Big Idea: Called to a Who not a What

Spam call

A phone call is supposed to serve a purpose.

Testimony

A call on your life is to give you purpose.

Your calling isn’t for you- it’s for others.

Chapel service

Bible memory competition… really encouraged me and affirmed the call

Ironwood bible camp: Pastor asking students to stand if they felt called into ministry.. didn’t stand I didn’t feel good enough or old enough

Preaching competition 11 in (training, mentors, writing… backed out cause nerves… I became aware of what people began to think of me)

Crippling stage fright causing me to get bullied, made fun of by my teacher and students, failed language arts twice in middle school

I shoved my calling into ministry away

I loved coming to church and serving but it was eating away at me because I knew God wanted more for me

Mike acker… scheduled me to host and I straight ghosted Pastor Mike

Steve asked me to preach at least 20 times and I phoned it in last minute every time because I was scared to humiliate myself

I became so focused on my fear that I would say Fear became the loudest voice in my life

I tried running from the call on my life. The reason we run from calling is because we didn’t go looking for it. Calling finds you.

I associated my calling as doing something I didn’t feel prepared for and because of that my the idea of calling crushed me.

Why does calling feel so daunting?

Is feeling called by God really this burdensome?

LUKE 5

God wants to unleash our potential but we often limit it.

Context: Peter, James, John, and their dad fishing all night in Galilee

Peter, James, and John had grown up in the family fishing business—a respectable position in society.

Fishermen don’t play around. They can be nice, but they’re often rough around the edges. Go to Newport Harbor on a Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m., and you’ll see what I mean.

They were exhausted, sitting on the sand, cleaning their boat and their nets. I went deep-sea fishing a year ago, and after we got back, the crew went crazy washing everything—it took hours.

As they worked, Jesus walked up, stepped into the very boat they were cleaning, and began preaching to a crowd of people. After he taught

Luke 5:4–11 NLT

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus who grew up being a carpenter and is now this nomadic preacher who speaks in parables is in this families boat calling shots

Master - a guy they respect, his teachings, he can hang

Trammel Net

They get the net re-ready and get everyone situated to throw out a Trammel Net

Trammel nets - hours to clean- depending on the size..often 100 to 500 feet

Trammel Nets had 3 layers of mesh… very strong and very stable

Net = security, stability, predictability, identity

without a net in the water you can be mistaken for someone else

sailor, pirate, romans

The Net began to tear

The thing they thought they could depend on began to break… they couldn’t see it, but they felt it.

Often times we know things we thought we could depend are breaking not by how it looks- but by how it feels.

On the outside it looks like the plan we have for our life is promising.

We chose the right major in college. We have a good paying job.

But feel deep down were aren’t satisfied.

You were to scared to do the real thing you felt called to do so you settled for back up plan.

You went for what feels safe and secure but your left feeling empty and unfulfilled.

Peter, James, John, and their dad experienced the greatest catch ever while at the same time feeling their plans, security, and job ripped away.

Craig Groeschel the Lead Pastor at Life Church says "calling is to a “who” not a “what”

What we do can be taken away.

Calling can change and develop.

No where in scripture does God give clear direction on what do in with a career.

It’s all about who we are called to follow.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be [catching] men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Peter, James, and John lost their careers and found a new calling all at once.

They felt everything breaking and in a moment Jesus put everything back together.

“Your God given calling always begins with following a who before that who tells you what to do.”

The reason calling feels so burdensome is because you’re too focused on what you need to do rather than who you need to follow.

Follow Jesus and calling will chase you the rest of your life.

CALLING & FOLLOWING

Two invitations: Calling & Following

Calling

Maybe you have a similar experience as I did. You know you are called to ministry. You are called for more.

You know you are called to vocational ministry but you’re running from it.

You know you are called to be a missionary but you’re running from it.

You know you are called to be lead worship but you’re running from it.

You know you are called to go to Bible College but you’re running from it.

You know you are called to be a pastor but you’re running from it.

Tonight I am asking you to stop running from it.

If you have felt God calling you into ministry and you’ve been running I am going to ask you to stand and make your way up here so our team can pray for you and after head into the living room so we can activate you in your calling

Following

We are all called to follow Jesus. Maybe you feel like your plans arent’t working out....