Called to Serve

Lesson Text: Acts 16:11-15, 40; I Corinthians 1:26-30

We might summarize this lesson by saying that women like Lydia served where God gave them an opportunity. Likewise, women of today serve and utilize their gifts for God's glory. Paul reveals in I Corinthians that God chose the cross to demonstrate His wisdom instead of using society's highest honors. As usual, God uses people who follow the cross as a demonstration of His wisdom. So seek God's glory, and He will use you like Lydia.

Thought to remember: Seek the wisdom of the cross. Serve in its shadow!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, all believers need places to serve. May we answer You as You call us to the right place and the right time and gift us in the right way to do Your will. Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!

Called to Explain

Lesson Text: Acts 18:1-3, 18-21, 24-26; Romans16:3-4

The power couple of Priscilla and Aquila provides a deeper insight into ministry. Here we see a married couple working as a team instead of competing. We see a family willing to relocate and support others on mission. We see a husband and wife who the Apostle Paul considers a synergy for the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Thought to remember: Women and men, singles and couples – all are called to ministry!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, our churches need believers committed to ministries of upreach, outreach, and inreach! Grant that we may become wise and knowledgeable to encourage and correct while encouraging and correcting in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

Called to Support

Lesson Text: Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40, John 10:10-18

Our lesson today portrays women differently. For instance, Mary Magdalene was a seeker in a different sense after Jesus' crucifixion because she sought the body of Jesus diligently. Although she failed to find his body, but Jesus found her weeping at His grave. If we seek Jesus, but we fail to find Him, like Mary Magdalene our search will lead Him to find us. Our search differently for Jesus today.

Thought to remember: Jesus knows where and how to find those who seek Him!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us the the desire to follow Jesus like Mary and the others. Give us the urgency to search for you like Mary. Then, help us to spread the Good News like Mary Magdalene. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Called to Evangelize

Lesson Text: John 4:25-42

This lesson demonstrates how Jesus fearlessly moves beyond the boundaries of Judaism to reach the Samaritans. Too, it reveals how a single unexpected person under conviction can witness to others. The woman at Joseph’s well who becomes both a sower and reaper as she contributes to a spiritual harvest. Likewise, we can associate with this woman who is rejected and ostracized yet her encounter with Jesus is transforming. In the afterlife, we may identify this unnamed Samaritans woman who changed her community. We too can become a changed agent for the Savior in our community. Let us reach the social outcast, the ones who believe differently, including the ones who have different ethnicity and cultural than ours.

Thought to remember: Help reap the fields that are ripe for harvest!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us the boldness of the Samaritan woman in sharing the good news about your Son, Jesus. May we have this same boldness in 2021. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Prophesy

Lesson Text: Luke 2:36-38, Acts 2:16-21, Acts 21:8-9

This lesson focuses on one's giftedness in answering God's call to ministry, especially for women. As one observer put it, "When the church is working properly, every woman, as well as every man, will be using at least one spiritual gift in ministry to others in the body in Christ." This lesson provides an aged woman, a group of women, and a band of four unmarried sisters answering the call to the ministry. Have you answered your call to the ministry?

Thought to remember: God gifts people for ministry according to His will and plans, not ours.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the prophetic voices You have given to Your people. We thank You for the examples of Anna, the Pentecost Women, and the daughters of Philip as faithful women who served You. May we continue this same faithfulness in 2021. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called as the Intercessor

Lesson Text: John 17:14-24

Many of the problems in our communities have an easy solution if believers grasp the concept of oneness. This lesson unfolds the High Priestly Prayer for believers to continue the mission initiated by the Savior. You will notice that the Savior stresses His oneness with the Father. For example, He demonstrates this unity through absolute obedience in fulfilling the Father's mission of offering salvation. Next, the Savior presents His relationship with the Father as a model for the way believers should relate to one another even in our polarized society.

Thought to remember: Christians are one in Christ Jesus!

My Prayer: Heaven Father, help us demonstrate oneness in our lives and aid us in consecration and obedience to Your Word of Truth. Often, we are unable to phantom your love. Yet, we recognize your Amazing Love by sanctifying yourself for us; now, this world can see YOU at work in our lives as we exhibit oneness as a body of believers. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Heal

Lesson Text: Mark 2:1-12

This lesson reminds believers of the spiritual component in divine healing. As you realize, God alone can forgive sins, so healing is nothing but reconciliation with God. Yet, the lesson reinforces how much we need each other as fellow believers in the body of Christ. As you reflect on this lesson, consider how it applies to your life while remembering that our Savior has absolute authority to heal and forgive.

Thought to remember: Jesus still has absolute authority, and power to both forgive and heal!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, we recognize that YOU have the power to forgive sins and to heal no matter the condition. Therefore, we express our love toward you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Significance

Lesson Text: Luke 5:1-11

Do you realize that every believer has another vocation? When we respond to the Savior's call to follow, each believer has a typical duty for Kingdom work. How we live our calling may vary, but the critical component is that each of us must further God's plan by extending His Kingdom while we are here on Earth. Each believer is Called to Significance.

Thought to remember: Followers of Jesus fish for people. Start Fishing!

My Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the privilege of responding to Your Son's call! Help us fulfill our CALLS to fish for people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Proclaim

Lesson Text: Luke 4:14-22

This lesson reminds us that God wants to rescue us despite our circumstances. The Son of God became flesh to die, to pay our sin price, and to make it possible for our rescue mission. This rescue mission enables us to find our way back to the family of God. As believers, we can experience a Year of Jubilee when we accept this Redemption Plan. After our acceptance, then we must continue to proclaim this same message to others as agents of the Kingdom.

Thought to remember: Jesus, the Messiah, has come to set us free.

My Prayer: Father, we thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sin. May our eyes and ears be ever fixed on Him as we continue His mission. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Prepare

Lesson Text: Matthew 3:1-12

This lesson reminds the believers to prepare for Christ's second coming. Part of that preparation involves serving as voices in the wilderness as we speak out against the evil that we recognize in our world. Like people who John the Baptist ministered, we too must repent and encourage others likewise. Let us refrain from the Pharisees and Sadducees' behavior, whose personal ego caused John to refer to as vipers and snakes. As believers, we must produce GOOD fruit instead of chaff.

Thought to remember: The Time to Repent is now.

My Prayer: Father, help us know our hearts to be ready for the Second Coming. Help us bear the fruit You have called us to produce and the courage to proclaim Your Kingdom to others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called to Worship

Lesson text: Matthew 2:1-2, 7-15

This lesson presents the unexpected. No one expected a caravan of wise men to appear in Jerusalem to congratulate the birth of a royal child. Likewise, the wise men did not expect the King of Jews to reside in a peasant's house outside Jerusalem's splendid city. Jesus' parents did not expect to flee to Egypt for protection. Are our expectations in line with God's action? Remember, God uses people of all races, creeds, and ethnicity so, as believers, stay vigilant with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Thought to Remember: Those who faithfully seek Jesus find Him.

My Prayer: Father, help us to interpret Your Word correctly and to listen carefully for Your voice. Give us the strength to follow Your call whenever and however it comes. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Called before Birth

Lesson Text: Matthew 1:18—25

Our Savior was conceived by the Holy Spirit, which gives Him the right to be called the Son of God. He is entirely God and fully human. He is the Living Word who came down from heaven, was clothed in human flesh, and dwelled among humans. Yet, Joseph accepted the called to become His earthly father even before His birth. Like Joseph, I encourage believers to reflect on your calling for Kingdom work. So your actions will reflect your dedication to doing the will of God.

Thought to remember: Faithful people trust God, especially in extraordinary situation.