Strengthening the Community A dialogue on “Calling”

God’s vision for FPBC Matthew 5:13-16 A City on a hill that cannot be hidden  You are the salt that doesn’t lose its saltiness  You are the light shine before others that they may glorify your Father in Heaven

God’s focus for FPBC this year Revelation 2:1-7 v4-5 “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first”  First, love  Love God  Love People  Love in action : “do”

Building Strong Community Preaching Series  Alvin preached on “Becoming as One”  Part 1: watch your conduct; love extravagantly  Part 2: stand on common ground; accept differences  Jeremy preached on “Life in the Body”  Love covers sin; Extend hospitality; Serve each other

Calling  What’s your 1st thought when I mention the word “calling”?

Primary, First, Highest “Calling” Communion with God Definition of “Communion”  a close relationship with  an intimate fellowship with  the sharing and exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings

Primary, First, Highest “Calling” Communion with God  Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me” Jesus said…  1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light”  1 Peter 5:10 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you”  John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”

Called to be part of the Body of Christ Ephesians  4:4 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope”  1:22 “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body.”  3:10 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…..”  4:7,12 “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ maybe built up.”

Multiple (Specific) Callings in one person  Husband to my wife  Father to my children  Son to my parents  Brother to my sister  Friend to my buddies  Elder at FPBC  Board Chairman at Dalat International School  Children Supervisor at BSF Penang Men  Member of my cell group

Defining “Calling” (Legacy)  Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt  Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land  Apostle Paul missionary to the gentiles  Timothy to build up the church in Ephesus  Titus to put in order the church in Crete

Dialogue on Calling  Primary, First and Highest Calling  Called to be part of the Body of Christ  Multiple (specific) Callings in one person  Defining Calling (better word, legacy)

The more important question about “Calling” Are we living up to the calling? Ephesian 4:1-2 “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” FPBC focus for 2015: First, love

Strong Community When we all live up to our calling, our community will be strengthen  United church  Strong families  Ethical businesses  Effective government

To do list  Before you leave today, check out the ministry booths and pick one thing to “do”  Talk to God and ask Him to help you evaluate your “love” quotient for God and for people  Examine the Scripture to see what it has to say about your specific callings (eg what does the bible have to say about being a husband, wife, father, mother, children)