{"id":6274,"date":"2023-06-16T03:18:52","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T03:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/?p=6274"},"modified":"2023-06-16T03:25:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T03:25:50","slug":"vocation-bible-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Vocation Bible Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1747175638\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  \" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"row align-middle\"  id=\"row-1922525958\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1199383041\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\" style=\"background-color:#6b8270;\" >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1322146365\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h1>\u201cDo Not Say <br \/>\u2018I am only______ \u2019\u201d<br \/>God is Calling You!<\/h1>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1322146365 {\n  line-height: 1.1;\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#text-1322146365 > * {\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-2149390495\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h3>The Rev. Wendy Berthelsen<\/h3>\n<p>NALS Regent \/ Pastor, Hope Lutheran Church, TX<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2149390495 {\n  font-size: 0.8rem;\n  line-height: 1;\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#text-2149390495 > * {\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-1199383041 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-61759559\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_2071678914\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle.png 649w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/wendy-berthelsen-circle-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_2071678914 {\n  width: 71%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-350602213\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-241106269\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-547303786\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-left dark\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<h2><strong><em>The Call of Jeremiah<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3390436067\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3390436067-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3390436067-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Read Jeremiah 1:4\u201310<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3390436067-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3390436067-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1326428580\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p><strong><em>The Call of Jeremiah<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>4<\/sup> Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>5<\/sup> \u201cBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>6<\/sup>\u00a0Then I said,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>7<\/sup>\u00a0But the Lord said to me, \u201cDo not say, \u2018I am only a youth\u2019; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>8<\/sup> Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>9<\/sup>\u00a0Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cBehold, I have put my words in your mouth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><sup>10<\/sup> See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>to pluck up and to break down,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>to destroy and to overthrow,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>to build and to plant.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1326428580 {\n  font-size: 1rem;\n  line-height: 1;\n  text-align: left;\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#text-1326428580 > * {\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3048326538\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3048326538-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3048326538-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 4<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3048326538-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3048326538-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>&#8220;Now the word of the <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span> came to me, saying,&#8221;<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah, giving him direction. How has the \u201cword of the Lord\u201d come to you or how has the Lord spoke to you? In the past? In the present? Share your experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+10%3A3-4&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 10:3\u20134<\/a>.<\/strong> Jesus is saying that we, his sheep, recognize His voice, that is the living God\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">How do you recognize Jesus through the Holy Spirit speaking to you? Are there practices you use to increase your ability to recognize His voice and hear His \u201cwords?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3641053103\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3641053103-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3641053103-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 5<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3641053103-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3641053103-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>\u201cBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born<br \/>I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Like Jeremiah, these words in verse 5 are words to you also. What is each of these phrases, these \u201cwords\u201d from God saying? How do each of them make you feel? What do they say about how you are valued by our God?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\u201cBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBefore you were born I consecrated you\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI appointed you a prophet to the nations.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A \u201cprophet\u201d is a mouthpiece for God\u2026 a human through whom God speaks directly to others. The Lord is \u201ccalling\u201d and \u201cappointing\u201d Jeremiah to be a prophet, to speak His Word to His people. The remainder of the book of Jeremiah in the holy Scriptures is the Lord speaking through Jeremiah to his people.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-603725087\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-603725087-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-603725087-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 6<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-603725087-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-603725087-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Then I said, \u201cAh, <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord God<\/span>! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">Consider that Jeremiah was very young when he experienced this. What is Jeremiah\u2019s response? How does Jeremiah feel insecure or inadequate for what the Lord is calling him to do?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">How might you respond to God? How would you feel inadequate? Fill in the blanks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p2\">\u201cI do not know how to _____________, for I am only _____________.