Balancing Work and Spiritual Mission in Life

 

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone! Today, we gathered to worship and celebrate the return of our mission team from Camden, New Jersey. We also had some exciting announcements, including the return of "Hats and Hymns" and an upcoming "S'mores and a Movie" night. We began our worship with a reading from Psalm 51, a heartfelt plea for God's mercy and cleansing. This set the tone for our reflection on the importance of balancing our work and spiritual lives.

We delved into Matthew 14, where Jesus, despite his grief over John the Baptist's death, performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. This passage highlights Jesus' commitment to his mission and his need for solitude and prayer. Even when overwhelmed, Jesus drew strength from his time with God, teaching us the importance of connecting with God to fulfill our missions.

I shared a personal story about preparing for this sermon, emphasizing the irony of discussing work-life balance while juggling multiple responsibilities. This led to a deeper reflection on how Jesus managed his mission. He didn't bask in his miracles but sought solitude to recharge and connect with God. This teaches us that our good works are always connected to our time with God.

We concluded with a call to see our work as a mission, not just a job. By connecting with God, we can transform our daily tasks into acts of love and service. This perspective can change how we approach our work, making it more meaningful and aligned with God's kingdom.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Solitude and Prayer: Jesus sought solitude and prayer even amidst his busy ministry. This teaches us that taking time to connect with God is crucial for spiritual strength and effective ministry. When we prioritize our spiritual well-being, we can better serve others. [01:03:10]

2. Balancing Work and Mission: Jesus' life shows that our work and mission are intertwined. Instead of seeing work as separate from our spiritual life, we should view it as part of our mission. This perspective can transform mundane tasks into meaningful acts of service. [01:04:42]

3. Drawing Strength from God: Jesus performed miracles not from his own strength but by drawing from God's power. This reminds us that our effectiveness in ministry comes from our connection with God. Regular prayer and solitude are essential for sustaining our spiritual vitality. [01:06:05]

4. Seeing Life as a Mission: Viewing our entire life as a mission can change how we approach our daily tasks. Whether we are janitors or corporate executives, seeing our work as part of God's mission can infuse it with purpose and joy. [01:07:31]

5. The Power of Communion: Communion is a powerful reminder of our unity in Christ and our shared mission. It helps us remember that we are part of a larger body, called to love and serve together. This unity strengthens us for the work ahead. [01:12:31]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[07:10] - Announcements: Hats and Hymns, S'mores and a Movie
[12:04] - Mission Team's Return
[12:34] - Psalm 51 Reading
[14:36] - Celebrating Leadership
[49:33] - Prayer Time: Gratitude and Reflection
[50:07] - Balancing Joy and Pain
[50:32] - Enthusiastic Gratitude
[51:00] - Sacred Reading: Matthew 14
[52:43] - Background on Jesus' Ministry
[53:13] - Herod and John the Baptist
[54:17] - Jesus' Compassion and Miracles
[55:08] - Feeding the 5,000
[56:02] - Jesus Walks on Water
[58:03] - Work-Life Balance Reflection
[01:00:21] - Personal Story: Sermon Preparation
[01:01:56] - Jesus' Commitment to Solitude
[01:03:10] - Drawing Strength from God
[01:04:42] - Seeing Work as Mission
[01:06:05] - The Power of Prayer
[01:07:31] - Transforming Daily Tasks
[01:12:31] - Communion: Unity in Christ
[01:16:16] - Taking the Bread and Cup
[01:19:36] - Proclaiming Love and Unity
[01:20:41] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[01:24:08] - Final Blessings and Fellowship

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 51:1-2: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."
- Matthew 14:13-23: The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and seeking solitude to pray.

