Calling And Vocation
We go to work worshipping, evangelizing, and transforming.
Make work an act of worship
1 Corinthians 10:31(NLT) – …whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23(NIV) – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…
Colossians 3:23(NLT) – Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Proverbs 18:9(NIV) – One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
Proverbs 22:29(NLT) – Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
Make Disciples at work
Matthew 28:19a – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…
Transform the marketplace
Often, we have disconnected who we are in church from who we are in the workplace.
We don’t conform to our marketplace culture… we transform our culture.
Ephesians 4:10(NLT) – And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Use Callings and giftings in the marketplace
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13a(MSG) – “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
Matthew 5:14 – Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept.
Matthew 5:16 – Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
“Only one of the 40 extraordinary manifestations of God’s power recorded in Acts happened in a religious venue.” – Ed Silvoso
“In the Bible, the concept of calling goes deeper than any one aspect of life, such as work. God called people to become united with himself in every aspect of life.” – Dr. Terry Cross
Calling can be expressed in multiple ways.
We are called to become and display… and to keep displaying!
Some lethal misbeliefs concerning Marketplace Ministry (adapted from Ed SIlvoso)
Marketplace Christians feel like second-class citizens when compared to people who serve full-time in a church or missionary context.
The church is called to operate primarily inside the church building (or outreach/mission trips/outings).
People involved in business cannot be as spiritual as those serving in traditional church ministry,
The primary role of marketplace Christians is to make money to support the vision of those “in the ministry.”
“Not only is it OK to do ministry in the marketplace, but that God has explicitly called them and anointed them for it.” – Ed SIlvoso
Romans 11:29(NLT) – For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
Proverbs 18:16(NKJV) – A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Hebrews 13:20-21(NLT) Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.