How Would You Complete the 7 Parts of the Christian Calling Statement Below?

No worries if you're not sure yet. Just give it a go! 🙂 Fill in the parts in brackets with your thoughts.

1. God calls me to [do a specific task or role]...

2. to help [a certain type of person]...

3. to be transformed [in a specific way through Christ]...

4. so that they [impact the world in a certain way].

5. God calls me to fulfill my calling alongside [specific other called people].

6. Amazingly, as God fulfills His calling for my life, He also fulfills my own deepest desires: [list your deepest desires].

7. The Bible verse that best inspires and informs my calling is [Bible verse].

What Is a Christian Calling Statement?

Wow. May I share something that is really personal and really important to me?

Gulp.

When I began to write this blog, I started listing other Christian leaders’ definitions of Christian calling. And then I suddenly realized that I have my own definition!

My next thought was, “What gives me the right to think I know better than they do?”

And then I heard God say, “Not better, but good. You are not replacing their definitions, but you are adding your unique contributions to theirs.”

Furthermore, God said, “Throughout your life, even when you were a child, you’ve been fascinated by Christian calling. You’ve pursued it for yourself. You’ve learned so much about it in your almost-60 years, through experience and scholarly research. Now you are a Christian calling expert, helping other people find and fulfill their Christian calling. So, speak confidently from that identity that I have given you!” (I feel weird telling you that God told me I'm an expert. But I'm telling you this so that God wants to say similar things to you!)

Again, wow. God’s words to me transformed the writing of this blog. But as always, His words are also transforming me. And this is a brand-new word from God, from Him to me—I heard Him say right now as I’m writing this blog! 

So…

Below is my very own 7-part definition of Christian calling.

Your Christian Calling Includes 7 Dimensions or Parts:

1. Vertical dimension: God is the source of your calling.

It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. (Ephesians 1:11)

You cannot choose your specific calling. Your calling will not come from a logical compilation of your spiritual gifts, talents, values, and personality, although those can yield strong clues about your calling. Your calling ultimately and powerfully emerges from a uniquely personal relationship with Jesus and your daily walk with Him.

2. Horizontal dimension: God calls you to reach specific people.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:9)

In your Christian calling, you will probably be especially drawn to fulfill certain people’s needs and desires. You might be drawn to help a certain age group, i.e. children, teenagers, or older adults. Or you might be drawn to help a particular affinity group, i.e. young families, couples, single adults, people who have been abused, or homeless people. Or you could have a special God-given desire to help people who are depressed, in bondage in some way, experiencing injustice, or want find their own calling.

3. Inner dimension: God transforms people in very specific ways through your unique calling.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

God transforms lives as we step forward and exclaim, “Here am I, Lord! Send me!”

You might feel called to help people experience God’s transformational inner healing, comfort, freedom, or purpose through your calling. God will often call you to help transform lives in ways that He has inwardly transformed you.

4. Outward dimension: God impacts the world through your calling in ways that are unique to you.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

People might experience abundant life here and in heaven because you boldly and frequently share your testimony. People might experience Jesus’ comfort and peace because you provide respite care for Alzheimer’s families. People might escape addiction and homelessness because you volunteer at a shelter. God often calls you to impact the world in ways He has worked through others to impact you.

5. Collaborative dimension: God fulfills your calling alongside others who also have a sense of calling.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:8-9)

Sometimes God brings together many people with exactly the same calling. Sometimes, He puts together a diverse group of people with different roles for the same purpose.

6. Personal dimension: Amazingly, as you fulfill God’s calling for your life, He also fulfills your own deepest desires.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

What an awesome thing—and what a marvelous testimony to God’s amazing love—that in the process of carrying out His will for our lives, we are also ultimately fulfilled! Amen and amen!

7. Scriptural dimension: God often gives you one Bible verse to inspire and inform your calling.

What one Bible verse or Bible passage stirs you to become fully who God created you to be and to do fully what God created you to do?

Example: R.J.’s Christian Calling Statement

Below is my 7-part Christian Calling Statement:

1. God calls me to coach, write, and speak...

2. to help purpose-driven Christians, especially those in the last third of life...

3. to be transformed by finding out who they are and what they are created to do, all within a uniquely intimate relationship with Jesus...

4. so that they find and fulfill both the being part and the doing part of their Christian calling.

5. God calls me to fulfill my calling alongside other people who are passionate about helping people be and do all God has created them to do.

6. Bonus: Amazingly, as God fulfills His calling for my life, He also fulfills my own deepest desires: intimacy with Him and eternal impact in His Kingdom!

7. The Bible verse that best inspires and informs my calling is Ephesians 1:11: It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

7 Ways to Talk with God About Your Christian Calling Statement

Discovering your Christian Calling Statement is not just a matter of compiling results of various assessments, i.e. spiritual gift inventories, strengths inventories, personality tests, values assessments, etc. These can give clues for your Christian calling, but it is God who assigns, empowers, and brings to fruition our Christian calling for His glory. He will bring your calling out of who you are in relationship with Him.

It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. (Ephesians 1:11)

Most of the time when we ask God for direction about our Christian calling and we don’t hear anything back, it’s because we’re asking the wrong questions. We’re asking what to do, but God wants us to talk with us relationally about who we are together with Him.

Therefore, instead of giving you specific questions to help you work through the 7 dimensions of your Christian Calling Statement, I’m going to give you 7 ways to talk with God about it!

Refer to the "7 Dimensions of Your Christian Calling Statement" below, as you use the "7 Ways to Talk with God About Your Christian Calling Statement."

7 Dimensions of Your Christian Calling Statement: 

1. God calls me to [do a specific task or role]...

2. to help [a certain type of person]...

3. to be transformed [in a specific way through Christ]...

4. so that they [impact the world in a certain way].

5. God calls me to fulfill my calling alongside [specific other called people].

6. Amazingly, as God fulfills His calling for my life, He also fulfills my own deepest desires: [list your deepest desires].

7. The Bible verse that best informs and describes my calling is [Bible verse].

7 Ways to Talk with God About Your Christian Calling Statement:

1. God, please bring to mind again how you spoke to me as I read this blog today. What do you want me to hear from you? How do you want to talk with me back-and-forth?

2. God, here are my thoughts and feelings right now about my calling and my relationship with you. [Tell Him, then listen. Then respond back to Him, back-and-forth!]

3. God, let me share with you some great experiences—and some not-so-great experiences—that I’ve already had with you in my calling. Let me tell you how I felt and what I thought. Please speak with me as I do that.

4. God, let me take each of the 7 dimensions or parts of Christian Calling Statement to you, in my own way. Let me tell you what I think, how I feel, what I want, what my fears are, and anything else that’s important to me. Help me to hear your encouragement. Holy Spirit, I welcome your encouragement and love for my heart. God, say things to me that are so transformational and true, that I know they are from you and could not have come from me!

5. God, let me talk with all three Persons of the Trinity about my life and calling: the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Help me to experience the three of you differently. Help me to sense one of you three Persons of the Trinity smiling, laughing, or even dancing. Help me even to sense you three Persons of the Trinity talking together positively about me in my presence!

6. God, please lead me to a Bible verse, or a Bible passage, that will continue to inspire, motivate, and inform my Christian calling.

7. God, here’s what I’ve heard and felt from you today! Thank you so much! [Talk about it!]

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