Building a Strong Faith Through Work and Community
Summary
### Summary
Today, I want to share some reflections on the theology of work and how it intertwines with our faith. Recently, I've been having conversations with my youngest son about his future career path. This led me to reflect on my own journey and how, if I were to start over, I might have chosen to become a skilled carpenter. This thought process has deepened my appreciation for the skilled trades and the value of work. From the earliest verses of Genesis, we see that God calls us into various vocations, and this calling extends even into retirement. Our work, in whatever form it takes, is a godly purpose in our lives. [01:29]
A few years ago, my wife and I took a leap of faith and bought a piece of waterfront property. We decided to build a cottage, which was a daunting task. I found a carpenter who allowed me to learn from him, almost like an apprentice. Through this experience, I learned several valuable lessons. First, I discovered that I could actually build something substantial. Second, I realized that mistakes are inevitable but can be repaired with patience and skill development. Third, I learned the importance of relying on others for help and training. Lastly, I understood that work can be a godly practice with a divine purpose. [05:02]
As I read today's scripture, I saw many parallels between my building experiences and Paul's ministry in Corinth. Paul laid the foundation for the church and relied on others to continue the work. The most crucial aspect was that the foundation was laid in Christ. Paul emphasized that it's not about the church leaders or the groups of people but about God who nurtures and grows the faith. This is a timeless lesson for us today. [06:37]
Paul also teaches us that a strong faith is not childish. It requires moving beyond the basics and embracing the hard questions in life. A strong faith is nurtured through a community and requires solid food, not just milk. It's essential to start with the basics, but we must grow and mature in our faith. Additionally, a strong faith cannot be built on division and conflict. It must recognize the primacy of God and have Christ as its foundation. [08:31]
Finally, a strong faith needs continuous repair and maintenance, much like a house. We must identify areas where our faith is faltering and take steps to repair them. This involves self-forgiveness and forgiving others, allowing for genuine efforts to repair any damage. These lessons from the early church are still relevant today. We should all examine our faith and ask how we can make it stronger, what repairs are needed, and how we can ensure our foundation in Christ remains solid. [12:19]
### Key Takeaways
1. The Theology of Work: From the earliest verses of Genesis, we see that God calls us into various vocations. This calling extends even into retirement, emphasizing that our work, in whatever form it takes, is a godly purpose in our lives. Understanding this can transform how we view our daily tasks and responsibilities, seeing them as acts of worship and service to God. [01:29]
2. Learning Through Experience: My journey in building a cottage taught me that mistakes are inevitable but can be repaired with patience and skill development. This mirrors our spiritual journey, where we must be willing to learn, grow, and rely on others for help and training. Embracing this process can lead to significant personal and spiritual growth. [05:02]
3. Foundation in Christ: Paul's ministry in Corinth teaches us that the most crucial aspect of our faith is that it is founded in Christ. It's not about the church leaders or the groups of people but about God who nurtures and grows the faith. This foundational truth is timeless and essential for building a strong, enduring faith. [06:37]
4. Maturing in Faith: A strong faith is not childish; it requires moving beyond the basics and embracing the hard questions in life. This involves a lifetime of faith formation, nurtured through a community. We must start with the basics but grow and mature, seeking deeper understanding and stronger convictions. [08:31]
5. Continuous Repair and Maintenance: Just like a house, our faith needs continuous repair and maintenance. We must identify areas where our faith is faltering and take steps to repair them. This involves self-forgiveness and forgiving others, allowing for genuine efforts to repair any damage. This ongoing process is crucial for maintaining a strong, resilient faith. [12:19]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:29] - The Theology of Work
[03:10] - Building a Cottage: Lessons Learned
[05:02] - Learning Through Experience
[06:37] - Foundation in Christ
[08:31] - Maturing in Faith
[10:14] - Continuous Repair and Maintenance
[12:19] - Self-Forgiveness and Forgiving Others
[13:53] - Final Reflections on Strong Faith
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NIV)
> "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul emphasize as the most crucial aspect of building a strong faith in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11?
