This week explores the need to reorient our lives around Christ and to submit everything to him, including our work. We will specifically explore topics of the way in which we do our work and how Jesus shows us the way to work. This includes ethics, the way we treat others, and learning to appropriately love our coworkers.
Key passage: Mark 12:28-34.
SERMON OUTLINE
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
God’s Employee Handbook
- Love God. Love others. Repeat. (Matthew 22:37-40)
- God’s the boss. (Colossians 3:23; Luke 16:13)
- Humility works. (Philippians 2:3-8; Mark 9:35)
- Honesty is the best policy. (Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 24:26, 26:28)
- Spread joy. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 3:13)
- Listen and talk good. (Proverbs 18:21; Luke 6:45)
- Don’t worry. Trust God. (Matthew 6:34, 11:28; Psalm 46:10)
DIGGING DEEPER
- Monday: What would it look like if you reeeeeeally “loved your neighbor as yourself” at work
- Tuesday: How does the world define “love”? How do you? How does God? Who’s right? (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
- Wednesday: Read Galatians 5:16-25, contrasting the fruit of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit. Which do you see more of in your work life? If you see more of the former than the latter, what can you do about it?
- Thursday: Review Colossians 3:23 and Luke 16:13. Are you working for God, yourself or someone or something else? What would it be like if Jesus was sitting right next to you at work all day long?
- Friday: Do you ever lie at work? Do you ever engage in flattery? Why? What would work be like if you always spoke the truth in love, no matter the personal cost? (See Proverbs 24:26, 26:28)
- Saturday: How often do you encourage someone at work? What if you committed to encouraging at least one person a day, as the Bible says? (See Hebrews 3:13)
- Sunday: Are you worried, stressed or freaked out about anything at work? Read Matthew 6:34 and 11:28-30 and rest with Jesus.
Additional Resources
- Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Timothy Keller & Katherine Leary Alsdorf (2014)
- Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work by Tom Nelson (2011)
- The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Os Guinness (1998)
- God in the Marketplace by Henry Blackaby (2010)
- Business for the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem (2003)
- Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work by Miroslav Volf (2001)
- Business by the Book by Larry Burkett (1998)