Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 5
The speaker defines “vocation/calling” as a commission and privilege (quoting Chrysostom: “You were called as his body… raised you up with him”), and uses Prince Hubert: “Because you are the only boy who is a prince”; what training and “disciplines” should be normal for Christians if we really believe we’ve been called to reign with Christ, and what do we tend to excuse as “optional”?
Another way to ask: If Christians are called to reign with Christ, what kinds of training and habits should be normal for us? What do we often treat as “optional” instead?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, Christians should treat character training—humility, meekness, endurance, and active love—as normal preparation for a “high calling” of representing God’s wisdom as Christ’s body. What we often excuse as “optional” is the hard training that makes unity and mature discipleship possible, because we still want to “play like other boys.”
- “Vocation” means a calling: an “invitation… commission… privilege, a treasure to steward… responsibility.”
- Chrysostom: “You were called as his body… you have Christ as your head… raised you up with him.”
- The calling is high: brought “from very low… dead… to… demonstrating God’s wisdom… part of his team… to spread the kingdom.”
- Prince Hubert illustration: “Because you are the only boy who is a prince”—training is required to become a king.
- The speaker says with a high calling, “certain things… discipline ourselves in… be trained in and cultivate.”
- He immediately lists the needed disciplines: “lowliness and meekness… long suffering… forbearing… endeavoring to keep… unity… peace.”