Sermon Outlines from Vocations Advisers



Vocations Sunday

News Sheet/Magazine Articles

Called to be you

Vocations Sunday is an opportunity to set aside a day to encourage all of us think about our vocation.

So what is your vocation? You may think that you don’t have a vocation or that vocations are the sort of thing clergy have. But if you think that, you’re wrong. Each of us does have a vocation. God calls each one of us. The question, though, is to what?

First and foremost, God calls us to change: to become more Christ-like. We are called to live out our lives in response to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That process began in our baptism, but it continues through prayer, through the reading of the scriptures and through the receiving of Holy Communion. One of the constant themes in the New Testament is that lives touched by Christ were changed. What is true for the characters of the New Testament is true for us. As we encounter and respond to Christ we cannot help but be changed.

But while we are called to change, we are also called to be more deeply ourselves. God never calls us to be something or someone we’re not. God always calls us to what we are capable of becoming. It may be that there are parts of us which are underdeveloped or which rarely see the light of day which need to be allowed to flourish so we can be our true selves. It may be that we have hidden gifts which need to be discovered or it may be that there is something that we have secretly always wanted to do but have not had the courage or the time to try. Whatever it may be we need to find an outlet which will allow us to feel more excited about life or indeed to feel more alive.

St Irenaeus wrote that ‘the glory of God is a human being fully alive’. Through the dual process of becoming more fully ourselves and of becoming more fully Christ-like, the will of God is fulfilled and the glory of God seen. That is what Vocations Sunday is about. You have one life. For God’s sake and for your own, live it.

Stephen Ferns

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When God calls

Brrring, brrring. “Hello?” “God here - do you have a moment?” If only it were that straightforward! How much easier it would be to discover our intended path and calling in life, but we know it doesn’t work like that. So how do we discern what God is calling us to do – our Christian vocation?

First and most importantly of all, we can be confident that God is calling! The words of Jesus to the Galilean fishermen are still being spoken in the hearts of all who can hear: “follow me”! In addition to any specific call to any specific work or ministry, God is still calling all to become followers of Christ.

Paul urged the Christians in Ephesus “to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph 4:1-3) This is our primary and on-going call: to become active and faithful members of the body of Christ.

But what about the other kind of call, the burning conviction that we are supposed to be doing something special and distinct for God? In order to build up the body of Christ on earth, God does call some people to a variety of ministries for which they have to be selected and trained. These include the priesthood, licensed lay ministry, being missionaries, counsellors or youth workers. Such calls often involve thoughts and desires that just won’t go away, and also encouragement from other people who can sometimes see our potential more clearly than we can ourselves.

Usually, though, God’s call involves recognising what we love to do and what we’re already good at, and looking for opportunities to use our time and talents in our homes, communities, churches and places of work – or even abroad! If, for instance, I am a good listener, perhaps I could use my talent to visit people who are housebound or help out with a reading scheme at a local school. If my passion is arts and crafts, there might be a call for my talent and skills in a Sunday school or at a community centre, or creating new works of art for my church. If I really care about helping young people, I could volunteer my time and other resources for church or community projects that are aimed at this age group.

Where service to God is concerned, it is often the case of being able to see a need and then being willing to respond. No matter what the call, though, it will always be the case of being - and becoming - the hands and feet of Christ, seeing with his eyes and allowing his compassion to inspire and motivate all that we do. That’s what’s at the heart of true discipleship, and that’s a call for all of us, for all of our lives.

Christina Rees

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