Your Vocation (Not Avocation)`

Vocation vs. Avocation

vocation - noun; a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling. a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.

avocation - noun; something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby:Our doctor's avocation is painting.

What does this have to do with living out the Christian faith?

Did you know?

Vocation has been making its voice heard in English since the 15th century, when it referred to a summons from God to perform a particular task or function in life, especially a religious career. It should come as no surprise, then, that the word is a descendant of Latin vocatio, meaning "summons." Vocatio, in turn, comes from vocare, meaning "to call," which itself is from vox, meaning "voice." Vocation also has a secular position in the English language as a word for the strong desire to do a certain kind of work or the work itself, much like the words calling or occupation.

Called, the big debate - Calvin vs. Luther

1 Corinthians 7:17 HCSB

However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 7:18 HCSB

Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.

1 Corinthians 7:19 HCSB

Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God’s commands does.

1 Corinthians 7:20 HCSB

Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:21 HCSB

Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.

1 Corinthians 7:22 HCSB

For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.

1 Corinthians 7:23 HCSB

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

1 Corinthians 7:24 HCSB

Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.

Our Key Verse:

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.

Church, something we go to, or a description of who we are?

Church, to be served, or to serve?

Start with a dose of humility

Philippians 2:1 HCSB

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Philippians 2:2 HCSB

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

Philippians 2:3 HCSB

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians 2:4 HCSB

Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

How?

Philippians 2:5 HCSB

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:6 HCSB

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Philippians 2:7 HCSB

Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

Philippians 2:8 HCSB

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:9 HCSB

For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

Philippians 2:10 HCSB

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth —

Philippians 2:11 HCSB

and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Why?

Philippians 2:12 HCSB

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:13 HCSB

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Philippians 2:14 HCSB

Do everything without grumbling and arguing,

Philippians 2:15 HCSB

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

Philippians 2:16 HCSB

Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.

Philippians 2:17 HCSB

But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Philippians 2:18 HCSB

In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Your vocation, your calling?

Witnesses (both overtly and covertly)

Acts 1:6 HCSB

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

Acts 1:7 HCSB

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.

Acts 1:8 HCSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:9 HCSB

After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10 HCSB

While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.

Acts 1:11 HCSB

They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”