Explore the Call

Here Am I, Send Me

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:00:12 +0000

Is God asking you to embrace the call? If so, then follow the call of God by surrendering your will, your life, and your future to His purposes. Like Isaiah, it all begins by saying yes to God (Isaiah 6:8). Remember, your “yes” is not a momentary response, but a commitment to a lifetime of service.

Hard, But Worth It!

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:39 +0000

Of all the things that you could choose to do with your life, serving in ministry may be the most fulfilling. It is important to understand that ministry is not an easy job. It has its own set of challenges. Ministry may be one of the most difficult vocations there is today. The key is to remember that ministry is more fulfilling than it is easy and more rewarding than it is hard. You will have peace and joy as a result of fulfilling God’s will for your life.

What To Do When My Family Isn’t On Board

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:00:53 +0000

Sometimes young people who experience the call of God discover that their families may be opposed or non-supportive of their call to ministry. It is not easy exploring the call of God without the emotional or financial support of your family. The lack of family support can be difficult, but it is no reason to give up on the journey. God will sustain, support, and provide for your call as you continue to trust Him.

Why Is My Family Freaking Out?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:00:15 +0000

Young people who experience the call of God discover that their families may be opposed or unsupportive of their call to ministry. Resist the temptation of feeling disappointed, abandoned, or angered when your family is unsupportive. Ask God to give you patience, love, and understanding with your family.

Dating While Preparing for Ministry

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:00:36 +0000

Can a person who feels called to ministry date anyone they want? Dating will either help you find the right person, hinder your potential, or even prevent you from being ordained. At this stage in your life, sexual temptation may be the greatest threat to destroying your ministry. You need to use great discretion in dating and interacting with members of the opposite sex.

Anticipating Hurdles

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:00:01 +0000

In today’s podcast, we will discuss the most common hurdles in ministry and how you can start overcoming them. You must be prepared for six hurdles: The hurdle of leading. The hurdle of unhappiness in people. The hurdle of spiritual consumerism. The hurdle of being lazy. The hurdle of compromising your character. The hurdle of [...]

Starting Your Library

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:00:27 +0000

Mechanics, artists, doctors, and salespeople, and every other profession have their own set of unique tools, and ministers are no different. Our tools are books, and it’s never too early to start building your library.

What Can I Do in High School?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:00:21 +0000

People have a tendency to focus on the future but to overlook the present. The problem with this tendency is that we often miss the opportunities that God has for us today. Beginning to plan for your future is important; however, there are vital step that you can take while still preparing for your ministry.

What’s the Difference?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:15 +0000

Knowing God’s plan can be difficult. A person needs discernment when sorting through the possibilities of God’s call. One difficultly we face when exploring the call of God is understanding the terms involved. We often confuse our spiritual gifts, burdens, and being led by God with His call. In this podcast, we are going to talk about three common misunderstandings that are often confused with the call of God. If we are not careful, this confusion could cause us to miss what God has for us.

How to Choose a Bible College

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:00:37 +0000

In our last two podcasts, we discussed the importance of seeking formal training as well as the advantages of going to a Bible college. Today, we want to give you ten helpful tools in choosing a Bible college that is right for you. When it comes to choosing a Bible college, there are many variables to consider; it’s up to you to prioritize them. It is never too early to seek God’s guidance in selecting a Bible college that is right for you. Remember to stay open, pray, and most importantly, keep Exploring the Call.

Is Bible College a Better Way?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:39 +0000

In our last podcast, we discussed the importance of ministerial training. In this week’s podcast, we explain why Bible college is the best place for a person to receive ministerial training. Remember, it is never too early to start considering, or planning to attend, Bible college.

The Importance of Formal Training

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:00:14 +0000

The call of God is a call to preparation. Many young people do not understand the need for formal training. Some of you may be wondering, “Why is the call of God not enough to qualify me?” You may also be wondering, “Why should I waste time getting an education when people are dying and going to hell?”

“Being” Over “Doing”

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:00:56 +0000

The Ministry is a "being" profession. In other words, who you are is more important than what you do. The Bible makes it clear that a minister’s moral and spiritual qualities qualify him more than his gifts or natural abilities. After examining 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, we can identify twenty qualities that define a minister's character. Learning to implement these qualities will help you respond more quickly to the Spirit's conviction in order to initiate change in your life. Remember to keep the faith and continue to Explore the Call.

What is Bi-vocational Ministry?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:00:56 +0000

God calls some people to work in ministry while also working either part for full time in secular jobs to supplement their income.

