"Living a Life Worthy of Your Call” | Dr. Elaine Friedrich

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Am I truly living the life God has called me to live? Not just staying busy. Not just doing good things. But living deeply and intentionally for Christ?

In this special guest message, Dr. Elaine Friedrich unpacks Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9–12 and challenges us to live “a life worthy of the Lord.” Be sure to watch the full worship service video or listen through the sermon audio player to experience the full message.

Spiritual Fullness Must Come Before Spiritual Fruitfulness

Paul prays that believers would:

  • Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will

  • Bear fruit in every good work

  • Be strengthened with all power

  • Give joyful thanks in every circumstance

A worthy life begins with being filled by the Holy Spirit. We cannot live out our calling in our own strength. Spiritual fullness must precede spiritual fruitfulness.

To be filled means surrender. It means asking daily:

“Lord, what are we going to do together today?”

Living worthy begins not with striving, but abiding.

When Your Walk Matches Your Talk

Our conduct must reflect our calling.

Dr. Friedrich shared stories of ordinary believers living faithfully in ordinary places — a hotel worker radiating hospitality and an airport janitor singing joyfully while serving. Their faith was visible.

A worthy life:

  • Is consistent

  • Is growing

  • Is resilient

  • Is rooted in gratitude

Worthy living shows up in how we treat people, how we endure hardship, and how we respond when life doesn’t go as planned.

Discipleship Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

“Discipleship is not a sprint. It is a marathon.”

We need supernatural stamina. Paul reminds us that we are strengthened not by willpower, but by the Holy Spirit.

Transitions, grief, illness, and disappointment are not signs of failure. They are invitations to deeper dependence. Even disappointment can become divine protection when we trust God’s greater purpose.

We are strengthened through:

  • Scripture

  • Worship

  • Christian community

We were never meant to walk alone.

Gratitude Guards the Heart

Gratitude shifts our focus from entitlement to worship.

A thankful heart protects us from drifting spiritually. It anchors us in joy — not because circumstances are easy, but because Christ is faithful.

Life is short. What matters most is not how loud our life appears, but how deeply it reflects Jesus.

What Will You Do With Your Calling?

This week, begin each day with one simple prayer:

“Lord, what are we going to do together today?”

Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you. Look for one opportunity to serve faithfully. Practice gratitude intentionally — especially in inconvenience.

If you are walking through a transition, don’t walk alone. Connect in a Group and allow the body of Christ to strengthen you.

At New Hope, we are called to Know Jesus. Grow Faith. Go Multiply!

Living a life worthy of your call means knowing Christ deeply, growing in spiritual maturity, and multiplying that faith through faithful witness. As we step toward 2026, we are committed to becoming a multi-ethnic movement of disciples who make disciples — reaching the lost and empowering future generations.

Explore more messages at findnewhope.com/message-archive and learn more about our mission at findnewhope.com/whoweare


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