III. The Relationship Between Calling and Mission
From Being Called to Being Sent
Calling and mission are closely related. God reveals Himself to people, calls them to respond to Him, and entrusts them with responsibilities to fulfil faithfully. Understanding this relationship helps us understand concrete action in the context of our relationship with God and take seriously what has been entrusted to us.
Chapter 1 explained that calling in Scripture needs to be understood in context. It may involve sinners turning to God, believers pursuing holiness, or disciples following Christ; it may also include a particular commission. Calling therefore cannot be reduced entirely to a task, nor understood as inward belonging without practical action.
In this chapter, mission focuses on the responsibilities God entrusts to us to fulfil faithfully. The responsibility to care for creation, everyday responsibilities in family life and work, and the gospel commission Christ gives the church each have their own specific content. They belong together in a believer’s life of following the Lord, but cannot replace one another.
“From being called to being sent” expresses the connection between belonging and practice. We respond to God, continue to be renewed in His grace, and carry responsibilities in actual circumstances. Knowing the Lord, growing as believers, and participating in ministry often take place together and continue throughout a believer’s life.
1. Calling Begins with God’s Initiative; Mission Comes from What He Entrusts to Us
Moses’ mission came from God’s explicit commission. God explained the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt, then commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh and bring the people out (Exodus 3:7–10). After being cleansed, Isaiah responded to God’s call and received the responsibility to speak to the people (Isaiah 6:6–9). The risen Christ also sent His disciples with His authority to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20).
The authority and content of these explicit commissions come from the God who sends. We also need to take seriously the family, work, and everyday responsibilities discussed in this chapter, in accordance with the truth God has revealed. Yet we cannot treat every personal arrangement as a direct commission of the same kind. Personal aspirations, enthusiasm, and plans therefore still need to be examined according to biblical principles. Our own conviction alone cannot give them the authority of a direct command from God.
Scripture does not prescribe calling, formation, and sending as stages that everyone must complete in sequence. Moses received his commission when he was called and continued learning as he carried his responsibilities. The disciples also continued growing as they followed Jesus and were sent by Him. Participating in mission therefore requires careful preparation and a willingness to learn, as well as continuing to accept correction after taking on responsibilities.
Today, the church has already received Christ’s shared gospel commission. How individuals participate requires careful discernment in light of Scripture, gifts, the community’s needs, and actual responsibilities. Some ways of participating can become clearer through prayer, discussion, and practical arrangements. We do not need to wait for a special experience before beginning to respond to what has already been made clear.
2. Calling Primarily Concerns Whom We Belong To and Who We Become; Mission Further Concerns What We Are Sent to Do
“Whom we belong to and who we become” and “what we are sent to do” help distinguish this chapter’s emphases. In Christ, God brings those who have received grace to Himself and into fellowship with Him. He also renews their lives, teaching them to live according to His will. We need to carry out specific responsibilities as people who belong to God and live according to His will.
Paul explains that God calls believers into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He also said that He would make them fishers for people (Matthew 4:19). In different ways, these passages show the close connection between a relationship with the Lord and the responsibilities He entrusts to people.
These two questions therefore help us recognise different emphases; they cannot be used to separate calling and mission completely, as though calling concerned only identity and mission alone concerned action.
Understanding this helps us attend to the foundation of our lives while also taking our responsibilities seriously. Service needs to flow from trust in and obedience to the Lord. Fellowship with Him also teaches us to love others, use our gifts well, and respond to His commands.
Clear distinctions between different responsibilities also need to be maintained. Caring for family, working honestly, and treating people justly have their own requirements. Proclaiming Christ and making disciples also have explicit gospel content. Believers need to keep these responsibilities consistent with one another, neither neglecting everyday duties in the name of ministry nor replacing a clear witness to Christ’s salvation with everyday good deeds.
3. Calling and Mission Are Both Grounded in Grace
Paul explains that God saved believers and called them with a holy calling according to His purpose and grace, not according to their works (2 Timothy 1:9). Ephesians 2:8–10 also connects salvation by grace through faith with a life of good works after receiving grace.
