Overview Week One: Come and See Week Two: Hearing God's Voice Week Three: Living by Grace Week Four: Gathered at the Table Week Five: Sent into the World Week Six: Walking the Way

Read Luke 5:1-11

  • Imagine you are Peter. You are exhausted. You’ve been working all night and come up short. You might be feeling like a failure. Maybe you’re worried about how others will think of you or if you’ll be able to provide for your family. Then Jesus asks you to try again: put out a little further, a little further, cast your net again. What might be going through Peter's mind as he casts the net one more time? Can you think of a time when you were invited to take one more step even when you weren't sure it would make a difference?
  • Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” We have been talking about discipleship for a while. It’s natural to feel some fear as you journey down this path. What are you afraid of most when you think about yourself being a disciple and being beckoned into even deeper waters of discipleship? What does it mean for you to go deeper, cast your net further?

In his 1520 letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Martin Luther wrote the following:

“Through baptism all of us are consecrated to the priesthood…All Christians are truly of the spiritual estate, and there is no difference among them except that of office…”

Our 16th century ancestors took issue with an idea that sprung up in the middle ages: that certain people were doing “holy” or “spiritual” work (such as priests and monks), while everyone else was doing merely “earthly” work of lesser value (such as merchants, farmers, homemakers, etc.). In the reformers’ eyes, this couldn’t be true because we were all made disciples in Christ Jesus through baptism. That means we all had received a holy calling and commission from Jesus to be his witnesses in the world.

This is what we call the Priesthood of All Believers. It is a doctrine that says every single disciples is a “priest,” someone called to point others to God and the Good News through their lives of service and discipleship. All work, therefore is holy—from the work of the pastor to the teacher to the nurse to the retiree to the stay-at-home dad.

We each have our roles in accordance with our unique callings and gifts, but we each play an equally integral role in the ministry of the Church. We can’t all be pastors or who would be around to heal the sick or teach the youth or make repairs or manage finances? We all communicate God’s love through our work by our care and attention to those we serve.

This is why, in Lutheran churches, our congregations are run democratically. At Messiah, all adult members (that includes teens who have been confirmed) are voting members. Everyone from the pastor to the teenaged confirmand has a single vote. No one’s voice is more important than everyone else’s. We need as many voices at the table as possible. The more our congregational diversity is reflected in those who lead ministry, serve on Council, and lead worship, the more we reflect Jesus’ vision for the Church—a place where diverse members make one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). As disciples, your invitation into leadership roles in the congregation is not simply a matter of “we need more people to do things,” it is a matter of realizing this great vision of a congregation where everyone’s talents and gifts are honored and strengthen the Church.

Prayer for a Vocation

We rely on the holy vocations of one another. We each need the teachers, the servers, the first-responders, the healthcare workers, the cleaners, etc. This week, think of someone you encounter each day whose work may go unnoticed or under-appreciated or unnoticed. If you can, learn this persons name and make an effort to thank them. For the rest of the week, say a prayer each day in thanksgiving for this person and the work they do for others. Pray for all of those doing similar work—may they be appreciated and justly compensated, may they reflect God’s love in what they do, and may others find God’s love in their work.

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Complete the online Spiritual Gifts Inventory. It is easiest to do online, but paper copies will also be available. Once you have your results, visit this webpage where you can read more about your gifts and reflect on how you see them fitting into your own life and ministry. 

Now consider the different ministries at Messiah—from ushering, to leading in worship, to our LWR Quilting Group, to working with Texas Impact, to youth faith formation, to Altar Guild, to our pocket prairie and working on environmental issues, to Mission Fest and other fundraisers. Check our website for other ideas of things we’ve done. Are there certain ministries that might fit your spiritual gifts that you haven’t tried out yet?

Maybe you do not yet see a certain ministry or outlet for your particular passions or spiritual gifts at Messiah…what would be something you’d love to see at Messiah? Can you see yourself starting something new? What would it be? What would be the next step for you to explore that possibility? Remember, you are a priest and disciple, and sometimes that means charting unchartered territory!