"The Call" Sisters Event

A Calling to Follow

Scripture References

Primary text

• Ephesians 4:1
• Matthew 16:24

Other references

• Ephesians 2:10
• Galatians 5:24

Overview

God has placed a real, weighty calling on every believer: to know Him and to make Him known. Salvation is only the beginning; life in Christ now means denying self, taking up the cross, and daily following Jesus. Amy Groeschel traced that path through prayerful intimacy and moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit, urging every woman to live “all-in” and lead others in the same direction.

Main Points

1. Every believer is called

• Calling is not reserved for pastors or missionaries; it starts the moment of salvation.
• In its simplest form the mission is: know God, love God, love people, make Him known.
• Ephesians 2:10 frames us as God’s workmanship, already prepared for specific good works.
• Paul’s intensity (Philippians reference implied, but not cited) shows what “all-in” looks like—life is no longer about ease or comfort.

2. Live worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1)

• “Worthy” feels intimidating because none of us feel adequate.
• Jesus defined the standard: deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Him (Matthew 16:24).
  • Deny yourself — forget self-promotion and ownership of your life.
  • Take up your cross — complete surrender to the Father’s will.
  • Follow — join His mission, accompany Him everywhere He sends you.
• We naturally drift toward following ourselves; repentance realigns us with Christ.
• Others are following our example—where are we leading them?

3. Two essential practices for staying on track

a. Stay close through prayer

• Begin every morning with relational prayer: “Good morning, Father…” before any request list.
• Keep it fresh and personal; avoid turning prayer into a duty.
• A sample morning declaration Amy often prays sets her focus on rejoicing, surrender, and Scripture meditation.

  “This is the day that You have made, Father; I will rejoice and be glad in it… I no longer live—Jesus, You are my life.”

• Pray continually throughout the day; cling to God in conversation, not formality.

b. Stay close through dependence on the Spirit

• Galatians 5:24 calls believers to crucify the flesh and “keep in step” with the Spirit—walking in His rhythm like a military cadence.
  • Illustration: Amy and Craig’s walks: when she lags, rushes ahead, or stops, they lose rhythm; effortless progress happens when she matches his pace.
• Ongoing awareness—“Holy Spirit, I know You’re with me”—tunes our ears to His whispers for daily decisions.
  • Illustration: Driving in Fort Worth, two GPS voices competed; focusing on the right voice was the only safe way home. Distractions must be silenced so we can follow the Spirit’s directions.
• Dependence produces peace, freedom, wisdom, and intimacy. Religion without intimacy signals we are following works, not Jesus.

4. Specific assignments emerge from daily surrender

• God gave Amy clear personal callings: homeschooling, discipling women, launching Branch 15 transitional homes.
• Each assignment felt scary and costly—“easy never changed the world.”
• Callings demand hard work, repeated self-denial, and trust that the Spirit will equip what He orders.

“If you want to fulfill the callings of God on your life, the best advice I have is that you just follow Him.”

Key Truths

• Calling begins at salvation and belongs to every Christian.
• Living worthy means continual self-denial and full surrender to Christ’s will.
• Prayerful intimacy is the lifeline that keeps us centered on Jesus.
• Ongoing dependence on the Holy Spirit aligns our steps with God’s direction.
• Specific assignments may be intimidating, but God equips what He calls.

Response

• Begin each day with honest, relational prayer before anything else.
• Repent of self-led living; consciously deny self and surrender plans to Jesus.
• Listen for the Spirit’s whispers throughout the day and obey promptly.
• Evaluate who is following you and intentionally point them to Christ.
• Step into the assignment God keeps putting on your heart, trusting His power over your inadequacy.

Closing

Amy invited every woman to go “all-in,” refusing half-hearted Christianity. Hands raised across locations in a prayer of repentance and total surrender, declaring that their lives belong wholly to Jesus.

“Take our lives—we’re all in, Father. We hold nothing back.”

Prayer

The gathering closed with Amy thanking God for salvation, confessing the times we have followed ourselves, and asking the Holy Spirit to empower each woman to live fully for Christ, walking in close friendship and fulfilling every assignment prepared in advance for her life.

Resources

• “The Call” – four-week Sisters study launching after this message
• Branch 15 – transitional housing ministry founded through Amy’s calling