Office of the Professional Church Worker Exam 1

Vocation

Mask of God

Jacob

• God redeems fallen people by grace through faith

• Consequences of sin persist

• God’s will prevails over human weakness

Joseph

• Maintains patience and trust during hardship

• Chooses wisdom and forgiveness over revenge

• Exemplifies humility within his vocation

Moses

• lifelong and for all ages

• subject to unexpected change

• Must balance Law and Gospel

Joshua

• successors follow unique leaders

• God remains with successors

• No one is indispensable

Gideon

• accomplish much with little

• victory belongs to God

• seek guidance from others

Samson

• vocation requires intelligence and wisdom

• example of Christian leaders can be positive and negative

• leaders who stray from God’s will may have the opportunity to finish well

• reaped what he had sown, but God heard his final, desperate prayer and answered it

Ruth

vocation comes to people whose backgrounds are culturally and ethnically diverse

David

• vocation honors the office, even when the holder of office is unworthy

• even one after God’s own heart must take heed lest he fall

• God forgives the most grievous sinner who repents

• forgiveness doesn’t always remove consequences of our sin

Esther

• shows perfect timing of God who places his servants in appropriate time and places

• awed by responsibility placed on her, but she met it with prayer and devotion, trusting in God

• proof Christian leaders may be regarded as some of the very brightest and best, but the world knows little of their faith and courage

Jesus

• calls disciples to share in His ministry for better or for worse

• calls those who may least expect it

• provides ideal qualities in a servant of God

Paul

• vocation focuses on the Word of the Gospel

• no past is beyond redemption

• emphasis on doctrinal authority

• keen understanding of his own sinfulness

Jesus church worker qualities

• servanthood: busy, but responds to needs

• inclusive: a Roman “outsider”

• Listens: as centurion expresses his faith

• compassion: on the servant

• law and gospel is employed

Spiritual Gifts

• whenever/wherever Spirit is at work, building church and manifesting itself

• not necessarily supernatural, but often sanctified use of natural abilities

Reasons to Recognize and Use Spiritual Gifts

• unity of body

• common good

Utterance of Wisdom

Proclaim Christ crucified

Utterance of Knowledge

• inspired teaching

• insight into meaning of Scripture

Faith

• distinct from saving faith

• “heroic faith” demanding firm trust

Healing (gifts of healings)

maybe referring to circumstantial giving of ability to heal rather than a permanent gift given to an individual

Workings of Miracles (power)

perhaps other gifts of healing e.g. exorcisms

Prophecy

• intelligible messages for edification of people

• preaching, pounding of Scripture

• Paul desires this for all

Distinguishing Between Spirits

perhaps doctrinal or confessional discernment

Various Kinds of Tongues

• maybe unintelligible language which someone uses to praise God

• only useful with interpreter

• Pual speaks and devalues it because it had become misused, and to encourage use of other gifts

Interpretation of Tongues

transmit content of tongues for the benefit of others

Apostles

temporary

Prophets

• As in OT type? Temporary

• one who expounds Scripture as in 12:10

Teachers

• may be office or role assumed by all Christians at some point

• communicating doctrine, spiritual direction

Helpers

attending to physical or spiritual needs of other Christians

Administrators

those who guide/govern others, taking leadership