3. The Call To Serve 2 Timothy 1:9 Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:11-12

4. The Calls of God The Call to Repent –Turning that leads to permanent and growing change. The Call to Holiness– Set apart and pure. The Call to Serve

5. The Common Call We hold up missionaries, pastors, etc. as people who are “called” to serve or “called” to ministry in contrast to the “normal” Christian. This step is far from what the New Testament teaches.

6. The Common Call In the New Testament, the Call To Serve or Call to Minister is one that is: –COMMON TO ALL CHRISTIANS. We are not saved by service, but we are saved for service.

7. The Common Call 1. God gave His church pastors and teachers. –Leaders are not “called” into ministry as compared to others who are not. –God gave leaders to help all the other ministers. (Eph. 4:11-12)

8. The Common Call 2. God Gave You a Spiritual Gift. –At salvation we are all given a gift or gifts for service. –A “gift” is simply a word that refers to an ability. –1 Cor. 12:4-7;12;18-20;27

9. The Common Call 3. God Ordained Your Service. –God has marked out a ministry for you. (Eph. 2:10) –He intends it to be your ministry, your service, done uniquely by you.

10. The Deep Purpose 1. It isn’t because He needs us. –While He has a unique work for each of us to do, and He chooses to work through us, each of us is expendable. 2. It isn’t to give us personal fulfillment or satisfaction.

11. The Deep Purpose In the deepest sense it is to mature us. (Eph. 4:13) –It will mature us in belief. (Philemon 6) –It will help us more fully die to self. (2 Cor. 4:7- 12;16; 6:3-10) Service often leads to hardship.

12. The Grand Design Through our service and mission we are participating in the coming of a new world order. Matthew 6:10; Rev. 11:15 You may ask– How? When it sometimes seems so small or futile?