Discover the Word Podcast

Have you ever struggled with the question "what am I supposed to do with my life?" From pretty early on in our lives, we begin to ask that question, only to discover that it reappears in almost every stage of life. So, this week, Daniel is going to lead Elisa and Bill and Rasool in looking at a few stories of “calling” in the Bible and see how these stories might help us think through where we currently are, how God may be leading us in whatever season we’re in, and what the answer to that question—what am I supposed to do with my life?—might be for us right now. Hearing God's Call is the focus of this series of conversations on Discover the Word.

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If you've ever struggled with the question, "What am I supposed to do with my life?" be encouraged that you're not alone. Questioning what you're supposed to do with your life, no matter what stage you're in, is a common and valid question. 
As we look at a few stories of “calling” in the Bible, let's see how these stories might help us think through where we currently are and how God may be leading us in whatever season we’re in.  
We can take heart that regardless of where we are in life right now, God is calling us into an ever-deepening relationship with Him, where we're being transformed into the person that God has made us to be. 

Reflect  
Why is Genesis 1–3 a good passage to begin with to discuss “calling” in the Bible? 
According to Esther 4, how much of Esther’s story, or calling, has to do with what she wanted versus having to respond to what happened to her? 
Based on Ruth 1:1–18, how does Ruth's story demonstrate how faithfulness in the everyday is part of God’s calling on all our lives, especially when we can’t see what may come? 
According to Amos 1:1 and Amos 7:10–15, how does Amos' story show us that God can call us out of our comfort zones and skill sets to do the work He has for us to do? 
What can Paul and Ananias in Acts 9:1–22 teach us about our primary calling in life?  
 

Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Dear God, thank You that You've called me to have a deeper relationship with You. Help me to follow You and serve You even if it seems ordinary and mundane, if it means stepping out of my comfort zone, or I feel unqualified."  
 
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 
Mentioned in this episode: 
7 Bible Stories to Hear God's Calling (Reclaim Today)   
Listen: 
Answer the Call   
God Hears Her Podcast: Your Everyday Purpose (Elisa, Eryn and Vivian) 
Read: 
The Call to Discipleship: Embracing the Journey of Following Christ  
Discipleship and Obedience  
Watch: 
Outside Your Comfort Zone | Acts 10  
A Call to Something New (Matthew 4:19-22)

Bill Crowder admits to being a Christmas junkie. It's easy to feel the joy of celebrating Jesus' birth. But it's the message of Easter, and Jesus' resurrection, that fueled the growth of the early church. Join the group as Bill leads Elisa and Daniel and Rasool in exploring how and why The Message of Good News is still the transformative truth that Jesus conquered sin and death, and has proven His power to deliver us from eternal destruction. Jesus' resurrection is at the center of The Message of Good News.

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The message of Jesus’ resurrection isn’t meant to be celebrated just on Easter Sunday. Every Sunday is Easter Sunday! Jesus’ resurrection is what fueled the growth of the early church. The message of good news is still the transformative truth that Jesus conquered sin and death and has proven His power to deliver us from eternal destruction.   
As we reflect on Jesus’ resurrection, let’s remember that the message of good news is the centerpiece of God’s rescue plan for a broken world. And it’s central to our Christian walk.  
As we ponder how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection was presented for the first time, let’s rejoice knowing the resurrection really is the hinge on which all of history turns. 

Reflect  
How do the events recorded in Luke 24:1–12 still impact our Christian faith not just on Easter but today?  
According to Acts 1:1–3, how was Jesus preparing the Eleven during those 40 days? What was He preparing them for? 
What makes Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost that’s found in Acts 2:1–32 still so impactful? 
Why did Peter include Psalm 16:8 –11 in his sermon? 
 
Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Thank You for raising Him from the dead on the third day! Help me to never take the message of good news for granted. Help me to keep Jesus’ sacrificial death and glorious resurrection at the center of my life.” 

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 
Mentioned in this episode: 
God Hears Her Podcast: Understanding Easter  
Our Daily Bread Ministries Publishing  
Listen: 
Cross Stations - Week 1  
Cross Stations - Week 2  
Read: 
What Is the Easter Event?  
Hunting for Resurrection Hope  
Watch: 
Alive and Reconciled | Ephesians 2:16  
The Empty Tomb - Matthew 28:6

A covenant is a type of contractual agreement we see in Scripture. The covenants God has made with humanity are significant benchmarks in the Scriptures. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Davidic, and the New Covenant all serve as critical moments when God has demonstrated his grace and mercy to humanity. But they aren’t the only covenants or contracts we find in Scripture or in many churches. There are also the Unspoken Contracts that people have made with God. Though God never agreed to them, many of us hold him to them anyway. This series will explore the Unspoken Contracts we find many mistakenly make in the Bible and how we can identify them and replace them with the Spoken Covenants that we should actually build our faith upon.

