common human tendency to find value in personal accomplishments?
2. The sermon explains that the cross, which appears to be a sign of weakness and defeat, is actually God's decisive act of strength. [42:46] How does this paradox of weakness and strength relate to the Beatitudes, where those who are poor in spirit, mourn, or are persecuted are called blessed?
3. The sermon suggests that coming to God with "open hands" means being ready to receive rather than clutching onto our own accomplishments or self-reliance. [24:44] How does this posture of receiving contrast with the idea of "boasting" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:31 #!!45:34!!?
4. The sermon notes that "Christ supplies what people lack." [41:51] In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christ provides what is lacking in our lives, and how does this relate to our identity in him?

Application questions

1. The sermon encourages us to find our identity and worth not in our achievements, wisdom, or status, but in being called by God. [36:49] When you feel pressure to perform or prove yourself, how can you remind yourself that your value comes from God's calling and love for you?
2. We are told to "come with open hands" to God, ready to receive His blessings rather than holding tightly to our own comforts or self-reliance. [24:44] What is one specific thing you can intentionally release or let go of this week to approach God with more open hands?
3. The sermon highlights that God often uses what the world considers weak to accomplish His purposes, and that our weakness can be an arena for God's grace. [37:45] In what area of your life do you feel weakest, and how might you invite God's grace to work through that weakness this week?
4. The sermon calls us to "boast only in the Lord," redirecting our pride toward God's work rather than our own accomplishments. [45:34] What is one area where you tend to boast in yourself, and how can you intentionally shift that boast to God's goodness and sacrifice this week?
5. The sermon reminds us that our identity is "righteous, holy, redeemed, and blessed in Christ." [46:32] How can living with this identity shape the way you interact with others and serve your neighbor this week, especially when you encounter challenges or feel inadequate?
6. The sermon suggests that freedom from the need to prove ourselves enables authentic service, love, and generosity. [45:55] Can you identify a situation this week where you might be tempted to prove yourself, and how can you choose to act with authentic service instead?