Integrating Faith and Work: A Discipleship Journey
Summary
The concept of a vocational discipleship internship is an innovative approach to equipping young disciples with the skills and understanding necessary to integrate their faith into their professional lives. This internship is designed for college-age and young professionals who are not necessarily pursuing church-supported ministry but are eager to use their talents in other career fields while serving God's kingdom. The program, hosted in Charleston, West Virginia, offers four paid internship slots and additional opportunities for self-supported participants. It aims to help participants discern their calling, build impactful careers, and manage their finances in a way that blesses both their families and God's kingdom.
The inspiration for this internship comes from the book "Faith for Exiles," which identifies five characteristics of resilient disciples aged 18 to 29. These include a personal experience of Jesus, intergenerational relationships, a counter-cultural mission, cultural discernment, and vocational discipleship. While churches often excel in the first four areas, vocational discipleship remains underdeveloped. This internship seeks to fill that gap by providing a structured program that helps young disciples understand their role in God's creation and how their careers can be an extension of their faith.
The program will feature experts like Sean Sommerkamp, Phil and Beth Bruns, and others who have a proven track record in vocational discipleship. They will guide participants through understanding their calling, finding fulfillment in their careers, building a career in the modern workplace, making an impact, and managing finances wisely. This initiative is not just about career development but about fulfilling the Genesis 1 commission to cultivate and create culture through work. It is an invitation to join a journey of discovery and fulfillment, aligning one's professional life with God's purpose.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Vocational Discipleship: Vocational discipleship is about integrating faith into one's professional life, recognizing that not all disciples are called to church-supported ministry. It emphasizes using one's career as a platform to serve God's kingdom and bless others. This approach encourages young professionals to discern their calling and align it with their career paths. [01:04]
2. Characteristics of Resilient Disciples: The study "Faith for Exiles" highlights five traits of resilient disciples, including vocational discipleship. This characteristic is crucial for young believers to remain faithful and impactful in a secular world. By focusing on vocational discipleship, individuals can better navigate their careers while staying true to their faith. [03:00]
3. Genesis 1 Commission: The Genesis 1 commission invites humanity to rule over creation and cultivate it, creating culture through work. This biblical mandate underscores the nobility of work and the importance of finding fulfillment in one's career as part of God's plan. Understanding this can transform how disciples view their professional lives. [04:17]
4. Expert Guidance and Training: The internship will feature seasoned professionals who will provide guidance on discerning one's calling, building a career, and making an impact in the workplace. This mentorship is invaluable for young disciples seeking to navigate the complexities of modern careers while maintaining their faith. [05:27]
5. Financial Stewardship: Managing finances wisely is a key component of vocational discipleship. The internship will teach participants how to use their resources to bless God's kingdom and their families, emphasizing the importance of financial stewardship as an expression of faith. [05:27]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Introduction to Vocational Discipleship
[02:06] - Internship Details and Invitation
[03:00] - Characteristics of Resilient Disciples
[04:17] - Genesis 1 Commission and Work
[05:27] - Expert Guidance and Training
[06:30] - Financial Stewardship in Discipleship
[07:45] - Invitation to Join the Journey
[08:50] - How to Get Involved
[09:55] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Vocational Discipleship Internship
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:26-28 - The Genesis 1 Commission
2. Genesis 2:15 - Cultivating and Keeping the Garden
Observation Questions:
1. What is the primary goal of the vocational discipleship internship as described in the sermon? [01:04]
2. According to the sermon, what are the five characteristics of resilient disciples identified in "Faith for Exiles"? [03:00]
3. How does the Genesis 1 commission relate to the concept of vocational discipleship? [04:17]
4. Who are some of the experts involved in the internship, and what is their role? [05:27]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Genesis 1 commission inform the understanding of work as part of God's plan for humanity? [04:17]
2. In what ways can vocational discipleship help young professionals integrate their faith into their careers? [01:04]
3. Why might vocational discipleship be considered an underdeveloped area in churches, according to the sermon? [03:00]
4. How does the internship aim to address the financial stewardship aspect of vocational discipleship? [05:27]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current career or field of study. How can you integrate your faith into your professional life in a way that aligns with the Genesis 1 commission? [04:17]
2. Consider the five characteristics of resilient disciples. Which of these do you feel strongest in, and which do you need to develop further? How can you take steps to grow in that area? [03:00]
3. Think about your financial habits. How can you manage your finances in a way that blesses both your family and God's kingdom? What changes might you need to make? [05:27]
4. Identify a mentor or expert in your field who exemplifies vocational discipleship. How can you learn from their example and apply it to your own career journey? [05:27]
5. If you were to participate in this internship, what specific skills or insights would you hope to gain? How can you start pursuing those goals even before joining such a program? [01:04]
6. How can you cultivate intergenerational relationships within your church or community to support your growth as a resilient disciple? [03:00]
7. What steps can you take to discern your calling and align it with your career path? Consider seeking guidance from mentors or engaging in prayerful reflection. [05:27]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
---
Day 1: Integrating Faith into Professional Life
Vocational discipleship is about recognizing that one's career can be a platform to serve God's kingdom. It involves integrating faith into professional life, understanding that not all disciples are called to church-supported ministry. This approach encourages young professionals to discern their calling and align it with their career paths. By doing so, they can use their talents and skills to bless others and serve God's purposes in various fields. This perspective transforms work from a mere job into a vocation that reflects one's faith and values. [01:04]
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: Consider your current job or career path. How can you intentionally integrate your faith into your daily work activities and interactions with colleagues today?
