Primary Ministry Calling: Calling, Lesson 1
By Steve Childers
Scripture teaches that all followers of Christ are called by God to the work of ministry. So, whether you’re in “the ministry”, a full-time homemaker, or in the marketplace, you’re called to full-time Christian service. In Martin Luther’s famous work, Babylonian Captivity, he wrote:
“A farmer in the field or his wife in the kitchen doing their work by faith to the glory of God is as high and holy a calling as a preacher in the pulpit.”
We must fight against the belief that only an elite group of religious people are called to “full-time Christian service”, as if the majority of Christians are only called to be part-time followers of Christ.
Except for the biblical teaching on the cross of Christ, nothing has had such a transforming impact on culture through the ages as a biblical understanding of the primary calling of God on all followers of Jesus Christ.
Learning Goals
In this lesson, you’ll be equipped to:
Define the biblical concept of a primary ministry calling
Distinguish between the calling of all believers and the calling of ordained leaders
Explain how all followers of Jesus are called by God, not just an elite group
Teach the history of separating "secular work" and "sacred calling"
Explain why the calling of ordained leaders is not superior to other callings
Defend the need for all believers to understand how they are called to ministry
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