We cannot earn salvation by fulfilling a mission, nor maintain God’s acceptance through achievements in ministry. Christ’s redemption is the foundation of the grace we receive; service is our response to grace already received.
Grace also sustains practical participation. Peter urges believers to serve one another according to their gifts and carry their responsibilities in the strength God supplies (1 Peter 4:10–11). We receive abilities and opportunities from God and need to keep relying on Him as we participate.
At the same time, receiving grace needs to be clearly distinguished from being ready for a particular role. God’s acceptance of those who trust Christ does not mean that everyone is immediately ready to carry the same responsibilities for teaching, pastoral care, or governance. Scripture sets requirements for church leaders concerning character, daily life, and teaching (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). These requirements need to be examined carefully within the community.
Grace therefore enables us to learn humbly, value preparation and cooperation, and face our limitations willingly. We can serve to the best of our abilities and thank God for the results. When we discover mistakes, we need to take responsibility and accept correction.
Paul explains that he planted and Apollos watered, but God brought growth in believers’ lives (1 Corinthians 3:5–7). Human service is real and important, yet the growth of believers’ lives ultimately comes from God.
4. Calling Involves an Ongoing Relationship; Mission Involves Ongoing Practice
Here, an “ongoing relationship” means that those who have received grace trust Christ, have fellowship with Him, and follow Him throughout their lives. “Ongoing practice” means that this following needs continually to take shape in concrete action.
The shared gospel mission Christ has given the church remains in effect. Yet the tasks, positions, and ways in which individuals participate may change with their stage of life, abilities, and circumstances. The continuity of the shared mission and changes in specific arrangements need to be understood separately.
A person may move from public teaching to walking alongside a few people, or from travelling for ministry to caring for family. Illness or old age may also make it impossible to continue their previous work. These changes need to be taken seriously, but they do not diminish the meaning of belonging in Christ.
Changes in specific responsibilities do not mean that every arrangement is equally appropriate. We need to consider the responsibilities we already carry, the needs of those around us, and our abilities and limitations, discussing matters honestly with those involved. Some responsibilities need to continue; others need to be adjusted, ended, or handed over.
When a responsibility needs to be handed over, we should communicate promptly, prepare carefully, and attend to the continuity of the shared work, as far as circumstances allow. Specific ways to divide responsibilities and manage handovers will be discussed in Section 6.
Whether the scope of our responsibilities expands or narrows, we still need to trust the Lord, obey the truth, and learn to love others. Someone who is temporarily unable to take on more work can also continue relying on God while receiving care. Through care and support, the church needs to express the belonging its members share.
The way we put our mission into practice therefore does not have to stay the same forever. What matters is continuing to be faithful to the Lord amid change, carefully discerning what we should carry today and how to respond together with other members of the body.
5. Calling and Mission Ultimately Point to God’s Glory
Peter urges believers to serve one another according to their gifts as good stewards of God’s grace. Those who speak are to speak in accordance with God’s words, and those who serve are to rely on the strength God supplies, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10–11). This teaching connects gifts, service, reliance on God, and the One to whom glory belongs.
Glorifying God concerns both the content of our message and how we carry our responsibilities. The gospel needs to bear clear witness to Christ’s redemption. Service needs to be consistent with His truth, so that people receive appropriate teaching, care, and edification.
An institution’s reputation, personal influence, and the scale of results cannot, on their own, show whether God is being glorified. Honestly acknowledging mistakes, using resources justly, respecting others’ contributions, and caring for those who are weak also express loyalty to God.
We must therefore neither hide problems to protect a ministry’s image nor disregard human dignity to obtain results. When service causes harm, it needs to be addressed seriously. When results come from shared effort, each person’s contribution needs to be respected, and thanks given for God’s grace.
God is the One who accomplishes salvation and the Lord of mission. We receive from Him, serve in His strength, and share responsibilities with other believers. What has been entrusted to us calls for serious action; grace leads us to rely humbly on God. The direction of our service is to help people know Christ and be built up in Him, and to give glory to God.