Listening for God's Call in Our Lives

### Summary

Good morning, church family. Today, we gather with great joy to celebrate the baptisms of two of our young adults, Max Flower and Jax Edmonds. Baptism is a significant event in the life of a believer in Christ. Romans 6 teaches us that something very spiritual happens here as we come into these waters and join Jesus in His death and resurrection. When we are submerged in the waters, we are dying to our old selves and are raised up as new creations, declaring in obedience that Jesus is indeed our Lord. As a faith community, we gather to remember that we are the family of God, here to help grow, serve, and learn together as we follow Christ. We also remember and renew our own vows and covenants with Christ, recalling the times we entered these waters ourselves and shared in public witness what Jesus means to us and what He continues to do in our lives.

Nothing quite grabs our attention like a voice calling out in the middle of the night. This is the story of young Samuel today. Acclaimed preacher Frederick Buechner once said that we can't really hear the stories of the Bible until we listen to them as stories about ourselves. We have to imagine our way into them. Samuel and Eli had been serving together in the temple for about eight or nine years since Samuel was around three. The emptiness and silence of the temple echoed the emptiness and silence of the hearts of those in those days, for the word of the Lord was rare, and visions were not widespread. Eli was a failure as a priest and a parent, and his two sons were horrible people, stealing offerings and disrespecting God and others. God had warned Eli to expect judgment because he failed to keep his sons in line.

Hannah, Samuel's mother, had made a promise to give her son back to the Lord if God would just give her a son. After Samuel was born, she showed up at the temple with her son and, with a mix of deep gratitude and deep grief, handed over Samuel to Eli. Samuel grew up in the temple with Eli and his two horrible preacher kids, serving God in a season when abusive people in the name of God ran the show, and visions were almost extinct. Samuel did not yet know the Lord, but he faithfully tended to the work at the temple.

When Samuel was around 12, God finally spoke a message to him. The young Samuel heard a voice four times in the night, and the first three times, he thought it was Eli calling him. After the third interruption, it finally dawned on Eli that it might be the Lord. Eli instructed Samuel on what to do if he heard the voice again. When God called to Samuel a fourth time, Samuel responded, "Speak, for your servant is listening." God told Samuel that He is a God of promise and that judgment against Eli and his sons was coming. Imagine what a long night that must have been for Samuel, tossing and turning over the message he had received.

The story is not first of all about Samuel or Eli; it's about a God who reveals Himself not by appearing in person but by speaking a word. This same God has revealed Himself through the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost. It's a story about a God who continues to reveal Himself so we can know and see and hear God not with our head, eyes, or ears, but with our hearts and entire beings. Upon hearing and listening, we respond, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Perhaps the word was rare in those days and visions not widespread, not because God was not speaking or calling, but because they, like us sometimes, are so distracted, so full of noise, so busy, that we cannot hear God calling our name. We expect God to show up in spectacular signs or miraculous interventions, not in silence or solitude. We expect God to speak when all is well, not when we feel unmoved. We expect God to call only those with wisdom and years, not a young child who still does not yet know the Lord. But God's work and ways are beyond our expectations.

God's calling can be about what we should do with our lives, but it can also be about getting our bearings, especially in times of chaos and disorientation. In times of chaos, God re-orients us, calling us back to what is truly important, calling us back to Himself and His purposes and ways. How do we hear and follow God's call? From Samuel's story, one key is repetition: does that prompting or voice persist, or is it passing? Another sign is being open to a mentor's advice, as Eli advised Samuel to be still and listen. The third possible sign is those tingling ears. The Spirit's work in our life will challenge us, disrupt us, and make us uncomfortable, indicating that we are moving in the right direction. God often leads us beyond comfort and control, two things we struggle the most to surrender.

Thomas Merton once said, "My life is listening, God's is speaking, and my salvation is to hear and respond." Our journey is about being attentive and awake to God's voice. Like Samuel, we must be ready to listen and respond, saying, "Lord, your servant is listening." God calls each of us to do unexpected things in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. May our lives be lives of listening and responding to the unexpected adventures that God has for us, for the glory of God and the good of the world.

As we prepare for our time of communion together, let's think about the stories leading up to that meal. On that first day of Holy Week, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds welcomed Him and waved palm branches, shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." On Monday, Jesus cursed a fig tree and flipped tables in the temple. On Tuesday, He spoke to great crowds, confusing them with a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. On Wednesday, there are no recorded stories, most likely resting from what has been and what is to come. On Thursday, a pivotal moment unfolds as they share a meal together in the upper room. Jesus, in an act of profound selflessness, washes their feet, foreshadowing the ultimate love He would display on the cross. He gives the bread and the wine new meaning, declaring, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me," and of the wine, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

As we come to the table together, we imagine ourselves in that room, feeling the warmth of companionship, the lingering taste of lamb and spices, and our feet still damp from having the Master wash them. Jesus has given us a gift that transcends imagination—the gift of active participation in Christ's meal. Christ welcomes you to His meal. You don't need to imagine the bread and the cup; in a few moments, you will hold them in your hands, taste them on your lips, and hear Jesus call to you, saying, "Come, eat, drink, and remember." Remember you are loved, forgiven, and one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Remember that you need one another. This same reenactment of the Last Supper is sometimes called the Eucharist, a Greek word meaning simply "thanksgiving." When you take the bread and the cup, say to yourself, "Christ died for me," and when you pass the tray to your neighbor, say to yourself, "Christ died for you."

