CONNECTION

30COLLEGIATE

Fall 2013

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

CALLING OR PASSION?

The college years are a time of self-discovery and preparation for adult life. Many students ask, “What am I called to do?” But is it enough to pursue your passions, or is a calling more than that?

Passion DefinedPassion is energy and enthusiasm focused on an interest or an issue. You can be passionate about the arts, sports, or overseas travel. Interest-based passions are often fun, but without purpose, they can be aimless and self-serving.

You can also be passionate about a par-ticular issue, like homelessness or injus-tice. Without a sense of purpose, however, you may not persevere.

Calling ClarifiedCalling is an overarching, God-ordained pur-pose for your life. First and foremost, you are called to Someone — into a relationship with God through faith in the life, death, and resur-rection of Jesus Christ.

What you’re called to do is much broader than any one career or occupation. It’s the unique way your life glorifies God and brings a foretaste of His kingdom into the world.

Heart Meets TalentDiscovering your calling means finding where your gifts and abilities intersect with an opportunity to address a particular need. In the words of Frederick Buechner, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”1

Passion may fuel your efforts, but know-ing your purpose will inspire obedience even when your enthusiasm wanes.

Recommended ReadingFor more guidance on discovering your life’s unique purpose, pick up The Call: Find-

ing and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your

Life by Os Guinness.

1. “Frederick Buechner Quotes,” 2013 [cited 7 March 2013].

Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com.

READY … SET … GO!

3 Simple Ways to Lead Others to Jesus

Looking for simple, entry-level evangelism tools? Check out these user-friendly resources.

ENGAGEEngage is a new practically-minded 4-ses-sion Bible study by Threads on the topic of evangelism. It will focus on understanding the gospel, why we should share it, how to defend it, and how to share it. Geared for a no-prep small group experience, Engage

also inculdes follow-up personal study experiences (available at threadsmedia.

com/engage).

SOULARIUMSoularium is a packet of 50 4x6 original photographic images and five simple questions that allow you to enter and explore the lives of people around you (available at campuscrusade.com).

PERSPECTIVE CARDSPerspective Cards allow you to come alongside others in their spiritual journey by talking about Jesus, sharing your per-spective, and inviting others to respond to the gospel (available from perspective-

cards.com).