#### Observation Questions
1. What emotions and requests are expressed in Psalm 51:1-2?
2. In Matthew 14, what was Jesus' initial reaction to hearing about John the Baptist's death, and what did he do next? ([54:38])
3. How did Jesus respond to the crowds that followed him when he sought solitude? ([55:08])
4. What did Jesus do immediately after performing the miracle of feeding the 5,000? ([55:41])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to seek solitude and prayer after hearing about John the Baptist's death? ([54:38])
2. How does Jesus' response to the crowds in Matthew 14 demonstrate his commitment to his mission? ([55:08])
3. What can we learn from Jesus' actions about the importance of balancing work and spiritual life? ([01:03:10])
4. How does viewing our work as a mission change our perspective on daily tasks? ([01:07:31])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by work or responsibilities. How did you find strength or solace during that period? ([01:01:56])
2. Jesus sought solitude and prayer even when he was busy. How can you incorporate regular times of solitude and prayer into your daily routine? ([01:03:10])
3. Think about your current job or daily tasks. How can you view them as part of God's mission rather than just work? ([01:04:42])
4. Jesus drew strength from his connection with God to perform miracles. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions are rooted in your relationship with God? ([01:06:05])
5. Identify one mundane task you do regularly. How can you transform it into an act of love and service? ([01:07:31])
6. How can participating in communion help you remember your unity in Christ and your shared mission with others? ([01:12:31])
7. What specific steps can you take this week to balance your work and spiritual life more effectively? ([01:03:10])

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Solitude and Prayer
Jesus often sought solitude and prayer even amidst his busy ministry. This practice was not just a retreat from the demands of his mission but a crucial time to connect with God and draw spiritual strength. In Matthew 14, despite his grief over John the Baptist's death, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Afterward, he withdrew to a solitary place to pray. This teaches us that taking time to connect with God is essential for sustaining our spiritual vitality and effectiveness in ministry. When we prioritize our spiritual well-being, we can better serve others. [01:03:10]

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." (Mark 1:35, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally sought solitude to pray and connect with God? Can you set aside a specific time this week to do so, even if it's just for a few minutes each day?


Day 2: Integrating Work and Mission
Jesus' life demonstrates that our work and mission are intertwined. Instead of viewing work as separate from our spiritual life, we should see it as part of our mission. In Matthew 14, Jesus continued his ministry despite personal grief, showing that his work was an extension of his mission. This perspective can transform mundane tasks into meaningful acts of service. By seeing our work as part of God's mission, we can infuse it with purpose and joy, making our daily tasks more meaningful and aligned with God's kingdom. [01:04:42]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: How can you view your current job or daily tasks as part of God's mission? What specific actions can you take to transform your work into acts of love and service?


Day 3: Drawing Strength from God
Jesus performed miracles not from his own strength but by drawing from God's power. This reminds us that our effectiveness in ministry comes from our connection with God. In Matthew 14, Jesus' miracles, including feeding the 5,000, were possible because of his deep connection with God. Regular prayer and solitude are essential for sustaining our spiritual vitality. By drawing strength from God, we can fulfill our missions and serve others effectively. [01:06:05]

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel overwhelmed or exhausted? How can you intentionally draw strength from God through prayer and solitude this week?


Day 4: Viewing Life as a Mission
Viewing our entire life as a mission can change how we approach our daily tasks. Whether we are janitors or corporate executives, seeing our work as part of God's mission can infuse it with purpose and joy. Jesus' life exemplifies this perspective, as he saw every aspect of his life as part of his mission. By connecting with God, we can transform our daily tasks into acts of love and service, making them more meaningful and aligned with God's kingdom. [01:07:31]

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one mundane task you do regularly that you can start viewing as part of God's mission? How can you approach this task differently to make it an act of love and service?


Day 5: The Power of Communion
Communion is a powerful reminder of our unity in Christ and our shared mission. It helps us remember that we are part of a larger body, called to love and serve together. This unity strengthens us for the work ahead. By participating in communion, we are reminded of our connection to Christ and to each other, which empowers us to fulfill our missions with renewed strength and purpose. [01:12:31]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: How does participating in communion remind you of your unity with Christ and other believers? How can this sense of unity strengthen you for the work God has called you to do?

