Called to Community
Forming Community
God’s Call
Pages 143-149
TOGETHER read the devotional and the scripture.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out.
1 Corinthians 1:26 - 2:5 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your devotional notes and pray.
Christian community may be a biblical teaching, but why is God’s call, and the certainty of God’s call, so important?
If community is based on God’s call, does this mean it is not for everyone?
How does one know or discern God’s calling?
Why do you think Arnold says that when we see our particular tasks as something special we will go astray?
EXTRA READING:
“Blessed is the time of waiting when we stay awake for the Lord, the Creator of the universe, who fills all things and transcends all things. How I wish He would awaken me, His humble servant, from the sleep of slothfulness, even though I am of little worth. How I wish He would enkindle me with that fire of divine love. The flames of His love burn beyond the stars; the longing for His overwhelming delights and the divine fire ever burns within me!”
- Columbanus (543 - 615)