Called 2x4 Christ (Work Mission Night 1)

If you want to follow along on devotions with the work mission team, I will be posting the devotions here.   I may also post some reflections - we'll just see how it goes!

~ Katy

Saturday Night: Called 2x4 Christ

Katy:

(Have someone open in prayer)

(Place signs on wall – words CALLED ________________  CHRIST)

How would you fill in the blank?  (take a few answers – then continue)

There are three ways that we are each called that we are going to focus on this week.  Let’s hear a little more about these…

Reader 1:

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

Jesus met Matthew where he was.  He saw him sitting at the tax booth.   But Jesus didn’t want Matthew to stay there.  He said to Matthew, “Follow me.”  Following requires movement.  It also requires relationship.  This was the beginning of Matthew’s relationship with Jesus.

Jesus also sees us where we are, no matter where that is.  But like he called Matthew away from the tax booth, he calls us away from whatever sin we are in.  But he doesn’t just call us away from sin; he calls us to himself.  Jesus calls us to move.  He calls us to follow him.   And he calls us to relationship.  We are each called to Christ.

(put large 2 on the wall)

Reader 2:

Luke 19:1-5 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. ² A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 

There are two things we can notice about this story.  First, it is Jesus himself who calls Zacchaeus.  He doesn’t have someone else do it.  Jesus – the very son of God – takes the time to notice Zacchaeus and speak directly to him.  And it is Jesus himself who is calling you.  You have been called by Christ.   The second thing we notice is that without any introduction, Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name.  Jesus knows his name, and he knows your name.  Have you ever thought about that?  The Lord of the universe knows your name.  Have you ever wanted to be famous?  Acknowledged?  Recognized for yourself?  Whatever earthly recognition you may or may not receive, God, the creator of everything, knows your name, and everything about you.  And in the scheme of things – what does the acknowledgement of mere people matter?  You personally have been called by Christ personally.  How incredible is that?

(places x on the wall)

Reader 3:

Matthew 10:1-8  Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits^(F) and to heal every disease and sickness.^(G)

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.^(H)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.^(I) 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.^(J) 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven^(K) has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

We have freely received many gifts from God including the gifts of love and forgiveness.  But like the disciples, we have not been given those gifts just for ourselves, but to share them with the world.  We have been called to Christ, and by Christ – for Christ.  God had work for the disciples, and God has work for us too.  We have been called to for Christ – to be his hands and feet in the world, and this week is a great opportunity to do just that.

(places 4 on the wall)

Katy:

We have each been Called 2 Christ, by Christ, and 4 Christ.  We have been called 2x4 Christ.  And that is our theme for this year’s work mission.

This year we are doing things a little differently.  Tonight and Friday night are the only nights we will do devotions as a large group.  Instead, you will meet each evening with a small group of 8.  Each group has a facilitator I have asked to lead tonight, but they do not have to be the leader each night.  You can choose how you want to do that as a group.  Each person here will receive a devotion book.  And you will also receive a 2x4 with your name on it as a reminder that Christ has personally called you – and he has a job with your name on it.  This 2x4 is yours.  Each group will have sharpies and you can continue personalizing your 2x4 throughout the week as God speaks to you.  Pay attention.  Listen to the ways that God is calling you.

God is here, and he is calling each one of us.  But we need to listen for that call.  I am excited to see what he will do in and through each of us this week.  

I will close this time in prayer, then the members of the worship and music team and I will call each group facilitator and then the members of that group to come receive your 2x4’s. 

Small Group:

In your small groups, begin by making sure everyone knows everyone’s names.  You can do introductions in anyway you choose.  Then spend some time talking about why each person is on work mission that week, what they are hoping for this week. 

Then talk about what the word calling means to each person.  What does it mean to be called?  What do you think about being called to Christ? By Christ?  For Christ? 

Jesus is calling you.  Often we think of our calling as our career or other big life decisions.  But we are called in big and small ways.  Every day we are called to spend time with God, to trust him with each area of our lives, and to keep our eyes open to opportunities to actively love God and neighbor.       

Take some time now to reflect on your life and the ways God might be calling you.  There are pens, paper, and sticky notes available in the leaders packet for each group if you want to write any thoughts down, or there are also markers if you want to add anything to your 2x4 during this reflection time.

Close in prayer.  You can choose as a group how you want to do that – I recommend the squeeze prayer to close as it allows everyone the opportunity to pray (that’s when one person prays then squeezes the hand of the person next to them and then when it gets to the last person, they close the prayer.  People can choose to pray out loud or silently.  Most of the youth have done this before).