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3795593185\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3795593185-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3795593185-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 7<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3795593185-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3795593185-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>But the <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span> said to me,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo not say, \u2018I am only a youth\u2019; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">How does God respond to Jeremiah\u2019s objection and feelings of inadequacy? How does God respond to your objections and inadequacies? Fill in the blank.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cDo not say, \u2018I am only _________________.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201c\u2026 for to all to whom I send you, you shall go \u2026\u201d The words, \u201cmission\u201d or \u201cmissionary\u201d come from the Latin word, \u201c<i>missio<\/i>,\u201d meaning to \u201csend.\u201d With these words, Jeremiah is being \u201ccalled\u201d and \u201csent\u201d by the Lord God.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201c\u2026 and whatever I command you, you shall speak \u2026\u201d Who will give the words that Jeremiah will speak? Here the Lord God is assuring Jeremiah that He will provide what is needed for Jeremiah to fulfill his \u201ccalling\u201d as a prophet (a mouthpiece for God).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A25-31&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1 Corinthians 1:25-31<\/a>.<\/strong> In this passage, the apostle Paul is addressing ALL of the ordinary everyday Christian people in Corinth. Paul\u2019s words are also God\u2019s words spoken to you. Paul is implying that all Christians, including you, are \u201ccalled\u201d by our living God. What is your reaction to these words?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Like Jeremiah, you are \u201ccalled\u201d by our living God. How does this make you feel? Is this a new thought?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A call is a beckoning, a divine nudge towards your unique multi-faceted part in the mission of our living God. It is compelling. What is our living God calling you to be and to do? What is your unique part or role in the mission of our God?<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-2181417747\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-2181417747-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-8\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-2181417747-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 8<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-2181417747-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-2181417747-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span>.\u201d <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">How does the Lord God\u2019s word in verse 8 make you feel?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Consider &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Often in the Scriptures when God \u201ccalls\u201d someone for His mission and purposes, He tells them: \u201cDo not be afraid\u2026\u201d Compare Luke 1:30-31 for another example.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cDo not be afraid\u2026\u201d is the most common phrase in the Holy Scriptures. Our Lord desires to take away our fears and inadequacies and use each of us in important ways for His mission and purposes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The prophet Jeremiah was persecuted greatly for the words he spoke on behalf of God. How might these words of promise (found in verse 8) spoken by God to Jeremiah when God called him \u2026 later give him confidence and peace to face this persecution and to continue serving God as a prophet?<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3548942000\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3548942000-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-9\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3548942000-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 9<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3548942000-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3548942000-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Then the <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span> put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the <span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span> said to me, \u201cBehold, I have put my words in your mouth.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">How does God help and provide for Jeremiah so he can fulfill His call as a prophet, speaking on behalf of God?<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3177309793\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3177309793-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-verse-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3177309793-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Verse 10<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3177309793-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3177309793-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>\u201cSee, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">Here the Lord God gives Jeremiah authority (the right and power to accomplish) and a picture of his coming prophetic ministry. What will Jeremiah\u2019s ministry as prophet accomplish?<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-4001329417\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-4001329417-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-reflection-exercise\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-4001329417-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Reflection Exercise<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-4001329417-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-4001329417-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"p1\">Find a time and space to be quiet. Ask the Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to speak to you, directing your thoughts and desires. Now read Jeremiah 1:4-10 again, slowly reflecting upon one word at a time before moving to the next. Pay attention to the thoughts, feelings, and desires that come to you. These may be our living God, Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit whispering to you, calling you. Then:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Write a letter to God. Tell him your thoughts, feelings, and desires. Ask for His help with your fears and inadequacies. Offer your life to God as a living sacrifice, surrendering it to Him (Romans 12:1-2). Ask the Lord God to \u201ccall\u201d you continually.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">God\u2019s call involves your entire life: work, family, church, and the whole world, local to global. How is the Lord God calling you?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Share your experience with a trusted Christian friend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Try this \u201cReflection Exercise\u201d over and over. It will help you to develop and fine tune your ability to recognize and to hear our living God speak to you, specifically and personally. This exercise combines two practices used by Christians throughout the centuries: \u201c<i>lectio divina<\/i>\u201d and spiritual journaling. These time-tested practices have been helpful to many.