Calling, Gifting and Unity
Read Ephesians 4:1-16:
- What is the "calling" Paul is talking about? (verses 1-4)
- What are the characteristics of this calling?
- How would you compare your understanding of calling with the calling described by Paul?
- Most New Testament uses of "calling" refer to salvation, sanctification or service. Which of these aspects do you see in this passage?
- At this point in your life, what calling have you experienced? In what ways can you become more "worthy of the calling you have received"?
- What role do gifts play in living out our call? (verses 7-13)
- Most commentators identify unity as the focus of verses 1-16. Why do you think Paul identifies calling and gifts as essential components of achieving maturity and unity in the Body of Christ?
- In The Call, Os Guinness states,
- Modern life assaults us with an infinite range of things we could do, we would love to do, or some people tell us we should do. But we are not God and we are neither infinite nor eternal. We are quite simply finite. We have only so many years, so much energy, so many gray cells, and so many bank notes in our wallets.
- Yet as we make our contribution along the line of our gifts and callings, and others do the same, there is both a fruitfulness and a rest in the outcome. Our gifts are used for the purpose for which they were given us. And we can rest in doing what we can without ever pretending we are more than the little people we plainly are. Rene Dubos's maxim, "Think globally, act locally," comes into its own in the context of calling. (Page 179)
- Now read Ephesians 4:14-16. In what way does this passage shed light on Guinness's quote? Does the quote shed light on this passage?
At this point in your life, how would you answer the question, "How can I make my best contribution?" Has this study impacted your answer? If so, how?
