Chapel Messages - Faith Pulpit

Dr. Dan Brown opens by reflecting on his own fiftieth anniversary in ministry — he sat in the same chapel as an incoming freshman in 1976 — and uses his personal story as the thread connecting three biblical foundations for the call to ministry. He draws from Romans 12, 1 Timothy 3, and Acts 13 to argue that the call involves a dedication, a desire, and a decision.

Scripture Text

Romans 12:1-2; 1 Timothy 3:1; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 20:28

Main Points or Ideas

A dedication for God's purpose (Romans 12:1-2) – The call to ministry begins with every believer's responsibility to present themselves as a living sacrifice — not just the formally called, but everyone. As a teenager, Dr. Brown publicly dedicated his life to Christ: not a rededication after failure, but a first yes. He had never said no to God, but he had also never said yes. That act of surrender — open-ended and unconditional — preceded the specific call that came when he arrived at Faith as a freshman. Students who have never said ”yes, Lord, anywhere, anything” have not yet laid the foundation the call requires.
A desire for ministry (1 Timothy 3:1) – The word translated ”desire” in verse one actually contains two distinct Greek words: the first means to stretch out and grasp like a runner lunging for the finish line; the second is the word normally translated ”lust” — a consuming, burning passion, rooted in the idea of smoldering fire. Together they picture the call as a burden that doesn't go away. A burden that fades by morning is not the call — a burden that sticks across weeks and months, driven by the Holy Spirit, is. Acts 20:28 reinforces that the Holy Spirit places elders and pastors in their positions, meaning the desire itself is Spirit-generated, not self-generated.
A decision for service (Acts 13:1-3) – In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit calls Barnabas and Saul not in isolation but through the local church. The church selects, separates, prays for, potentially supports, and later receives an account from its sent-out workers. The call to ministry never happens in a vacuum — it is confirmed and carried out in partnership with the local church. Dr. Brown warns that there is equal danger in entering ministry uncalled and in avoiding it when truly called. For those who sense God's call, the response is to get involved now — serve in your church, seek opportunities, and start preparing today, not at graduation.

ConclusionDr. Dan closes with two questions: Have you said yes to God with no conditions? And has God called you into ministry? If the answer to the second is yes, the call to ministry is also a call to prepare — and that preparation begins today, not after school ends.