Worthy of the Call: Embracing Grace, Grit, and Action

Devotional

Day 1: Grace as the Foundation of Our Calling

Grace is the cornerstone of our spiritual journey, emphasizing that our worthiness is not derived from our own merits but from God's unmerited favor. This grace, bestowed upon us through Christ, is the wellspring of our strength and motivation. It is crucial to internalize this truth, as it empowers us to live out our calling effectively. Without grace, our efforts become unsustainable, and we risk burnout. Embracing grace means allowing it to compel us to action and repentance, as Paul advised Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [05:05]

2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV): "who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than God's grace? How can you shift your focus to embrace His grace more fully today?

Day 2: Developing Spiritual Grit

Spiritual grit is the inner strength and determination to persevere in faith, even amidst challenges. Paul exemplified this grit through his hardships, driven by the grace of God to work harder than others. Grit involves embracing discomfort, facing challenges head-on, and rising after setbacks. It is about cultivating a resolute spirit that refuses to give up, regardless of circumstances. This kind of grit is essential for making a lasting impact in God's kingdom, as it enables us to continue our mission despite obstacles. [19:41]

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing that requires spiritual grit? How can you rely on God's strength to persevere through it?

Day 3: The Call to Go

We are called to go and share the gospel, not because of our qualifications, but because God calls us. This call to go is an act of obedience that builds our faith and prepares us for greater challenges. Whether it's sharing our faith on campus, serving our community, or entering ministry, we must be willing to answer God's call and go. Each step of obedience strengthens our faith and equips us for the journey ahead. [34:21]

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"

Reflection: Where is God calling you to go today, and what steps can you take to respond to His call with obedience and faith?

Day 4: Facing Fear and Sin

To answer God's call, we must confront the fears and sins that hinder us. By repenting and relying on God's strength, we can overcome these barriers and fulfill our mission. Facing our fears and sins requires courage and humility, but it is essential for living a life worthy of the call. As we confront these obstacles, we grow in faith and become more effective in our mission. [43:21]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Reflection: What fear or sin is currently holding you back from fully answering God's call? How can you seek God's help to overcome it today?

Day 5: Living a Life of Impact

Our impact in God's kingdom is not determined by our abilities but by our willingness to answer His call. By embracing grace, developing grit, and going where He leads, we can make a lasting difference. Living a life of impact means being open to God's leading and trusting Him to use us for His purposes. As we respond to His call, we become instruments of His love and grace in the world. [47:27]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: How can you be more intentional about living a life of impact for God's kingdom today? What specific actions can you take to align with His purposes?

Sermon Summary

In our gathering today, we explored the theme "Worthy of the Call," focusing on three essential elements: Grace, Grit, and Go. To live a life worthy of God's calling, we must first embrace His grace, develop spiritual grit, and be willing to go wherever He leads us.

Grace is the foundation of our calling. It is not our talents, repentance, or efforts that make us worthy, but God's grace alone. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:9, we are saved and called to a holy life not because of anything we have done, but because of His purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Understanding and internalizing this grace is crucial because it is the source of our strength and motivation. Without it, our efforts to live out our calling will be unsustainable. We must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, as Paul advised Timothy, and let this grace compel us to action and repentance.

Grit is the inner strength and determination to persevere in our faith, even when faced with challenges. Paul exemplified this grit through his hardships, yet he continued to work harder than others, driven by the grace of God. Grit involves being uncomfortable, embracing challenges, and getting back up after setbacks. It is about having a resolute spirit that refuses to give up, no matter the circumstances. This kind of grit is essential for making a lasting impact in God's kingdom.

