Sermons on John 5:17
The various sermons below converge on the interpretation of John 5:17 as a profound declaration of God’s continuous, active work in the world, with Jesus embodying participation in that ongoing divine activity. Both emphasize the present tense of the Greek verb for “is working” to underscore the unceasing nature of God’s labor, inviting believers to join in this perpetual mission rather than imposing their own agendas on God. They each highlight a partnership model where human action is not autonomous but aligned with God’s initiative, using vivid analogies—one likening the Christian life to planets revolving around the sun, the other comparing human work to a child collaborating with a parent on a project. Both sermons also elevate the dignity and purpose of work, framing it as a divine calling that transcends mere obligation or economic necessity, and affirm that God’s activity is not confined by human constructs such as the Sabbath or cultural attitudes toward labor.
Where the sermons diverge is in their theological emphasis and practical application. One sermon leans into the relational and transformational aspect of God’s ongoing work, stressing that joining God’s mission is rooted in love and invites believers to relinquish control by shifting focus from “What is God’s will for me?” to “What is God doing around me?” This approach frames Christian living as a dynamic partnership that reshapes identity and purpose. The other sermon, meanwhile, develops a more expansive theology of work itself, distinguishing between “job” and “work” and emphasizing the sacredness of all labor, including manual and secular tasks. It addresses cultural biases against work, highlights the redemptive potential of labor in a fallen world, and offers a fresh perspective on retirement as a transition from paid employment to ongoing purposeful activity. This sermon also stresses stewardship of creation as a cooperative endeavor with God, underscoring human creativity as a reflection of divine image-bearing.
John 5:17 Theological Themes:
Joining God's Mission: Embracing Partnership and Purpose (Woodhaven Baptist Church) presents the distinct theological theme that God’s work is not limited by human schedules, religious traditions, or even the Sabbath, but is always ongoing and accessible. The sermon adds a new facet by emphasizing that God’s invitation to join his work is rooted in a love relationship, not mere servitude or obligation. The preacher draws out the idea that God’s ongoing work is an invitation for transformation—God changes and uses believers simultaneously, inviting them into a dynamic partnership rather than a static role. The sermon also explores the theme of relinquishing control: rather than asking “What is God’s will for my life?” (which centers the self), believers are called to ask, “What is God doing around me, and how can I join him?” This shift from self-centeredness to God-centeredness is presented as a liberating theological paradigm, directly tied to the meaning of John 5:17.
Work as Divine Calling: Purpose Beyond Paychecks (SermonIndex.net) introduces several nuanced theological themes. First, it reframes work as a divine partnership rather than a solitary or merely utilitarian endeavor, arguing that God’s original intent was for humans to “work with Him” rather than simply “for Him” or “without Him.” This theme is developed through the idea that God provides the raw materials and humans, as image-bearers, are called to creatively steward and develop the world. Second, the sermon presents the concept that work is fundamentally about purpose, not provision—distinguishing between “job” (for a paycheck) and “work” (for purpose), and asserting that even in the absence of material need (as in Eden), humans are called to meaningful activity. Third, the sermon explores the redemptive aspect of work in a fallen world, teaching that the gospel transforms the workplace by empowering Christians to bring grace, humility, and integrity into environments marred by sin, injustice, and futility. Fourth, it offers a fresh application for retirement, arguing that while one may retire from a job, one should never retire from purposeful work, as ongoing activity is tied to human flourishing and divine calling. Finally, the sermon asserts that all legitimate work is sacred, challenging the sacred-secular divide and affirming that God values and is present in all forms of labor, not just overtly spiritual vocations.
John 5:17 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Joining God's Mission: Embracing Partnership and Purpose (Woodhaven Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the controversy surrounding Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath, which prompted his statement in John 5:17. The sermon notes that the Pharisees accused Jesus of violating Sabbath law, but Jesus responds by asserting that God’s work does not cease on the Sabbath, challenging prevailing Jewish norms of the time. The preacher explains that, in first-century Judaism, the Sabbath was strictly observed as a day of rest, yet Jesus claims divine prerogative to work as his Father does, thus asserting both his unique relationship to God and the continuity of God’s redemptive activity even on the Sabbath. This contextual insight helps listeners understand the radical nature of Jesus’ claim and its implications for how believers view God’s ongoing work in the world.
Work as Divine Calling: Purpose Beyond Paychecks (SermonIndex.net) provides significant historical and cultural context by discussing the Greco-Roman view of manual labor as beneath human dignity, reserved for slaves and the lower classes, while intellectual or managerial work was esteemed. The sermon contrasts this with the biblical narrative, where Jesus, the Son of God, spends the majority of his earthly life engaged in manual labor as a carpenter, thereby subverting cultural norms and restoring honor to all forms of work. The preacher also references Jewish eschatology, noting the division of history into “this age” and “the age to come,” and explains that the biblical vision of the new creation involves a renewed earth where meaningful work continues, countering the notion that the material world is disposable or unspiritual.
