Session 3: Everyday Faith in the Bible
Aim
By the end of this session you should be able to:
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relate your journey of call and vocation and your daily faith life with that of others in scripture
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begin to understand how we might discern God's call today
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Prayer
Blessed are you Lord our God
You call us to be lights in the world
and heralds of your love and peace.
As I work through this session
May I learn more of your call for me
and your call to the Church in your world
Amen.
Introduction
This session explores the call of God in the Bible and how this resonates within our own lives. Read Chapter 1 (pp3-9) of Throup, M (2022) When Jesus Calls. As he writes Throup refers to the call of a number of biblical characters. Their experience of hearing and responding to God's call may resonate with your own experience.
Read the stories of the call of the following biblical figures:
Abraham (Genesis 12:1-5)
Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-21)
Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Peter (Luke 5:1-11)
Lydia (Acts 16:14-15).
What, if anything surprises you about those calls? Which do you most relate to? How did these figures live out God's call in their everyday faith?
Read chapter 2 from Susan Jones book 'Listening to God's Call' (2014) which you will find as a pdf file in the resources section at the bottom of the page. There is also a helpful text conversation between the Bishop of Chester and his daughter about how we discern God's call today Tanner, M (2023) Faithful? Foolish? CALLED which you will find as a pdf below.
Abram
Watch the video opposite (or below on mobile phones).
Abram’s call was actually God’s call. Abram needed to do nothing except be faithful. In token of this he took on a new name and marked himself and the male side of his household physically as followers of God. However the call wasn’t in isolation. Abram’s life to that moment, and life thereafter, were all leading to God’s fulfilment of his covenant – Abram was on a journey…
Things To Think About
As you reflect on God’s call, spend some time reflecting on the idea of God’s call as a journey.
Use the 'To Do Box' on the top of page 7 of Listening to God's Call to reflect on your call in the light of the call of Abram.
Now listen to the opening track from the film Billy Elliott below. The lyrics of the song point to an understanding of Billy’s vocation as stretching from womb to tomb.
1. Do you think that some people might be called to express and develop one particular gift throughout their lives?
2. Can you think of any examples of such people? Reflect on the calls you've read about in the chapter or about the characters we looked at in the first part of this session.
3. Compare two of the biblical figures and their calls. How do they differ? In what ways are they similar?
4. Is there one way that God calls people?
If you would like to do some further thinking about this (but it's optional) use the To Do Box on page 15 of S Jones (2014) to guide your thoughts. You may also like to read the other article in the Resources section: Calling or Career.
Spotlight on Doctrine
During the Reformation, John Calvin, along with Martin Luther and others, helped Christians rediscover the biblical doctrine of work.
Calvin held a dynamic view of calling, believing that every Christian has a vocational calling to serve God in the world in every sphere of human existence, lending a new dignity and meaning to ordinary work. It was an early version of what we now call everday faith!
He urged believers of his day to become salt and light in the world, thereby introducing a Christian presence and influence within their culture.
Spotlight on Spirituality
St Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order, wrote that it shouldn’t be difficult to encounter God – God should be easily visible all around us. This is the purpose of salt and light, to add our unique flavour to the things of God, and to shine the light of His presence in dark places. Is that true of you?
Reflect
On what you have learned today. In what ways might you see your work as Salt and Light, a vocation from God to the world?
Prayer
"You are the salt of the earth".
Sprinkle us across our town, God, across our world, to bring the flavour of your Kingdom wherever we go.
"You are the light of the world.”
Uncover the radiance that is within us, God, to shine the truth of your love wherever we go.
"Let your light shine before others”
So that everyone we meet may see our lives of worship and glorify you, our Father in heaven.
Amen.
Something Practical To Do
Look for those in your Church and community who are particularly ‘salty’ or 'light filled'. Think about (or even have a conversation with them) what makes them so effective in their Christian service and what might give them the impetus to do what they do.
Share some of what you have found on the discussion board in the Forum (this post is required for those taking the assessment).
Resources
