Integrating Discipleship into Our Work Lives
Summary
To be a disciple of Jesus means to integrate His teachings into every aspect of our lives, including our work. This involves learning to perform our jobs as Jesus would, embodying His values and principles in our daily tasks. Many Christians mistakenly view discipleship as something separate from their professional lives, relegating it to religious activities. However, our workplaces are primary arenas for discipleship, where we can practice being apprentices of Jesus. This doesn't mean becoming a moral critic or an evangelist at work, but rather showing up with a winsome, strong, gracious, and non-anxious presence. It starts with being a great worker, learning about ourselves, and understanding how we interact with others and shape the culture around us.
I shared a personal story from my time as a nurse, where I learned the importance of being present and serving others selflessly. This experience taught me that discipleship involves serving others and being a team player, not just sharing the gospel. Our work is not just a means to an end but a significant part of our lives where we can add value and partner with God. Even in jobs that may not seem fulfilling, we are called to be fully present and do our best. Work is not a punishment but a gift, an opportunity to contribute to the world and find meaning.
Moreover, the culture of our workplaces is shaped by the behaviors we tolerate and the stories we tell. We should focus on unleashing the potential within our communities rather than relying solely on leaders. Everyone's contribution is valuable, and recognizing this can transform our work environments. I recounted a story of a doctor who exemplified this by valuing every team member, including the janitor, and teaching others to do the same. This approach fosters a community where everyone feels valued and contributes to God's larger project of creating a loving community.
Key Takeaways:
- Discipleship is not confined to religious activities but extends to our workplaces, where we can learn to perform our jobs as Jesus would. This involves being present, serving others, and embodying Christ's values in our daily tasks. [04:22]
- Being a disciple at work starts with being a great worker and learning about ourselves. It involves understanding how we interact with others and shape the culture around us, rather than just focusing on evangelism. [06:15]
- Our work is a significant part of our lives, not just a means to an end. It is an opportunity to add value, partner with God, and find meaning, even in jobs that may not seem fulfilling. [10:31]
- The culture of our workplaces is shaped by the behaviors we tolerate and the stories we tell. Recognizing the value of everyone's contribution can transform our work environments and unleash the potential within our communities. [14:35]
- Leadership involves valuing every team member and fostering a community where everyone feels valued. This approach contributes to God's larger project of creating a loving community and transforms our work environments. [18:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[04:22] - Integrating Faith and Work
[05:04] - Discipleship Beyond Evangelism
[06:15] - Being Present and Serving
[07:46] - Personal Story: Learning to Serve
[09:04] - Impacting Workplace Culture
[10:31] - Finding Meaning in Work
[11:05] - Being Fully Present in Unfulfilling Jobs
[12:05] - Work as a Part of Life's Dream
[13:09] - Leadership and Community Potential
[14:35] - Unleashing Human Potential
[15:02] - Valuing Every Contribution
[16:02] - Story of Team Leadership
[18:49] - Transforming Work Environments
[19:03] - Contributing to God's Project
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Colossians 3:17 (NIV) - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
2. Exodus 38:21 (NIV) - "These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law, which were recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does the concept of discipleship extend beyond religious activities into our workplaces? [04:22]
2. What are the three categories mentioned in the sermon that we should consider when thinking about our work? [06:38]
3. How did the doctor in the sermon demonstrate leadership and value for every team member, including the janitor? [16:02]
4. What lesson did the pastor learn from his experience as a nurse regarding being present and serving others? [08:21]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Colossians 3:17 relate to the idea of integrating faith into our work lives, as discussed in the sermon? [04:22]
2. In what ways does the story from Exodus 38 about the tent pegs illustrate the value of every contribution in a community or workplace? [15:26]
3. The sermon suggests that our work is not just a means to an end but a significant part of our lives. How does this perspective challenge common views about work and fulfillment? [10:31]
4. How can the concept of being a "great worker" and learning about oneself lead to a transformation in workplace culture? [06:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current job. How can you integrate the teachings of Jesus into your daily tasks and interactions with colleagues? [04:22]
2. Think about a time when you were more focused on yourself than on serving others at work. What steps can you take to be more present and selfless in the future? [08:21]
3. Identify a behavior or story in your workplace that you believe shapes its culture. How can you contribute positively to this culture? [09:57]
4. Consider a colleague whose contribution is often overlooked. How can you acknowledge and value their work in a meaningful way? [16:02]
5. How can you balance the desire for a fulfilling job with the call to be fully present and do your best in your current role, even if it doesn't align with your passions? [11:05]
6. Reflect on the idea that work is a part of life's dream, as mentioned in the sermon. How does this change your perspective on your career goals and aspirations? [12:05]
7. What practical steps can you take to foster a community of loving persons in your workplace, contributing to God's larger project? [19:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Integrating Faith into Work
To be a disciple of Jesus means to integrate His teachings into every aspect of our lives, including our work. This involves learning to perform our jobs as Jesus would, embodying His values and principles in our daily tasks. Many Christians mistakenly view discipleship as something separate from their professional lives, relegating it to religious activities. However, our workplaces are primary arenas for discipleship, where we can practice being apprentices of Jesus. This doesn't mean becoming a moral critic or an evangelist at work, but rather showing up with a winsome, strong, gracious, and non-anxious presence. It starts with being a great worker, learning about ourselves, and understanding how we interact with others and shape the culture around us. [04:22]
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 embody the values of Jesus in your workplace today, not just through words but through your actions and presence?
