Sorry, no recording this week!
Here are the Sermon Notes. It’s the best we could do!
SLIDE- They say if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. But apparently, falling in love isn’t easy.
According to a Salary.com 2013 survey, a whopping 73% of those surveyed work strictly for the paycheck.
Intro Series
Turn to Colossians 3:22, page 984 in the Pew Bibles
Context of Text (Slavery vs. Employment)
Read text, pray.
-Last week, “On earth as it is in Heaven”
-Effects everything, including how we see ‘others’ through a racial lens.
-It is about God’s kingdom, not ours.
-There are many ways to serve God, and it’s not just evangelism.
-My job is elevated. I do “the real work” of the Kingdom.
-WHat you do, not so much (Less than) False
–There are many ways to serve God in his kingdom and they are not less then/ greater equations but collectively working towards “on earth as it is in Heaven”
As citizens of His kingdom we are to have the same mindset,
Our Father… Your Kingdom come, your will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.
That heavenly mindset is the foundation for what I want to talk about today.
Work- Biblical, pragmatic, redemptive & relational.
-Main Point “work is…
1. Biblical
-Does God Work? God works
Creates, Cares, Continues, Commissions
A. Creates
SLIDE- And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Gen. 1:31
-Satisfaction in hard work
B. Cares (Providence)
SLIDE- You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. (Ps 104:10–13).
C. Continues
SLIDE- But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” John 5:17
D. Commissions
SLIDE- The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15
-Adam worked before the fall
E. We are Commanded to work
-5th commandment
SLIDE- “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” Exodus 20:8-10
God’s commands point to Peace- Shilom-Ought to live,
2. Purposeful
SLIDE- “Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul.”
“Work is so foundational to our makeup, in fact, that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm.”
Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor
-Imago die / Purpose
SLIDE- The Latin word vox, meaning “voice,” and the related word vocāre, meaning “to call”, give us the root voc or vok. Words from the Latin vox or vocāre have something to do with the voice or with calling. Anything vocal is produced by the voice. A vocation is the work that someone is called to do as a job.
-Meant to live (tranistion to curse)
-Work is a curse, reality of day to day
SLIDE- ‘…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground…’ Genesis 3:17-19
The Cross has reversed the Curse! Will we still struggle?
3. Redemptive
-Creates, Cares, Continues, Commissions
-All that we do points to our redemption through Jesus.
-It’s not that it doesn’t, it’s that we don’t believe it.
-Easy to see how being a Pastor fits in the plan of God’s redemption, but doing dishes?
-Every time you help someone or teach someone you show God’s commissioning.
-When you show up to work everyday, you reveal that God is faithful to continue his work!
-Parent, diaper you change or groceries you buy, shows God provides & cares
-Every song you write, every house built, project completed, picture taken or painted, it all points to God creates.
READ Colossians 3:17 “WHATEVER you do”
-In the name of the Lord Jesus means, believing your work is your calling! “Whatever” your doing tomorrow, Monday
4. Relational
-Relationship with God/ Relationship with Others.
-Exposit Text. FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIP within CHARACTER
- Obey
- Not just when you are being watched by others. But knowing God is watching, serve!
- Please people? This will fail you every time.
- How?
- Sincere
- Fear of the LORD
- Heartily
- FOR THE LORD (Said twice, Pay attention!)
- Pay back? Trust God
2. Be Just & Fair
Will we work in Heaven?
Yes, work is apart of the original design between God and man.
-Never grow tired.
-Never reach for the one tool you need and it’s missing.
-Never happen in heaven
Work is
-Biblical, Purposeful, Redemptive, Relational