In our response time, the invitation is always to come and remember who we are in Christ, to remember who Christ is to us, and to respond to what the Spirit might be speaking to us in this time of worship. To realize that God calls to us, calls us by name, not just to evangelize or a vocation, but to a life lived in service to God. A life lived abundantly, a life that follows in baptism to say that Jesus is Lord over everything, over me. As we sing during our response time, "I Surrender All," may that be our prayer.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Significance of Baptism: Baptism is a profound spiritual act where we join Jesus in His death and resurrection. It symbolizes dying to our old selves and being raised as new creations, declaring Jesus as our Lord. This act of obedience is not just a personal declaration but a communal one, reminding us of our collective journey in faith and our commitment to support one another in our walk with Christ. [09:44]
• 2. Hearing God's Voice in Silence: Often, we expect God to speak through spectacular signs or miraculous interventions, but God frequently speaks in silence and solitude. Like Samuel, we must learn to be still and listen, even when it feels like God is silent. Our busy lives and distractions can drown out God's voice, but intentional quietness and openness can help us hear His call. [35:06]
• 3. God's Unexpected Call: God's call often comes in unexpected ways, times, and to unexpected people. Samuel was a young boy who did not yet know the Lord, yet God called him. This teaches us that God's ways are beyond our expectations, and He can use anyone, regardless of age or experience, to fulfill His purposes. We must be open to God's call, even when it challenges our comfort and control. [45:04]
• 4. The Role of Mentorship in Discerning God's Call: Eli's guidance to Samuel highlights the importance of mentorship in our spiritual journey. When we sense a prompting or a voice, seeking advice from a spiritual mentor can help us discern whether it is from the Lord. Mentors can provide wisdom and help us create space to listen to God's voice amidst the noise of life. [49:05]
• 5. Active Participation in Communion: Communion is not just a ritual but an active participation in Christ's meal. It is a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice, our unity with Him, and our need for one another. As we take the bread and the cup, we are reminded of God's immense love and forgiveness. This act of thanksgiving should inspire us to live lives of gratitude, generosity, and service to others. [56:40]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:44] - The Significance of Baptism
• [35:06] - Hearing God's Voice in Silence
• [45:04] - God's Unexpected Call
• [49:05] - The Role of Mentorship in Discerning God's Call
• [56:40] - Active Participation in Communion
• [65:14] - Response Time and Benediction

Observation Questions

1. What significant event in the life of a believer does Romans 6 associate with baptism? ([09:44])
2. How did Samuel initially respond to the voice calling him in the night, and what was Eli's eventual realization? ([45:04])
3. What was the state of the word of the Lord and visions during the time Samuel served in the temple? ([39:34])
4. How did Eli instruct Samuel to respond if he heard the voice again? ([45:04])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does the act of baptism symbolize according to Romans 6, and how does it relate to the believer's journey in faith? ([09:44])
2. Why might the word of the Lord have been rare and visions not widespread during Samuel's time, and how does this compare to our current experience of hearing God's voice? ([39:34])
3. How does the story of Samuel illustrate the importance of mentorship in discerning God's call? ([49:05])
4. What does the repeated calling of Samuel by God suggest about God's persistence and our need to be attentive? ([45:04])

Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own baptism or a significant spiritual milestone. How did it shape your faith journey, and how can you continue to live out its significance today? ([09:44])
2. In what ways can you create intentional quietness and openness in your life to better hear God's voice amidst the noise and distractions? ([35:06])
3. Have you ever experienced a time when you felt God was calling you to something unexpected? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([45:04])
4. Think of a time when a mentor or spiritual advisor helped you discern God's call. How can you seek or provide such mentorship in your current faith community? ([49:05])
5. During communion, we are reminded of Jesus' sacrifice and our unity with Him. How can you actively participate in this remembrance and let it inspire you to live a life of gratitude, generosity, and service? ([56:40])
6. Samuel's story shows that God's call can come at any age and to anyone. How can you remain open to God's call, even if it challenges your comfort and control? ([45:04])
7. Thomas Merton said, "My life is listening, God's is speaking, and my salvation is to hear and respond." How can you cultivate a lifestyle of listening and responding to God's voice in your daily life? ([51:13])