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Throughout the Bible, we see God making covenants with His people from Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, to the New Covenant through Jesus. But those aren’t the only covenants, or contracts, we find in Scripture or in many churches today.  
There are also unspoken contracts that people, including us, have made with God. Though God never agreed to them, many of us try to hold Him to them anyway. We expect God to work in a specific way. 
If we have unspoken contracts with God, it’s good to identify them and replace them with God’s promises in the Bible. 

Reflect  
Why was God’s contract/covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:1–10 particularly notable?  
What unspoken contract did Abram and Sarai try to hold God to in Genesis 16:3–6? What was the result?  
Based on Moses’ complaint in Exodus 5:3–9, what unspoken contract did he mistakenly have with God? 
Throughout the book of Job, what are some of the unspoken contracts his friends believed about why he was suffering? 
What is the unspoken contract driving Martha in Luke 10:38–42?  
How was Martha able to tear up her unspoken contract and embrace Jesus’ spoken contract in John 11:20–27?   
What was Peter’s unspoken contract in Matthew 26:31–35 and Matthew 26:69–75? 
Based on 1 Peter 5:5–6, what did Peter replace his unspoken contract with later in life?  
 
Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Dear God, thank You for Your love and patience as I recognize and replace the unspoken contracts I may have in my life. Help me identify where I’m making assumptions about how You should act. Help me to replace those assumptions and expectations by trusting Your faithful promises in the Bible.” 
 
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Faith Under Construction podcast  
Listen: 
Promise Keeper (with Shannon Popkin) on God Hears Her Podcast  
Misunderstanding Martha  
Read: 
God’s Faithfulness to His Promises 
A Covenant Keeping God 
Mary, Martha, and Jesus  
Watch: 
Abraham & Waiting on God’s Promises  
What Do We Desire of God? (Matthew 5–7)

One proclamation announces availability to and for God: Here am I – or Here I am! From Abraham to Moses to Samuel to Isaiah and eventually to Jesus Himself, those obedient to God’s call say so – with this declaration. How does Jesus Himself provide insight into such a response – when in Revelation 3 He proclaims Here I Am to the church? What does it mean for each – and what can it mean when we utter this proclamation today?

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A simple, yet profound proclamation announces availability to and for God: Here am I or Here I am! From Abraham to Moses to Samuel to Isaiah and eventually to Jesus Himself, those obedient to God’s call say so with this declaration. And they get to see how God provides for their needs when they answer His call. 
The responses from these Bible figures can be examples of how we can respond when we feel God calling us. 
Instead of running or hiding from God, let’s prayerfully and boldly respond to God with our own Here I am!  
 
Reflect  
What was God’s purpose in this exchange with Abraham in Genesis 22:1–18?  
How does God respond to Jacob’s fear in Genesis 46:1–7? 
In Exodus 3:1–10, why did Moses respond the way he did? How did God respond to Moses?  
Why was it difficult for young Samuel to recognize it was God calling him in 1 Samuel 3:1–21?  
Based on Isaiah 6:1–8, how was Isaiah able to go from, “Woe to me,” to “Here am I?”  
How does Jesus’ “Here am I” in Revelation 3:20 influence our own “Here I am?” 

Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Dear God, thank You for calling me to follow and serve You! Help me to have the courage to say, “Here I am,” whenever I hear you calling me. Help me to remember that You will help and equip me to answer Your call on my life.” 
 
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Our Daily Bread subscription 
Listen: 
Answer the Call  
Changing Your Life for the Call of God with Dr. Bridget Kolade  
Read: 
Called by God  
When God Calls Us Out of Comfort   
Watch: 
Outside Your Comfort Zone | Acts 10  
A Call to Something New | Matthew 4:19-22

For those who often feel forgotten, it is good to be reminded that our God doesn’t forget us. In this brief topical study, we consider three people in the Bible who called out to God that He remember them, and we see what He did in response to their cry.

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If you ever struggle with feeling forgotten, it’s good to remember that our God doesn’t forget us. God has promised to never leave or forsake us.  
As we consider three people in the Bible who called out to God and we see that He remembered them, we get a beautiful picture of how God hears our cries and remembers us. 
How could trusting that God hasn’t forgotten you help you, especially in your times of trials? 

Reflect  
How does Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1 comfort you knowing that God remembers you even in your pain, sorrow, and heartache? 
How does Samson’s story found in Judges 16 encourage you that God remembers you even in your times of weakness and failure? 
How does the story of the thief on the cross in Luke 23 encourage you that Jesus remembered you when He was on the cross? 
 
Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Dear God, thank You that You always remember me and never forget me! Help me to trust that You are always with me. Help me to know You are near no matter what trials I’m facing.” 

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Discover the Word Podcast Archive 
Listen: 
In God's Presence  
Are You There God? (with Sally Lloyd Jones) on God Hears Her Podcast  
The Rebel Next to Jesus  
Read: 
Where Is God When I feel lonely? 
Answered Prayer | Hannah  
When You Pray and God Doesn’t Answer: 4 Simple Things to Practice  
Watch: 
Where Is God? - Psalm 25:6   
Let's Talk About Prayer