Finally, we are called to go. Just as Paul was called to go and preach to the Gentiles, we too are called to go and share the gospel with those around us. This call to go is not based on our qualifications or comfort but on the one who calls us. Each decision to go builds our faith and prepares us for greater challenges. Whether it's sharing our faith on campus, serving our community, or going into ministry, we must be willing to answer God's call and go.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace as the Foundation: Our worthiness of the call is rooted in God's grace, not our own merits. This grace, given to us in Christ, is the source of our strength and motivation. We must be strong in this grace to effectively live out our calling. [05:05]
2. Grit in Faith: Spiritual grit involves working hard, embracing discomfort, and persevering through challenges. Like Paul, we must develop an inner strength that enables us to continue our mission despite obstacles. [19:41]
3. The Call to Go: We are called to go and share the gospel, not because we are qualified, but because God calls us. Each step of obedience builds our faith and prepares us for greater challenges. [34:21]
4. Facing Fear and Sin: We must confront our fears and sins that hinder us from answering God's call. By repenting and relying on God's strength, we can overcome these barriers and fulfill our mission. [43:21]
5. Living a Life of Impact: Our impact in God's kingdom is not determined by our abilities but by our willingness to answer His call. By embracing grace, developing grit, and going where He leads, we can make a lasting difference. [47:27]
** [47:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction and Theme
[00:27] - Grace, Grit, and Go
[01:05] - Strong in Grace
[02:18] - Living Worthy of the Call
[04:03] - God's Purpose and Grace
[05:26] - Obeying the Call
[06:37] - Strength from Grace
[08:07] - Avoiding Burnout
[09:06] - Grace as a Teacher
[11:00] - Rooted in Grace
[13:19] - Grace as the Trunk
[14:26] - The Cost of Grace
[16:22] - Transition to Grit
[17:44] - Being Men of Grit
[19:41] - Grit and Hard Work
[22:43] - Embracing Discomfort
[28:24] - Getting Back Up
[34:21] - The Call to Go
[37:25] - Personal Testimony
[41:18] - Paul's Example
[43:21] - Overcoming Barriers
[45:00] - Answering the Call
[47:27] - Conclusion and Challenge

Sermon Clips

Grace is the foundation of our calling. It is not our talents, repentance, or efforts that make us worthy, but God's grace alone. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:9, we are saved and called to a holy life not because of anything we have done, but because of His purpose and grace. [00:04:00]

Brothers, Paul first makes it clear that this is a call to live a holy life. What does holy mean? A set-apart life from the world. And why did he call us? Did we earn it? No, he says it's not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. [00:09:00]

God doesn't call the qualified; he qualifies the called. God has qualified you in this room as Disciples of Jesus through his grace. God does both the saving and the calling, but listen, we have to do the obeying. And brothers, we got to start here and realize that it's only by his mercy. [00:12:00]

We shouldn't do good as Christians in the hopes of being found worthy of our Salvation or worthy to be used by God, but rather we should grow and do good as Christians because God already deemed you worthy of the life and death of Jesus before you ever did anything right or wrong. [00:15:00]

Paul goes to great lengths to preach and explain the grace of God before he turns to telling Christians the things they should be doing. My concern, brothers, is that a lot of times we jump the gun. In our zeal to please God, we go in the strength we have and not in the strength that God can provide. [00:19:00]

Paul believed that the actions of the Disciples of Jesus need to come from being rooted in grace. Do you believe that as well? Paul went from city to city because of the gospel. Paul is only a vessel for God because of Jesus's kindness towards him. What about you? [00:27:00]

No church will ever be stronger than the message it proclaims, and no Christian will ever be stronger than the message they believe. Amen. So where are you getting your strength from today as you're at ICMC? Is it from God and His life-changing gospel, or is it from you and your willpower? [00:31:00]

Grace isn't just this side thing that we include in our walk; it is the trunk of the tree. Grace is what all health comes from, and so that's got to be obvious that as other people look at your life, they see, man, that brother knows God's love for him, and that is what gets him going. [00:36:00]

Paul with grace in his mind and grit in his heart faithfully answered the call to go. He says that it was his mission to preach to the Gentiles and to reveal the mystery of the Gospel to all people. He said that he was a servant of this calling. [00:57:00]

You don't go out of excitement or because you feel qualified; you go because of the one who is calling. Each small decision to go builds on the next, giving you more faith in each God that God will call you in your life. [01:08:00]

God will always call you to stop living as the world would and to go live as Christ did. You see, all of you are being called today, but will you go? You all want to lift up a couple of men in this room who didn't stop when there was a call to go. [01:29:00]

The time is now. Each one of you in this room is qualified. You are worthy of this call. God has qualified you by his grace. We all need to have grit, and we need to be willing to go. God is calling each one of you here today to do something to bring glory for his kingdom. [01:34:00]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?