January 28, 2015--Calling and Gifts

Mark 3:13-19a

¹³He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, ¹⁵and to have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  Then he went home.

What a vast difference in the people Jesus called.  Fishermen, tax collectors, sons of thunder (loud and angry).  God still calls people that are different, who have different life experiences, different gifts.  And they came when he called. 

Jesus then named twelve to be apostles, again, very different from each other.  These were appointed to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.  

We are called to be disciples, to learn from God.  All of us are called, maybe not all of us sent out to do public proclamation, and not all of us will be healers.  Paul will say that not all disciples will be called to be apostles.  

What are you called to? Teaching? Hospitality? Administration? Healing? Generosity? 

Where are you passions?  What gets you really excited?

Put these two together, along with a need, and you have got the making of a possible calling. 

Wondering what gifts you may be called?  Consider taking the following brief inventory.  God is calling!

http://www.elca.org/en/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Assessment-Tools