Date: April 27, 2025
God’s Hand in Calling Us to Serve
The Point: God invites us to join Him in His work.
Get Into the Study
Share the following as you read and discuss the opening “The Bible Meets Life.”
After promising to celebrate her success in the White House while on the campaign trail, Vice President JD Vance held true to his promise, celebrating his mother’s ten-year sobriety milestone. While Beverly Vance passed her milestone in January 2025, she received her official medallion commemorating the event at the White House celebration.
To celebrate this incredible milestone, the Vice President invited several people, including reporters and political figures. All the guests seemed happy to be invited and praised Beverly for her accomplishment. Congratulations came from reporter Megyn Kelly and Speaker Mike Johnson, while political consultant Emma-Jo Morris called Beverly’s success a “touching and amazing” story.
Celebrating another’s success is usually a good invitation to accept, especially for a ten-year sobriety milestone. While many of those invited to this celebration are well-known figures and probably receive invitations often, this seemed to be one they were happy to accept. Just as the vice president invited people to celebrate his mother’s success, God invites us to join in His work with Him. And just as those invited to Beverly’s celebration were happy to accept, we should likewise accept every invitation to join God in Kingdom work.
Study the Bible
Share the following as you discuss Question #3.
In early April, high school senior Austin Metcalf was stabbed and killed at a track meet over a seating dispute. According to his twin brother, Metcalf approached Karmelo Anthony, a senior from the visiting team’s school, and said that [Anthony] was sitting in the wrong spot. Anthony pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed him in the heart. When questioned by police, Anthony confessed that he’d committed the crime and has been charged with first-degree murder.
During interviews, Metcalf’s father, Jeff, shared that during the event, he was praying and trusting that God had a plan for the situation. He also added that he was choosing to go ahead and forgive [Anthony], knowing that God was going to take care of their family.
Our world is fraught with peril and uncertainty, but when we rely on God and allow Him to work in us, we are more easily able to trust Him with difficult situations. Accepting a role in kingdom work with God means allowing Him to make us more like Him (sanctification), which allows us to rely on Him and see His hand in all situations.
EXTRA was written by Emily Duncan, a Southern California native currently living in West Georgia with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. God saved her from Wicca when she was sixteen, and she now serves alongside her youth pastor husband as a girls’ leader at New Hope First Baptist Church in Dallas, GA. Emily spends most of her time tangled in yarn while crocheting or reading outside in the hammock.
Live It Out (Option from Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, enlist a volunteer to lead the group in a song of committal to God’s calling or commands in our lives.
Additional Questions
Ice Breaker
- What are some skills or talents in which you excel?
- When have you hesitantly accepted an invitation only to be pleasantly surprised later at the event?
- How should we respond when God calls us to an assignment?
- What’s the most interesting invitation you’ve received?
- When have you received an invitation you did everything you could to get out of?
1 Kings 19:19-2
- Who has been an example to you of obedience to the voice of the Lord?
- What can we learn about Elisha from these verses?
- How do we discern God’s call?
- How does Elisha’s immediate response to God’s call challenge our understanding of obedience?
- What are some things we might have to leave behind in order to join God in His work?
2 Kings 2:7-11
- How does God’s presence enable people to serve Him in ordinary life?
- When have you served in a way that made you aware of your need to depend on the Lord?
- When have you had the opportunity to learn spiritual truths more mature in his or her faith?
2 Kings 2:12-15
- Why is it vital for believers to rely on God’s power rather than their personal abilities?
- How have you experienced God’s empowerment as you serve Him?
- How do you think God’s actions helped fuel Elisha’s confidence in his calling?
- What takeaways from this passage can we apply to our own lives?
- What steps can we take to rely on God’s power as we seek to serve Him today?
- What are some ways God can reassure us His presence is with us?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
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Would like to have more information on the Spiritual Gift Assessment tool Robbie was speaking on during the podcast. Thanks! -Amy H
You can access a spiritual gifts survey by clicking here.
Very disappointed in the stories you shared online for this lesson. Both could become hot potatoes. I understand using current event examples to show that Gods word, commands, Spirit etc. are still at work and the Word of God is timeless, but please refrain from events to as discussion examples that could derail the study, I love the notes and podcasts you provide, it has helped me become a better leader. I appreciate all Lifeway does.
God Bless