The Three Faces of Ministry

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:00:17 +0000

What are the most common jobs in ministry? Does everyone have to be a senior pastor? These and other questions like them will be answered in this podcast episode.

Custom-Designed for Ministry

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:00:15 +0000

Whether you're called to full-time ministry or not, God has custom-designed you for ministry.

Is Ordination Important?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:00:37 +0000

If it was God who called you to full-time Ministry, why would it be important to be Ordained by a Denomination or ministerial organization?

Can Women be Ministers? – Part 2

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:47 +0000

Discover why God has called, and continues to call women into full-time Ministry.

Can Women be Ministers? – Part 1

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:00:55 +0000

Woman have a very important role in Ministry, although it is a controversial topic in some denominations. This podcast will elaborate on why some believe that women should not be ordained into full-time ministry.

Talking with Pastors about Your Call

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:00:32 +0000

There are at least 3 Questions that you might have as to why it is important to interview Pastors about their call to Ministry?

Red Flags and Warning Signs

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:00:56 +0000

When is a call to ministry NOT a call at all? There are at least 5 Red Flags that everyone should look for that should cause you to question the legitimacy of your call to Ministry:

God’s Will and Praying in the Spirit

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:00:27 +0000

There is a supernatural way to connect to God's will for your life - it's called Praying in the spirit. It is necessary that you have been Baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to Pray in the spirit.

The Call of God and Spiritual Disciplines

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:00:51 +0000

To Explore the Call, Spiritual Disciplines are a necessary and vital component. Let's look at a sample that would include: Worship, Fasting, Submission, Bible Study, Solitude & Prayer.

Running from God

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:00:50 +0000

If you are sensing a call of God to full-time Ministry, you definitely want to avoid running from God. You are not alone in feeling that initial apprehension.

Things That Confirm Your Call

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:00:31 +0000

In this Episode of Explore the Call we will be looking at the ways you can be certain of your call. There are two very common questions that people ask themselves about the call of God on their lives.

The Company of the Called

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:00:31 +0000

The Company of the Called. Is being called to ministry something that is a recent phenomenon? Is there a Biblical precedent for a call to full-time Ministry? God has always raised up leaders.

Misconceptions about the Call

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:00:54 +0000

As you are Exploring the Call of God on your life, you will likely encounter some common misconceptions about the ways by which God calls people to Ministry.

How Does God Call People?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:00:39 +0000

Do all people receive God's call in the same way? Is one way more authentic than another? God calls people in varied ways, different from person to person. No two callings are alike. How do you recognize it?

What Is a Call to Ministry?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:00:49 +0000

What is a call to ministry and how do you know if you are experiencing it? The call to Ministry can be summed up as "An inner conviction that God has called you to serve and equip the church of Jesus Christ."

Called to be a Missionary?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:00:33 +0000

In a real practical sense, Missionaries function in many ways like an Apostle. As you may experiencing a call of God on your life to be a Missionary, you may find three very important questions need to be answered.

What Pastors Do

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:18 +0000

What do most pastors do in a typical week? What does a week in the life of a pastor look like?

What is the Ministry?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:00:24 +0000

Those called to full-time ministry accept the responsibility of recruiting, training, equipping, and releasing God’s people in ministry. Being called to the full-time equipping ministry does not make you better than other Christians. As a matter of fact, it makes you obligated to God to serve and lead them.

The Call of a lifetime

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:00:45 +0000

One of the most important questions every high school student asks is, "What will I do with my life?" That question is appropriate for any young person getting ready to face the future and imagining themselves in a career. But for a Christian, discovering what God wants them to do with their life is much deeper because it is a spiritual matter. No time, resources, or effort that are spent exploring the possibilities of God’s will are ever wasted. Serving in ministry is one of the greatest things you can do with your life. Ministry is a high calling. Why? Here are four reasons.

Does Ministry have to change who you are?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:40:29 +0000

Does ministry have to change who you are? Yes! No! Sounds a bit schizophrenic doesn’t it? But hang with me for a minute. When you talk about “who you are,” what you’re really discussing is your personality. I laughed when I surfed Wikipedia. Turns out the only section that discusses “personality alteration” or “change” is when it relates to a cult. Scary...

Explore the Call – How did it come about?

info@explorethecall.com (ZBC) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:38:33 +0000

Explore the Call is the result of a collaborative effort between Pastor Gene Roncone and Zion Bible College. Pastor Roncone has spent years studying the call of God and meeting with high school students exploring the call in weekly small group settings.