Day 2: Discipleship Beyond Evangelism
Being a disciple at work starts with being a great worker and learning about ourselves. It involves understanding how we interact with others and shape the culture around us, rather than just focusing on evangelism. Discipleship in the workplace is about being present and serving others selflessly, as Jesus did. It is about being a team player and contributing positively to the work environment. This approach allows us to reflect Christ's love and grace in a way that is authentic and impactful, without necessarily using words. [06:15]
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (ESV): "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
Reflection: In what ways can you serve your colleagues selflessly today, reflecting Christ's love through your actions rather than words?
Day 3: Finding Meaning in Work
Our work is a significant part of our lives, not just a means to an end. It is an opportunity to add value, partner with God, and find meaning, even in jobs that may not seem fulfilling. Work is not a punishment but a gift, an opportunity to contribute to the world and find purpose. By being fully present and doing our best, we can find joy and fulfillment in our work, regardless of the nature of the job. This perspective allows us to see our work as part of God's larger plan and purpose for our lives. [10:31]
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (ESV): "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Reflection: How can you find joy and purpose in your current job, viewing it as a gift and an opportunity to partner with God?
Day 4: Shaping Workplace Culture
The culture of our workplaces is shaped by the behaviors we tolerate and the stories we tell. Recognizing the value of everyone's contribution can transform our work environments and unleash the potential within our communities. By focusing on the strengths and potential of those around us, we can create a positive and inclusive culture that reflects the love and grace of God. This approach not only benefits the workplace but also aligns with God's desire for us to build loving and supportive communities. [14:35]
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV): "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Reflection: What behaviors or stories are you tolerating in your workplace that may not align with a Christ-like culture, and how can you begin to change them?
Day 5: Valuing Every Contribution
Leadership involves valuing every team member and fostering a community where everyone feels valued. This approach contributes to God's larger project of creating a loving community and transforms our work environments. By recognizing and appreciating the unique contributions of each person, we can build a team that is strong, cohesive, and reflective of God's love. This not only enhances the work environment but also aligns with the biblical principle of valuing each individual as a part of the body of Christ. [18:49]
1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (ESV): "That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."
Reflection: How can you actively show appreciation for the contributions of each team member today, fostering a sense of community and value in your workplace?
Quotes
To be a disciple of Jesus is crucially to be learning from Jesus how to do your job as Jesus himself would do it. The New Testament language for this is to do it in the name of Jesus. Sometimes you have to translate that kind of biblical language into what does it actually mean for us. [00:04:10]
Once you stop and think about it, you can see that not to find your job as a primary place of discipleship is to automatically exclude a major if not most of your waking hours from your life with him. It is to assume to run one of the largest areas of your interest or concern on your own. [00:04:30]
But how exactly is one to make one's job a primary place of apprenticeship to Jesus? Not, we quickly say, by becoming the Christian nagging residents, the rigorous upholder of all propriety, the dead eye critic of everyone else's behavior. [00:05:12]
Positively, a gentle but firm non-cooperation with things everyone knows to be wrong, together with a sensitive non-officious, non-intrusive, non-obsequious service to others, should be our usual overt manner. This should be combined with inward attitudes of constant prayer for whatever kind of activity our workplace requires. [00:05:28]
I was a nurse many, many years ago and I remember, especially early on, I would pray on the way to work, "Don't let me kill anybody today, tomorrow's fine but not today," you know, just desperate to make sure I didn't make mistakes. [00:06:47]
I stayed with her off the clock till two o'clock in the morning till her sister got there and visited her a couple times a week until she passed away, met her husband, her kids. It was awful, but I missed an opportunity to be present because I was thinking about myself. [00:08:28]
And so that discipleship was, "Hey, you have a job to serve other people," and I've never forgotten that night. And then the next thing is now how do I treat other people, but it's not just about when can I share the gospel, it's like what am I like as a team player. [00:08:48]
Work is a really good thing. We were created to add value. Work happened before the fall. It's not a punishment. It's something to delight in and partner with God in. There are no stepping stone jobs. So while you're in a job you don't like for 20 different reasons, you are called to be fully present. [00:10:24]
I had beautiful conversations with people on their deathbed that were school teachers and policemen, one guy that was a gas station owner and had wondered if he missed God's calling by not being a priest 30 years before. So many of them talked about the students they impacted and the meaning and significance of their work. [00:11:23]
The great wealth of churches that keeps going untapped and unleveraged is the human potential within the church that doesn't get unleashed. Why don't we focus on that instead of how do we get the great messiah when you know we've already got the great messiah. [00:14:28]
The kingdom value that unlocks the potential you're talking about is the engagement within the empowerment of everybody to do the work together and feel valued. Yeah, to feel valued. So if you're at work, do you know the name of the janitor? Do you know their story? [00:15:37]
God's aim in human history is the creation of community of loving persons with himself involved as a primary sustainer and most glorious inhabitant. So all the work that we do is contributing to the lives of so many people around us, and that's what makes it significant. [00:19:10]
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