Question 355: How Do You Live Out Your Vocation?

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 355: How do you live out your vocation?

I live out my vocation by faithfully serving God in every area of life—with love, integrity, and devotion to Christ. Whether at home, in the workplace, at church, or in the wider world, I seek to glorify God by using my gifts to serve others, uphold truth, share the gospel, and pursue holiness. I live prayerfully, submit to God’s Word, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide me, remembering that every task, great or small, becomes holy when offered to God in faith. (Colossians 3:23–24, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Micah 6:8, Ephesians 4:1, Romans 12:11)

Full Scripture References

“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23–24 (BSB)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 (BSB)

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8 (BSB)

“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received…” – Ephesians 4:1 (BSB)

“Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

To live out your vocation is to embrace every part of life—ordinary or extraordinary—as an offering to God. The Christian vocation is not confined to church ministry; it encompasses your work, family, relationships, and responsibilities. Bishop Charlie Masters (ANiC, Diocese of the Living Word) writes, “Vocation is not only about what you do, but how you do it—in faith, for Christ, and by the Spirit. That makes every moment sacred.” (Living the Christian Calling, 2022)

Living faithfully in your vocation means showing up with humility, joy, and love in whatever role God has given you—whether parenting, nursing, farming, studying, or preaching. Fr. Isaac Rehberg (ACNA, All Saints San Antonio, TX) explains, “God doesn’t need you to be impressive—He calls you to be faithful. Your desk, your kitchen, your classroom, your pulpit—all become altars when your work is offered to Him.” (The Ordinary Made Holy, 2021)

Our vocation must also be grounded in prayer and Scripture. The Word renews our minds, and prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will. Fr. Caleb Evans (Anglican Orthodox Church, St. Stephen’s Mission, GA) teaches, “You live out your vocation by staying close to Jesus. You cannot serve faithfully if you’re not abiding in the vine. Communion with Christ fuels faithful vocation.” (Serving Christ in All Things, 2020)

The Church strengthens our vocation by teaching, encouraging, and commissioning us to live as disciples in the world. Fr. Thomas Buchan (Anglican Union, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, VA) writes, “We are sent from the altar into the world—not just to preach, but to love, labor, and live in holiness. Vocation is not escape from the world, but redemption within it.” (The Church and the Christian Life, 2021)

Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) adds, “Your vocation is not about greatness—it’s about faithfulness. The measure of your life is not how much you accomplish, but how completely you offer it to Christ.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“Let all that you do be done for the Lord, whether great or small. Holiness begins not in the role, but in the heart that offers it.” – Augustine of Hippo, Homily on Christian Service, c. 410 AD

“Be diligent in your labor, for it is God you serve. The field and the shop are no less holy than the sanctuary when filled with prayer and love.” – Basil the Great, Homily on Work, c. 370 AD

“Live as one sent by Christ. In word and deed, reflect His mercy. In toil and rest, glorify His name.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 4, c. 390 AD

“The Christian does not escape the world—he transforms it by grace. Let each man walk worthy of the calling he has received.” – Cyprian of Carthage, On the Life of the Believer, c. 250 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)