The sermon summary for the second week of the Chaos to Calling series centers on the life of moses. It addresses common misconceptions about a spiritual calling.
Rather than treating purpose as an elusive puzzle to solve, scripture shows God meets people in chaotic, imperfect moments. Additionally, He reveals His character and invites them to participate in his work.
Redefining “Calling”: Big ‘C’ vs. Little ‘c’
The word “calling” is often treated as a high-pressure target that feels continuously out of reach. This misunderstanding incorrectly shifts the focus onto finding “one specific right task” rather than concentrating on who an individual is becoming in relationship with God.
To clarify this concept, calling can be understood through two distinct lenses:
| Category | Definition |
| Big ‘C’ Calling (Permanent) | The universal, lifelong command for every Christian: following Jesus, loving God with everything, and loving neighbors as oneself. |
| Little ‘c’ Calling (Situational) | How a believer daily shows up in their specific, current circumstances to reflect God’s character and serve others. |
Purpose does not depend on finding a flawless career path or having every detail figured out; it begins by accepting God’s invitation to participate in what He is already doing.
The Moses Narrative: Born and Raised in Tension
Moses’s journey highlights how God works through messy, complex backgrounds.
- Born into Oppression (Exodus 2:1-10): Moses was born during an era of extreme systemic oppression in Egypt. Fearing the growing Hebrew population, Pharaoh commanded that all newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile River. Placed in a coated papyrus basket along the riverbank by his mother, Moses was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised inside the Egyptian royal palace.
- The 40-Year Wilderness Detour: As an adult caught between two worlds, Moses witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Moses intervened and committed murder, forcing him to flee Egypt in fear. He then spent 40 years in the desert tending livestock—completely removed from status, power, or public significance.
The Burning Bush: Availability Over Resume
After 40 years of obscurity, God appeared to Moses—not in an Egyptian palace or when Moses was at his personal best, but from a burning bush on a mountain in the wilderness.
1. “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:1-15)
When Moses asked for God’s name to present to the Israelites, God responded, “I AM WHO I AM”. In a polytheistic culture where deities were tied to specific geographic domains (such as gods of the sea or crops), this all-encompassing declaration revealed Him as the one supreme, eternal God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2. A History of Excuses
Despite standing on holy ground, Moses repeatedly offered excuses to avoid God’s assignment:
- “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11)
- “What if they do not believe me or listen?” (Exodus 4:1)
- “I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech.” (Exodus 4:10)
- “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13)
God did not select a flawless leader with a pristine resume; He selected an imperfect man hiding in the desert. Participating in God’s mission is never dependent on personal qualifications, but on a willingness to be available.
Meeting God in the Middle of Chaos
“Chaos” and “Calling” are not two separate, sequential stages where chaos must end before spiritual life begins. God rarely waits for life to become calm before stepping in; He routinely meets people right in the middle of their uncertainty.
“God calls you out of chaos to give you peace, and he calls you through chaos to give you purpose.”
Past mistakes and current limitations do not determine an individual’s worth before the Lord. Ordinary daily spaces are precisely where spiritual transformation occurs when believers simply choose to say “yes” to God right where they are.
Reflection Questions
- Are you waiting for a chaotic season to end before actively seeking to follow Jesus and love your neighbor?
- What excuses or past mistakes are you leaning on that convince you God cannot use someone like you?
- How can you practically live out your “Big C Calling” (loving God and loving your neighbor) in your daily routine today?
Scripture References:Exodus 2:1-10 | Exodus 3:1-15 | Exodus 4:1-13