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"accordion-534198640\" class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-534198640-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-closing\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-534198640-content\" >\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Closing<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-534198640-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-534198640-label\" >\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"p1\">Now listen to our living God speaking to you and all ordinary Christians through this encouraging exhortation:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cNow to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, am earnestly calling you to walk in conformity with the worth and weightiness of the calling to which you have been called\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 Ephesians 3:20-4:1<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-547303786 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1747175638 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n#section_1747175638 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(108, 130, 112, 0.797);\n}\n#section_1747175638 .section-bg.bg-loaded {\n  background-image: url(https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/background-bible-study.jpg);\n}\n#section_1747175638 .section-bg {\n  background-position: 65% 38%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n<div class=\"text-center\"><div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:2px;background-color:rgb(106, 104, 103);\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_652459009\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bg section-bg fill bg-fill  \" >\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"is-border\"\n\t\tstyle=\"border-color:rgb(40, 40, 40);border-width:20px 20px 20px 20px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-849365894\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-125680171\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_228408862\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" style=\"margin:20px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"755\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ws-logo-color-copy@1.5x.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ws-logo-color-copy@1.5x.png 755w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ws-logo-color-copy@1.5x-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ws-logo-color-copy@1.5x-600x216.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_228408862 {\n  width: 88%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-454643232\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1755159225\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/learn-with-us\/word-and-sacrament\/\" class=\"button success expand\"  >\n    <span>read more<\/span>\n  <\/a>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1278231095\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indd.adobe.com\/view\/ed12f440-cdb8-4957-ae8d-1ea76ea12970\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button white expand\" rel=\"noopener\"  >\n    <span>Download<\/span>\n  <\/a>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_652459009 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n}\n#section_652459009 .section-bg.bg-loaded {\n  background-image: url(https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1920-web_bg.jpg);\n}\n#section_652459009 .section-bg {\n  background-position: 47% 39%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Christian vocation encompasses repentance, obedience, holiness, and active participation in the worship of God. Paul&#8217;s teachings in Ephesians highlighted the calling to hope and unity, reinforcing the Church&#8217;s commitment to fulfill its collective vocation in an ever-promising future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[125,124],"tags":[116,144,132],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Christian vocation encompasses repentance, obedience, holiness, and active participation in the worship of God. Paul&#039;s teachings in Ephesians highlighted the calling to hope and unity, reinforcing the Church&#039;s commitment to fulfill its collective vocation in an ever-promising future.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NALS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-16T03:18:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-06-16T03:25:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1073\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"nalcnetwork\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"nalcnetwork\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/\",\"name\":\"Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-16T03:18:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-06-16T03:25:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/cbdb989ccafbdd16cf0889380aaa05b3\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg\",\"width\":1073,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Vocation Bible Study\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/\",\"name\":\"NALS\",\"description\":\"North American Lutheran Seminary\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/cbdb989ccafbdd16cf0889380aaa05b3\",\"name\":\"nalcnetwork\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9a43bccd95a15272b9519a2797fa8acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9a43bccd95a15272b9519a2797fa8acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"nalcnetwork\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/author\/nalcnetwork\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study","og_description":"The Christian vocation encompasses repentance, obedience, holiness, and active participation in the worship of God. Paul's teachings in Ephesians highlighted the calling to hope and unity, reinforcing the Church's commitment to fulfill its collective vocation in an ever-promising future.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/","og_site_name":"NALS","article_published_time":"2023-06-16T03:18:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-06-16T03:25:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1073,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"nalcnetwork","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"nalcnetwork","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/","name":"Word &amp; Sacrament Magazine - Vocation Bible Study","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg","datePublished":"2023-06-16T03:18:52+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-16T03:25:50+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/cbdb989ccafbdd16cf0889380aaa05b3"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/berthlesen-featured-1.jpg","width":1073,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/vocation-bible-study\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Vocation Bible Study"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/","name":"NALS","description":"North American Lutheran Seminary","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/cbdb989ccafbdd16cf0889380aaa05b3","name":"nalcnetwork","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9a43bccd95a15272b9519a2797fa8acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9a43bccd95a15272b9519a2797fa8acc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"nalcnetwork"},"url":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/author\/nalcnetwork\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6274"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6305,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274\/revisions\/6305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenals.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}