1 how would you respond? dear brothers and sisters in christ, we are a university christian...

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How Would You Respond?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,We are a University Christian Fellowship group from Anhui province. Tonight at our prayer meeting, a sister gave us a piece of paper with your email address, saying we could send an email to you to ask for Bibles and books that we need. We are very thankful to have this information because until now the supply of Bibles has been limited and simply not available. Can you really provide Bibles for our work? Please send us more information!Your sisters in Christ.

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How Would You Respond?

Hello, I am a preacher in Jiangxi Province. Thank you for the books and the Bibles which have helped us to grow. I am now doing a university student ministry. The books really help the students to grasp the meaning and improve their skills. We need Gospel tracts, Sunday School materials and Bibles. Do you know when you will be able to help us?

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This WeekI. Discuss the general call of God for

our service.

II. Identify the hallmarks of the Specific Call that God issues to the individual

III. Understand he call that God has given me

IV.Consider the call is giving you and respond to it.

LessonPlan

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I. The General Call

a. Though all Christians are called to serve the cause of Christ, God calls certain persons to serve the Church as pastors and in other ways which benefit the body of Christ. Ex 35:21

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. KJV

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I. The General Call

b. In 2 Peter 1:10 we are told to make our calling and election sure. It is by our "good works" in the sense of holy living, and of lives consecrated to the service of God, that we witness the evidence of our true salvation.

c. True Christians; that is, those who are really called into the kingdom of God, are called to be active participants in the purposes of God for their lives. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. KJV

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I. The General Call

d. So, it is a high honor to be called of God into a ministry of any kind. In fact, it is the highest calling. But how do you know if God is calling you?

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II. The Specific Call

a. First, there is an inward call. Through His Spirit, God speaks to those persons He is calling to serve in the capacity he has selected for them. Acts 8:29

The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." NIV

b. Martin Luther described this inward call as “God’s voice heard by faith.” Those whom God has called know this call by a sense of leading, purpose, and growing commitment.

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c. Charles Spurgeon identified the first sign of God’s call to the ministry as “an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.” Acts 20:22-23 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. NIV

d. Those called by God sense a growing compulsion to do whatever ministry God has prepared for them. Their heart’s desire is to fulfill whatever the ministry is that God has placed within them.

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e. This sense of compulsion should prompt the believer to consider the call of God as earnestly and seriously as anything she or he has ever considered doing.

f. As Spurgeon warned those who sought his counsel not to preach if they could help it. “But,” Spurgeon continued, “if he cannot help it, and he must preach or die, then he is the man.” That sense of urgent commission is one of the hallmarks of an authentic call.

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g. Second, there is the external call. God uses the congregation to “call out the called” to ministry. The congregation must evaluate and affirm the calling and gifts of the believer who feels called to the ministry. Rom 10:14-15

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? KJV

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h. As a family of faith, the congregation should recognize and celebrate the gifts of ministry given to its members, and take responsibility to encourage those whom God has called to respond to that call with joy and submission.

i. Only God can call his servants, and only He can grant the servant the gifts necessary for service. But the great promise of Scripture is that God does call his servants, and presents them as gifts to the Church. 1 Cor 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. NIV

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j. Has God called you to some kind of ministry?

III. God’s Call to Me

a. God has called me to a particular ministry. Last year on our trip to China and Viet Nam I was introduced to Autumn Rain International which is a small group working out of Hong Kong distributing Bibles throughout Asia. 13


b. I became acquainted with a huge need throughout Asia to get Bibles into the hands of people who had either no or limited access to the Word of God. My heart’s desire is to participate in this work. 14


c. God has given me a passion for it and He has made me willing to go. The Pastor and Elders of Sunrise Community Church have endorsed my going so I am being sent. 15


d. Autumn Rain International has a present need for someone who will come to help them do the work of their ministry. Depending upon my receipt of funding I could leave the first part of February for one year. 16


e. Once funded my work will involve:Coordinate the work of courier teams, Arrange travel for courier teams,Escort teams on border crossings to transport Bibles, 17


Coordinate international Bible shipments into Hong Kong,

Coordinate the distribution of Bibles throughout China,

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Work and plan with underground Pastors outside of China in Viet Nam, Laos, India, Thailand, Burma, etc. for Bible shipments,

Prepare a blog of my activities, 19


Teach a Sunday School class where opportunity exists,

Be available to assist with any other project that may arise

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My Personal Goal:

Facilitate the distribution of 150,000 Bibles throughout Southeast Asia in one year.

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IV. God’s Call to You

a. God has called me to go but in that call he has also prepared you to be my senders. Senders are the ones who make going possible. They are the support and encouragement.

b. If it were possible, many of you would hand carry Bibles to the people who need them, but this is not practical. I go in your place. In being my sender it is as if I am representing you to the people of Asia.

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c. Senders are vital to the work of God. They pray, they give financially; they are the enablers that make the ministry happen. Goers without senders might just as well stay home.

d. Though all Christians are called to serve the cause of Christ, God calls certain persons to serve the ministries of the Church as goers while others serve the Lord as senders. In the end, it is all supplied by God. 2 Cor 9:10-11

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2 Cor 9:10-11 Now he who supplies seed to the

sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. NIV

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e. In order to go I need to raise $800 per month of support. Time is of the essence. If I do not leave in February I will need to delay my departure until July. However, the need that Autumn Rain has is right now.

f. Will you send me? I need to know almost immediately how much of my support can be raised within this class.

a. In order to go I need to raise $800 per month of support. Time is of the essence. If I do not leave in February I will need to delay my departure until July. However, the need that Autumn Rain has is right now!1. In what ways is God calling you to respond to this urgent need?

2. What will you do?26

VI. Application

1 how would you respond? dear brothers and sisters in christ, we are a university christian...

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