Quotes

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Has work and stress ever followed you when you were trying to get a little bit of alone time? That just happened to Jesus. So Jesus, of course, draws upon his compassion. He teaches them for hours, and then he performs one of the most famous miracles in the scriptures, the feeding of the 5,000. As you were like, I know this. I know this from Sunday school as a child. That sermon is preached all the time. And it's amazing. It's amazing to think about this sermon." [01:01:56] (29 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Good things, the good works of God, are always connected to my time with God. Let me say that again. Good things, the good works of God, are always connected to my time with God. I don't walk on water because I've learned how to walk on water. I walk on water because in the time that I spent with God, God says, your friends are over there. That's all I have to say." [01:04:42] (27 seconds) ( | | )

3. "What if we saw our work as mission, instead of just our work? That we go to work, and then we get time off. But what if we saw all of our life as mission? What if instead of trying to do the work that we do, we did the work that we do? What if instead of trying to make money or make a living, which I think is the worst phrase that anyone ever created, why do I have to go make a living instead of just live?" [01:06:05] (25 seconds) ( | | )

4. "If we don't connect with the one whose mission it is, then it does feel like work. And we're spending our entire lives figuring out how to do the balance and never doing it right. But instead, we can heal our whole life, make it one life, make it one missional life. That's why we take communion. And that's why we're about to do that today. This is that moment where we can connect with God and to recognize the source of our mission." [01:07:31] (32 seconds) ( | | )

5. "There are people who will try and take that love from us, to criticize our love, to tell us that our love is to this or it's to that. But as we come and we take this cup, we are proclaiming to the world that no one can take our love. No one can take our unity. No one can take the fact that we belong in the heart of God." [01:19:36] (28 seconds) ( | | )

### Quotes for members

1. "Jesus didn't bask in the miracle. If I had just fed around 10,000 plus people with five loaves of bread and two fish, I would have sat on that for a little bit, and I would have been like, okay. I would have made a video like Kendall did, and I would have shown you all the things, like, and how amazing that would have been, came and told you all about it. But Jesus didn't bask in the miracle. What you get in the passage is that he immediately sent his disciples away and went off to pray." [01:03:10] (31 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Jesus knew that he needed time to be alone in the parade, to find strength in his own heart, to have God's power to draw upon, to fulfill the mission to which he was going. I know what the mission is, and I know that God is going to guide us on the mission. When Jesus was alone, I want you to hear this. When Jesus was alone, it wasn't because there was no more sick, that everybody was healed and full at the moment. The mission was still clear. But Jesus went off to pray." [01:06:05] (24 seconds) ( | | )

3. "For Jesus, he didn't have a work-life balance as we understand it. Jesus was on a mission, and he needed to draw upon the source of that mission. I'll ask you this question, and this is what I want you to meditate on through this week. What if we saw our work as mission, instead of just our work? That we go to work, and then we get time off. But what if we saw all of our life as mission?" [01:06:05] (30 seconds) ( | | )

4. "It is so important for us to gather together in these moments, to just take a minute, to take in the body, to take in the blood, because it reminds us of this mission that we are called to be, but not only that, it reminds us that we are one, because we take the same bread, and we take the same cup, regardless of who we are, regardless of what we came into today, regardless of our traditions, or our long-held belief, or our politics, or the things we like, or the things we don't like, or the things we don't like, or the things we don't like." [01:12:31] (33 seconds) ( | | )

5. "We find ourselves grateful, oh love, to be able to have these moments, to be reminded of our grace, of our welcome, of our belonging, of the power that we have when we connect ourselves with you and we link arms with each other. There is nothing that we cannot do together. No mission that cannot be accomplished. No love that is too big. We thank you for it. And we thank you for this beautiful time that we have had together to remember good." [01:20:41] (47 seconds) ( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?