John Lloyd - Living Sent At Work
/Growing in Our Walk with Jesus: Living Sent at Work
Colossians 3:22- 4:1
June 9, 2019
Pastor John Lloyd
Devoting attention to our walk with God is important and should be a priority. How is it going? How could it improve? First is our relationship with God. Second is our relationships with other Christians. Third is daily pouring out the love and resources of God to those outside our door. Today, we will focus on how to live sent at work or school. Living sent brings purpose to everything we do. Living Sent… at Work, Pastor John
Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4:1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
What does our work have to do with our faith and what does our faith have to do with our work?
Big Idea: Living sent at work/school means what I do and how I do it matters greatly to God. Make me an irresistible employee/student.
Review: The following make for a strong walk with Jesus:
1. Our relationship with God.
Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
2. Our relationships with others within our community.
Matthew 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.
3. Our relationships with others outside of our community.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of
the time.
BLESS:
Begin with prayer.
Listen with empathy.
Eat with other.
Serve with love.
Share your story.
How do I become an irresistible employee/student?
I. Receive the ______________ ___________ of our Savior Jesus.
John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 17:4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:12, I John 4:19)
Trusting in Jesus and His finished work changes everything! Irresistible employees begin by surrendering to an irresistible Savior.
II. Allow the _________ to influence our attitudes about work/school.
Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Genesis 3:17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it, ’cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; (Genesis 3:18-19, Rev. 21:1-2, 22:2)
A recent Gallup Poll revealed the number one thing this world’s five billion working age people want. What the world wants even more than food, shelter, safety, and peace is a good, meaningful job. Gallup June 9, 2015
God’s Imagination #1: God’s work is restorative from Eden to the New Jerusalem.
God’s Imagination #2: My work is just as much God’s work as is the work of missionaries and pastors. The secular and sacred must never be seen as separate from the vantage point of a Christian.
How could God’s kingdom breakthrough in my work? How could I be the aroma of Christ at my working place?
Irresistible employee’s mission statement: Leave people, places and things better than I found them!
Help me embrace my work as a mission!
III. Redefine what ______________ looks like in your life and work.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Irresistible employee definition of success: I want to work in such a way that people are better. I want to work in such a way that every place I work is better. I want to make everything I work on better for the glory of Christ.
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Colossians 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Reflective Questions: Am I getting better as an employee? Who can I help this week get better? What thing could I help make better? What place could I make better?
Prayer: Help me to leave things, people and places better than I found them. Help me to embrace my work as mission!
Spiritual Growth Questions for June 9, 2019
Opener: Describe the best worker/teammate who has worked with you? What quality did you observe that made them a great worker?
1. Read Colossians 3:22-4:1. As you read Paul’s last words to the church of Ephesus, what observations do you see in these verses? What words stand out to you? Why is Paul saying this and what is he hoping they will do? Ask God to speak through his Word to your soul. How does Paul encourage them to live sent? How could this be applied in your life right now?
2. Read Colossians 4:2-6. Carefully go through each verse: Write down key words and observations in each verse. What principles are standing out? Why is Paul saying this and what is he hoping they will do? How could these verses be applied to a situation in your life right now? Consider the BLESS approach. Begin with Prayer, Listen with empathy, Eat with others, Serve in love and Share your Story. How is Paul essentially using this approach to the Colossians?
3. Read John 5:17, Hebrews 7:25, John 17:4. Observe what Jesus is doing or did in each one of these verses. Discuss how Jesus views his work. What ramifications are there for us in regards to work if we are made in His image? Pray about how Jesus could work through you at your work? Spend some time on question 4.
4. Consider this definition of success for your work: Irresistible employee’s mission statement: Leave people, places and things better than I found them! Read I Corinthians 15:58. Spend time thinking how you could apply this specifically to your work. Who could you help make better? What things could you work on to improve? How could you leave your work better than you found it?
What does our work have to do with our faith and what does our faith have to do with our work?
Extra credit in heaven: Read Matthew 25:14-30. Meditate on the parable of talents and reflect on the principle of development.
Memory Verses: John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,