Called to Something New

Rev. Debra Cato

1 Sam 3:1-10 and John 1:43-51

Fircrest United Methodist Church

January 14, 2018

Called to Something New

God’s been calling us since the beginning of time.  You and I exist because God called us into being. 

God called Abram to be the father of all nations.  God tells Abram and Sara that they will have many descendants, even though they are biologically too old. They laugh!  It seems impossible. Sarah is 99 years old! Yet God called.

God called Moses to lead his people out of slavery.  Moses protests – I’m not a good speaker, He tells God.  But God called Moses anyway. 

Each of these people, God called by name.  I could continue to list folks that God called by name … Deborah, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah.  And Samuel.  I like Samuel because I can relate. 

Samuel has been the High Priest’s assistant since he was a very young child.  Hannah, Samuel’s mother dedicated him to the LORD’s service as soon as he was weaned.  Samuel was content ministering under Eli; serving Eli; being Eli’s assistant.  Even though Samuel was in the temple when God calls, he isn’t expecting to hear from God.  He doesn’t recognize God’s voice.   So, the first time God calls Samuel, he figures it was the priest - Eli. 

The second time God calls, Samuel still doesn’t think its God. In fact, it doesn’t even enter his mind.  It must be Eli. Samuel goes into Eli’s house and wakes him up again. “No, I’m not calling you, Samuel,” Eli tells him. 

The third time this happens, Eli, who is very wise says, ‘Aha, Samuel. It’s God calling you, not me!  Go back and listen.’   Wise advice.   Go back and listen.

So, when God calls Samuel a fourth time, (God does not give up!)  Samuel is ready. 

You see, I get this.  God calling Samuel 4 times before Samuel figures it out.  It’s a little bit like when God first called me to ministry.  Back in 1999.  I was successful in my corporate career. Then, I started feeling weird.  Like I needed to do something where my faith was a part of all of me – not just a Sunday compartment.  Out of nowhere, I became restless. Hmmm - God was calling, but I wasn’t expecting to hear his voice – so I didn’t.

About a year later, I took a bunch of personality & career tests to try to figure out why I was feeling discontented.  100% of the tests said I belonged in ministry.  I remember going home and telling my girls about these tests over dinner.  My oldest daughter Jessica was about 12 years old.  I remember her looking at me and saying, “Mom.  I want to support you in this, but I just can’t be the daughter of a minister.”  Truth is, I laughed and said, “Oh, don’t worry.  I’m not going to be a minister!” God was calling me again, but I didn’t recognize his voice.

Few years later – it’s 2003 by now.  I’m working with homeless families, but I have this deep desire to go to seminary.  I couldn’t figure out why, but it was overwhelming.  Did you recognize it?  The third time God called me?  Well I didn’t. 

It took me another year to hear God’s voice; to hear God calling me. You see, I thought I was in charge of my future.  I thought I was making the decisions.  It never dawned on me that God would call someone like me.  After all, I was too broken for God to call me.  Too full of sin. Didn’t he know that?

We don’t know anything about Philip and Nathanael until Jesus walks into Galilee.  We can assume that they have a life.  I’m sure they must have jobs – some way of making a living.  It’s possible they have a family – maybe they are married, have children.  

When Jesus sees Philip, he says, “Come.”  At this point, there’s no indication that Jesus is anything other than just an ordinary guy who wanders into Galilee.  He’s performed no miracles, shown no signs, and engaged in no teaching.  Jesus has presented no proclamation about the reign of God that could excite the imagination of Philip or anyone else.  Philip has no reason to find Jesus to be remarkable.  Presumably, he’s just an ordinary man from Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 

And yet there had to be something about Jesus that caused Philip to not only answer Jesus’ call; but when Philip runs into his friend Nathanael, he invites him to follow Jesus too!  Philip says, “Come with us, Nathanael!  ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’"

Now, Nathanael’s initial response isn’t that positive!  He expresses amazement that God’s Messiah could come from an insignificant village like Nazareth. Yet still, when Philip responds to Nathanael’s amazement with a second invitation - "Come and see," Nathanael goes; he believes. 

The sheer presence of Christ draws both Philip and Nathanael; even though they don’t understand yet.  They take a risk.  They leave what they know.  They answer the call.  They follow Christ. 

And what about you?  What about this church?   You see, God has called each one of you.  Bruce, come.  Follow me.   XXX, come.  Follow me.  XXX, Come.  Follow me.

For some of you, God called you to this church many years ago.  Some of you may have even grown up in this church.   Maybe, God called you to Fircrest United Methodist Church more recently, through friends who invited you to come to church with them.   Regardless of how you got here, or how long ago you’ve been here, it’s no accident – you are here because God called you here.  God said, “Come.  Come and find me here. Come and follow me.”

The church is not this building we are in.  It is not your pastor.  It is not the programs you are involved in.  The church is not any of the things we often think it is.  This church is each of you journeying together on this path called faith.

God calls us here –  individually to worship Him as a community.  Do you come to worship with the right heart?  Do you sing in a way that reflects your gratitude and awe of God?  Do you hear him calling you during worship?  During prayers and times of meditation do you expect to hear his voice?  God wants your worship.  He’s calling you.

Maybe he’s calling you to reach out to your neighbor.  To a neighbor you don’t know yet; to visit a shut-in.   Maybe God is calling you to say some words of encouragement to the clerk at the grocery store who is overworked and underpaid.  Or maybe God is calling you to reconcile a relationship.  Is God nudging your heart?

Maybe God is calling you to something new; to be involved in a new way.  To get nvolved in something that will breathe new life into the congregation. Is he calling you to take a risk – to step out of your comfort zone?  Are you listening?  Do you hear his voice?  

What is God calling Fircrest UMC to be?  Is he calling you to be more prayerful; more contemplative?  Is he calling you to study his Word together and wrestle with what it means for your everyday lives?  Is God calling you to reach out to your neighbors in new ways?  To meet a need in the community?  To grow in your service to families experiencing homelessness? 

I don’t know the answers, but I am certain God is calling you.  You see, God doesn’t call just once. He keeps calling; He keeps challenging; He yearns for you to come and see; to follow; to believe; to seek; to be; to grow. 

I don’t believe that we just “GO” to church like its’ some event or social outing.  It’s not something we check off our calendar on Sundays.  The church is not a destination.  We ARE the church.  And the call Jesus places on our lives is to BE the people of God.  We are called to be the people of God wherever we are – at church, at work, at home, at the grocery store. 

It’s not a Sunday-only label.  It’s who we are.  It’s WHOSE we are. God has called you here – here to this church because this is where you belong.  He calls you by name.  He loves you.  He wants you.  He invites you in.  “Come follow me,” he says. 

When God calls anyone …

                        Samuel

                                    Philip …. Nathanael

                                                            Me … or you …

He calls us to something new.  To something different.  It means change.  It means taking risks.  It means letting go of life the way you’ve always known it.  It means letting go of “we’ve always done it this way” and trusting God to do something new that will be good.  Different.  But good.

Listen.  Do you hear his voice? 

Let us pray:  Lord, thank you for wanting us so much that you call us by name.  Thank you for the blessing of being your beloved children.  Help us to live into your call both personally and as your community of faith here in this church, in this neighborhood, in this time.  Help us to follow where and when you call, trusting that your plans are good.  Help us to have the courage and strength and faith to respond to your call with a resounding “yes!”    In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.