John 5:17 Cross-References in the Bible:
Seasons of Life: Embracing Joy, Grace, and Community (Church of the Four Corners) references Romans 12:6 (“God works in and through his people”), Philippians 2 (“for it is God who is at work in you”), and John 5:17 (“my Father is always at work to this very day”) to create a thematic thread about God’s continual activity in believers’ lives. These passages are used to reinforce the idea that God’s work is not only external but also internal, shaping and transforming individuals and communities. The sermon also references Acts (the birth of the Philippian church), Galatians 5 (fruit of the Spirit: joy), and Romans 14:17 (the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit) to expand on the implications of God’s ongoing work for Christian joy and grace. "Joining God's Mission: Embracing Partnership and Purpose" (Woodhaven Baptist Church) cross-references John 5:19 (“the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing”), using it to reinforce the principle that believers should only act in accordance with God’s revealed activity. The sermon also references Galatians 2:20 (“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”) to illustrate the theme of self-denial and participation in God’s mission, and Proverbs 16:25 (“there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”) to warn against self-centeredness. Additionally, Luke 9 is used to show how Jesus sends out the disciples to participate in God’s work, paralleling the principle of joining God’s ongoing activity.
Work as Divine Calling: Purpose Beyond Paychecks (SermonIndex.net) draws on a wide array of biblical passages to support and expand on John 5:17. Genesis 1–2 is cited to establish God as the original worker and humanity’s mandate to steward creation. Psalm 16 and Psalm 115 are referenced to highlight the joy and satisfaction found in God’s works and the delegation of earth’s stewardship to humanity. Ephesians 2:10 is used to show that believers are created for good works, prepared by God. 1 Corinthians 3:9 and Colossians 1:29 are invoked to illustrate the concept of co-working with God. The sermon also references Genesis 3 and 4 to discuss the impact of sin on work, and Colossians 3:23–24 to teach that all work should be done as unto the Lord, with the promise of an inheritance as a reward. Numbers 8:26 is used to discuss the biblical view of retirement, and various passages from the Gospels and Epistles are cited to reinforce the themes of purpose, perseverance, and the sacredness of all labor.
John 5:17 Christian References outside the Bible:
Work as Divine Calling: Purpose Beyond Paychecks (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references several Christian figures and their perspectives on work. Martin Luther is cited for his revolutionary teaching during the Reformation that all work is sacred and that God delights in the ordinary vocations of believers, not just in church ministry. The sermon also tells the story of Robert LeTourneau, a Christian businessman and inventor, who viewed his engineering and business endeavors as a calling from God, gave away 90% of his income, and described himself as “God’s businessman.” LeTourneau’s quotes are shared to illustrate the integration of faith and work, such as “I shovel money out and God shovels it back, and God has a bigger shovel.” The founder of Mary Kay, Mary Kay Ash, is mentioned for her belief in taking God as a business partner, attributing her company’s success to this partnership. The sermon also references the founder of Hobby Lobby and their mission statement to operate according to biblical principles, as well as the founder of Forever 21, who claimed divine guidance in starting the business. These examples are used to demonstrate the practical outworking of the theology of work in contemporary Christian life.
John 5:17 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Joining God's Mission: Embracing Partnership and Purpose (Woodhaven Baptist Church) uses the detailed analogy of the solar system to illustrate John 5:17. The preacher imagines what would happen if every planet asked the sun to revolve around it, resulting in chaos, and contrasts this with the reality that all planets revolve around the sun. This metaphor is used to vividly depict the necessity of centering one’s life around God’s ongoing work, rather than expecting God to center his activity around individual desires or plans. The analogy is extended throughout the sermon to reinforce the idea of harmony and order that comes from aligning with God’s initiative. The preacher also shares a personal story about a missed opportunity to minister to a young woman in need, using it as a real-life example of how being preoccupied with one’s own agenda can cause one to miss where God is working—thus making the abstract principle of John 5:17 concrete and relatable.
Work as Divine Calling: Purpose Beyond Paychecks (SermonIndex.net) employs several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate John 5:17. The preacher shares a personal story about collaborating with his father on electrical work in their home, using it as an analogy for working “with God” rather than merely “for God.” The sermon references the Greco-Roman cultural attitude toward manual labor, contrasting it with Jesus’ life as a carpenter. It also mentions the founder of Forever 21, who claimed to have received divine inspiration to start the business, and Tyson Foods, which employs 150 office chaplains to care for employees, as examples of integrating faith and work. The Chick-fil-A policy of closing on Sundays to allow employees to rest and worship is cited as a practical application of biblical principles in the workplace. The story of Robert LeTourneau, an inventor and businessman, is recounted in detail to illustrate the concept of being “God’s businessman” and integrating faith with professional achievement. The sermon also references Mary Kay Ash and Hobby Lobby’s mission statements as examples of businesses that explicitly seek to honor God in their operations. These illustrations serve to bridge the gap between biblical teaching and contemporary work life, showing how the principle of divine partnership in work can be lived out in various secular contexts.