sermon from September 12

Mission 2: Hope for Our Work

Ephesians 6:5-8, Titus 2:11-3:9

Series on “Our Mission”

The Bible teaches us that we must think deeply about our work. Many people spend more time working than anything else. What does the Bible teach us about work? These passages in Ephesians and Titus are helpful. Here are some questions to reflect on deeply and to ask for God’s help to practice in your life:

WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION FOR YOUR WORK?

• Is your principal motivation to simply make money, or to please your parents, or to "get a life?” Is it OK to work for a company that actually produces goods that are actually bad for people?
• Here are Biblical, Christian motivations for work: (1) the grace of God. Titus says that the grace of God teaches us to renounce worldly passions and to live godly lives” (2) to please your real boss who is Christ, Ephesians 6; (3) the common good, Titus - “to devote ourselves to good works”….”that are profitable for people.” (4) the hope of the second coming of Christ, “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great god and Savior Jesus Christ.”

DO YOU USE WORK TO “JUSTIFY YOURSELF” OR TO GET AN IDENTITY?

• Titus says that God’s grace saves us from “worldly passions”, i.e. excessive desires.
• It is OK to gain satisfaction from work, but not to “justify our existence” .
• Titus 3:5-7 says, “Having been justified by his grace.” To be justified means to be declared “righteous” before God because you have received God’s love, and acceptance through Christ’s finished work on the cross. This can begin to free you from the pressure of guilt, and drivenness that comes from making work an idol.

CAN YOU WORK WITHOUT GIVING INTO DISCOURAGEMENT AND CYNICISM?

• Someone said, “When you are in your twenties you try to figure out who you are. In your 30’s you try to prove who you are? In your 40’s you realize it wasn’t worth the effort.”

• Jesus says that even a cup of cold water given his name will not go unrewarded. Revelation says that “the glory of the nations” will come into the new heaven and earth. This means that you can do good work and even though it will never be “done” in this life you can have the hope that it will be preserved for Christ’s second coming, “the blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Note: Some material has been drawn from Andy Crouch’s “Culture Making”, “Culture Making”, Tim Keller, “The Gospel, Hope and the World”, James Davison Hunter’s “To Change the World”

TABLE TALK: Over a meal talk about your work and the questions raised in this message and encourage each other to apply the truth in your lives.

Listen to the sermon online