2. According to the sermon, what are some lessons the pastor learned from his experience building a cottage? ([05:02])
3. How does Paul describe the process of faith formation in the early church in Corinth? ([06:37])
4. What analogy does the pastor use to describe the need for continuous repair and maintenance of our faith? ([12:19])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul stress the importance of having Christ as the foundation of our faith? How does this relate to the pastor's experience with building a cottage? ([06:37])
2. How can mistakes in our spiritual journey be seen as opportunities for growth, similar to the pastor's experience with carpentry? ([05:02])
3. What does it mean to move beyond the "milk" of basic teachings to the "solid food" of mature faith, according to Paul's teachings and the pastor's reflections? ([08:31])
4. How does the concept of continuous repair and maintenance apply to our personal faith journey? What steps can we take to identify and fix areas where our faith may be faltering? ([12:19])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current vocation or daily tasks. How can you view them as acts of worship and service to God, as suggested by the theology of work? ([01:29])
2. Think about a recent mistake you made in your spiritual journey. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from it? How can you apply patience and skill development to repair this mistake? ([05:02])
3. In what ways can you ensure that Christ remains the foundation of your faith, especially during challenging times? ([06:37])
4. Identify a "solid food" aspect of your faith that you need to embrace more fully. What steps can you take to move beyond the basics and deepen your understanding and convictions? ([08:31])
5. Examine your faith for any areas that may need repair or maintenance. What specific actions can you take to address these areas and strengthen your faith? ([12:19])
6. Consider someone in your life who may have strayed from their faith. How can you keep the door open for them to repair their relationship with God? ([13:53])
7. How can you foster a community that supports faith formation and growth, avoiding division and conflict? What role can you play in nurturing a strong, united faith community? ([08:31])
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Purpose of Work
Description: From the earliest verses of Genesis, we see that God calls us into various vocations. This calling extends even into retirement, emphasizing that our work, in whatever form it takes, is a godly purpose in our lives. Understanding this can transform how we view our daily tasks and responsibilities, seeing them as acts of worship and service to God. Whether you are a teacher, a doctor, a carpenter, or a retiree, your work has intrinsic value and is part of God's plan for you. Embrace your vocation as a divine calling and let it be a testament to your faith. [01:29]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How can you view your current work or daily tasks as acts of worship and service to God? What changes in attitude or practice might this perspective inspire in you today?
Day 2: Embracing Mistakes and Growth
Description: My journey in building a cottage taught me that mistakes are inevitable but can be repaired with patience and skill development. This mirrors our spiritual journey, where we must be willing to learn, grow, and rely on others for help and training. Embracing this process can lead to significant personal and spiritual growth. Just as in carpentry, where each mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve, our spiritual lives also benefit from a mindset that sees errors as chances for growth and deeper understanding. [05:02]
Proverbs 24:16 (ESV): "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."
Reflection: Think of a recent mistake or failure in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and learning? What steps can you take to repair and improve from this experience?
Day 3: Building on the Foundation of Christ
Description: Paul's ministry in Corinth teaches us that the most crucial aspect of our faith is that it is founded in Christ. It's not about the church leaders or the groups of people but about God who nurtures and grows the faith. This foundational truth is timeless and essential for building a strong, enduring faith. Just as a house needs a solid foundation to stand firm, our faith must be rooted in Christ to withstand the challenges and trials of life. [06:37]
1 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV): "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Is your faith firmly rooted in Christ, or are there areas where you rely more on people or circumstances? How can you strengthen your foundation in Christ today?
Day 4: Growing and Maturing in Faith
Description: A strong faith is not childish; it requires moving beyond the basics and embracing the hard questions in life. This involves a lifetime of faith formation, nurtured through a community. We must start with the basics but grow and mature, seeking deeper understanding and stronger convictions. A mature faith is one that is willing to wrestle with difficult questions and seek God's wisdom and guidance in all aspects of life. [08:31]
Hebrews 5:13-14 (ESV): "For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: What are some "hard questions" you have been avoiding in your faith journey? How can you begin to seek answers and grow in your understanding and convictions?