Day 2: Navigating a Secular World with Resilient Faith
The study "Faith for Exiles" highlights five traits of resilient disciples, including vocational discipleship. This characteristic is crucial for young believers to remain faithful and impactful in a secular world. By focusing on vocational discipleship, individuals can better navigate their careers while staying true to their faith. This involves developing a personal experience of Jesus, fostering intergenerational relationships, engaging in a counter-cultural mission, and practicing cultural discernment. These elements help disciples maintain their faith and make a positive impact in their professional environments. [03:00]
1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced in your workplace. How can you apply the principles of resilient discipleship to navigate similar situations in the future?
Day 3: Embracing the Genesis 1 Commission
The Genesis 1 commission invites humanity to rule over creation and cultivate it, creating culture through work. This biblical mandate underscores the nobility of work and the importance of finding fulfillment in one's career as part of God's plan. Understanding this can transform how disciples view their professional lives, seeing them as opportunities to contribute to God's creation and reflect His image. By embracing this commission, individuals can find deeper meaning and purpose in their work, aligning it with God's overarching plan for humanity. [04:17]
Genesis 1:28 (ESV): "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
Reflection: How does your current work contribute to the cultivation and stewardship of God's creation? What steps can you take to align your work more closely with this biblical mandate?
Day 4: The Value of Expert Guidance and Mentorship
The internship will feature seasoned professionals who will provide guidance on discerning one's calling, building a career, and making an impact in the workplace. This mentorship is invaluable for young disciples seeking to navigate the complexities of modern careers while maintaining their faith. Having mentors who have successfully integrated their faith into their professional lives can provide practical insights and encouragement. This guidance helps individuals understand their unique calling and equips them to make a meaningful impact in their chosen fields. [05:27]
Proverbs 15:22 (ESV): "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."
Reflection: Identify a mentor or advisor in your life who can help you integrate your faith into your career. What steps can you take to seek their guidance and learn from their experiences?
Day 5: Practicing Financial Stewardship as an Expression of Faith
Managing finances wisely is a key component of vocational discipleship. The internship will teach participants how to use their resources to bless God's kingdom and their families, emphasizing the importance of financial stewardship as an expression of faith. By understanding the biblical principles of stewardship, individuals can make informed decisions about their finances, ensuring that their resources are used in ways that honor God and support His work. This approach encourages disciples to view their financial decisions as opportunities to serve and bless others. [05:27]
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Review your current financial habits. How can you adjust your spending, saving, and giving to better reflect your faith and commitment to God's kingdom?
---
Quotes
"The reality is a vast majority of amazing-hearted disciples will never be supported by a church, and yet we do very little to inspire and equip them to maximize their career potential and use their finances as a blessing to them and God's kingdom." [00:00:51] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"As I thought about it, I thought our churches generally do a good job with four of the five. We always have room to grow, but vocational discipleship, I've done ministry for 20 plus years, a good portion of that campus ministry. We've done very little to equip people for the workplace." [00:03:14] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Maybe we'll do a lesson at a retreat or a conference, but no concerted effort to ensure that every young person can discern their calling and understand how it fits into God's calling for their life." [00:03:35] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"In Genesis chapter one, God creates humanity, and he invites them to rule over creation with him. Later in chapter 2, he talks to them about cultivating and keeping the garden. This idea of taking God's good creation and cultivating it, creating culture through work, is our Genesis 1 commission theme." [00:03:50] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"As humans. And it is noble and good. And we want to equip disciples to understand that and to plug into where they find fulfillment in that Genesis 1 commission." [00:04:17] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"We'll focus our attention in training disciples on Number one, how to discern your calling. Number two, how does your calling find fulfillment in a career? Number three, how do you build a career in the modern workplace?" [00:05:16] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Number four, how do you have impact in the modern workplace? And number five, how do you care for your finances is in a way that you are a blessing to God's kingdom and to you and your family." [00:05:32] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And so this is what we're going to do next summer. And we invite you to be a part of this exciting new journey of equipping the next generation to where every disciple understands how they fit into Genesis 1 and find incredible levels of fulfillment in building their career." [00:05:40] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?