Day 5: Continuous Repair and Maintenance of Faith
Description: Just like a house, our faith needs continuous repair and maintenance. We must identify areas where our faith is faltering and take steps to repair them. This involves self-forgiveness and forgiving others, allowing for genuine efforts to repair any damage. This ongoing process is crucial for maintaining a strong, resilient faith. Regularly examining and addressing the weak spots in our faith helps us to grow stronger and more steadfast in our walk with God. [12:19]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: Identify one area of your faith that needs repair or strengthening. What practical steps can you take today to begin this process of repair and maintenance?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I sort of said to him the other day, I was thinking about this, you know, if I was starting all over again I would seriously consider becoming a skilled carpenter. I thought, you know, for years I was interested, I took woodworking courses here and there, never really amounted to much, and just God kind of sent me on a different path, I guess. But I have come to a deeper appreciation for the skilled trades, what it takes to get there and the value of that work." [01:29]
2. "I learned a few things. First thing I learned was boy I can actually do this. That was the first thing I learned, that I could actually build something and it didn't fall down and it didn't sink into the foundation. It didn't like... and from then we... so I built sheds and gazebos and four decks and all kinds of stuff and I love the work of building these items. The other thing I learned is, you know, mistakes are okay. They can be repaired. You're gonna make them, but there's a way to repair them. Mistakes, a little patience." [05:02]
3. "A strong faith is not childish. A strong faith assumes you've gone, you've moved past Sunday school, you've embraced some hard questions in your life, you have turned to God at different times in your life seeking guidance and support, but you've also learned. You've participated in a church community faith formation work, you've learned from each other. It takes solid food to build a strong faith that's solid nurturing, but you do need that milk-only phase to start." [08:31]
4. "A strong faith cannot be built on division and conflict. That's the other thing Paul tells you. A strong faith cannot be built on division and conflict. So this is, if you recall the verse, he says, 'So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who gives it growth.' So that's an important thing to remember about strong faith. It's not about, you know, the ministers you have or the wonderful music program or whatever. It's about recognizing the primacy of God in your life." [08:31]
5. "A strong faith can be, should be, must be continually repaired and maintained. Just like any of you who have a house, if you let it kind of go into a dilapidated state, you've done an incredible disservice to the building that went into that in the first place. But it can be, it has to be repaired and maintained. You have to keep working. And what do you do if you have a house, right? Aren't you looking around and seeing where things are starting to falter?" [12:19]
### Quotes for Members
1. "The other thing that's become really apparent to me is just how much a theology of work, how important a theology of work is. We don't talk about it much in our churches, but I really do fundamentally believe from the very earliest verses of Genesis this notion of being called into vocation by God. And that our work expression in our sort of adult years, if you like, but I might add to those who are retired, you're still not off the hook, so to speak, in terms of a vocation of work, and how you put that as a godly purpose in your life." [01:29]
2. "I learned a lot about foundation. A lot about foundation. Boy, how important that is. And I learned a few things. First thing I learned was boy I can actually do this. That was the first thing I learned, that I could actually build something and it didn't fall down and it didn't sink into the foundation. It didn't like... and from then we... so I built sheds and gazebos and four decks and all kinds of stuff and I love the work of building these items." [05:02]
3. "What does it take to build a strong faith? It's laid out for us. It's laid out for us in this text. Notice what Paul says. Initially, it's kind of insulting, but it isn't when you really start to think about it. Paul says that faith, a strong faith, is not childish. A strong faith is not childish. A strong faith assumes you've gone, you've moved past Sunday school, you've embraced some hard questions in your life, you have turned to God at different times in your life seeking guidance and support, but you've also learned." [08:31]
4. "According to the grace of God, Paul says, according to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder—I love that expression—like a skilled master builder, I laid the foundation and someone else is building on it. Think about that for a bit. Isn't that a wonderful way to think about continuity and faith across the generations? Right? It's not about the expectation that we solve all the problems right here in this now in our dominion. It's about making sure that foundation is still strong and trusting in God that someone else is going to keep building." [10:14]
5. "A strong faith can be, should be, must be continually repaired and maintained. Just like any of you who have a house, if you let it kind of go into a dilapidated state, you've done an incredible disservice to the building that went into that in the first place. But it can be, it has to be repaired and maintained. You have to keep working. And what do you do if you have a house, right? Aren't you looking around and seeing where things are starting to falter?" [12:19]
6. "Forgiving yourself first for when you've clearly... circumstances have changed you in a different direction. That's okay. Just make that intention to repair that and come back into a strong faith. And that forgiveness of others, letting others who have 'strayed off on a different path,' you can keep that door open so that they can repair that damage. And that goes to a lot of things in life. But notice what has to happen there. There has to be a genuine effort to repair." [13:53]
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