Transforming Work into Divine Service Through Faith
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often encounter the profound truth that the things of this world can grow strangely dim, yet simultaneously, they can become remarkably clear when viewed through the lens of God's creation. This duality invites us to position our earthly experiences within the broader context of God's divine landscape. Reflecting on Calvin's teachings about the cross, we find a complex narrative. The cross, a universal symbol of laying aside our will for God's, is the same for everyone. However, the individual crosses we bear differ, as God, the heavenly physician, administers unique treatments for our spiritual growth. It's crucial to distinguish between the cross of Christ and the personal crosses we encounter, understanding that God's sovereignty doesn't manifest in inflicting evil but in bringing good from all circumstances.
Our vision for following Christ should be rooted in the kingdom of God, where our lives are transformed by His power. This vision shapes our intentions and guides us in selecting the means to achieve our spiritual goals. The church, often at its best when resources are scarce, must focus on nurturing this vision and intention rather than becoming caretakers of institutions. Discipleship is not confined to religious activities but extends to every aspect of our lives, especially our work. Our workplaces are the primary arenas for discipleship, where we spend most of our time and exercise our reign. The church's role is to equip us to live out our faith in these environments, transforming our jobs into places of divine service.
Spiritual disciplines, while essential, are not sufficient on their own. They must be integrated into a broader framework of spiritual growth, where our vision and intention guide the selection of means. This holistic approach to discipleship emphasizes the importance of aligning our work with God's kingdom, recognizing that our jobs are not our lives but significant places for living out our faith. By understanding our work as a divine calling, we can transform our daily tasks into acts of worship and service to God.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Dual Nature of Earthly Experiences: Our earthly experiences can become dim or clear depending on how we position them within God's divine landscape. This perspective helps us see the world as God's creation, inviting us to align our will with His. [00:25]
2. Understanding the Cross and Our Crosses: The cross represents a universal call to lay aside our will for God's, while our personal crosses are unique challenges designed for our spiritual growth. God's sovereignty is about bringing good from all circumstances, not inflicting evil. [02:24]
3. Vision and Intention in Discipleship: A clear vision of the kingdom of God shapes our intentions and guides us in selecting the means to achieve our spiritual goals. The church must focus on nurturing this vision rather than becoming institutional caretakers. [11:41]
4. Work as a Place of Discipleship: Our workplaces are primary arenas for discipleship, where we spend most of our time and exercise our reign. The church's role is to equip us to live out our faith in these environments, transforming our jobs into places of divine service. [22:02]
5. Integrating Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual disciplines are essential but must be part of a broader framework of spiritual growth. Our vision and intention should guide the selection of means, emphasizing the importance of aligning our work with God's kingdom. [19:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - The Dual Nature of Earthly Experiences
[00:58] - Calvin's Teachings on the Cross
[02:24] - Understanding the Cross and Our Crosses
[05:07] - God's Sovereignty and Our Challenges
[06:49] - The Role of the Sermon on the Mount
[09:16] - Vision and Intention in Discipleship
[11:41] - The Kingdom of God and Our Lives
[12:57] - Discipleship Evangelism
[16:30] - Selecting Means for Spiritual Growth
[19:40] - Integrating Spiritual Disciplines
[22:02] - Work as a Place of Discipleship
[25:16] - Divine Service in Everyday Life
[32:38] - Practical Application of Spiritual Disciplines
[36:17] - Transforming Our Jobs into Divine Service
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount)
2. 1 Corinthians 4:20 (The kingdom of God is not in words but in power)
3. Genesis 1:26 (Human dominion and stewardship)
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Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the dual nature of earthly experiences in relation to God's creation? [00:25]
2. What distinction does the sermon make between the cross of Christ and the personal crosses we bear? [02:24]
3. According to the sermon, what role does the church play in equipping believers for discipleship in their workplaces? [22:02]
4. How are spiritual disciplines described in the sermon, and why are they not sufficient on their own? [19:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our earthly experiences can become clearer when viewed through the lens of God's creation? How does this perspective invite us to align our will with God's? [00:25]
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of God's sovereignty in relation to the personal challenges or "crosses" we face? What is the significance of understanding this distinction? [02:24]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between vision, intention, and the means of achieving spiritual goals? How does this relate to the church's role in discipleship? [11:41]
4. How does the sermon describe the transformation of our workplaces into places of divine service? What implications does this have for understanding our work as a divine calling? [22:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent experience where your earthly perspective shifted when viewed through the lens of God's creation. How did this change your understanding or actions? [00:25]
2. Identify a personal challenge or "cross" you are currently facing. How can you see God's sovereignty at work in this situation, bringing good from it? [02:24]
3. Consider your current vision and intention for your spiritual journey. How can you align these more closely with the kingdom of God, and what practical steps can you take to achieve your spiritual goals? [11:41]
4. Think about your workplace. How can you transform it into a place of divine service? What specific actions can you take to live out your faith in this environment? [22:02]
5. Choose one spiritual discipline to focus on this week. How can you integrate it into a broader framework of spiritual growth, aligning it with your vision and intention? [19:40]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt like a caretaker of an institution rather than a nurturer of vision. How can you shift your focus to nurture vision and intention in your church or community? [11:41]
7. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to see your work as a divine calling. What changes can you make to view your daily tasks as acts of worship and service to God? [22:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeing Earthly Experiences Through God's Lens
In our journey of faith, we often find that our earthly experiences can either become dim or remarkably clear, depending on how we position them within God's divine landscape. This duality invites us to view our lives through the lens of God's creation, aligning our will with His. By doing so, we can better understand the world as part of God's creation and see His hand in our daily experiences. This perspective encourages us to trust in God's plan and to seek His guidance in all aspects of our lives. [00:25]
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent experience that felt confusing or unclear. How might viewing it through the lens of God's creation change your understanding or response to it today?
Day 2: Embracing Our Unique Crosses
The cross is a universal symbol of laying aside our will for God's, yet each of us bears unique personal crosses designed for our spiritual growth. Understanding the difference between the cross of Christ and our personal crosses is crucial. God's sovereignty is not about inflicting evil but about bringing good from all circumstances. This understanding helps us to embrace our challenges as opportunities for growth, trusting that God, the heavenly physician, administers unique treatments for each of us. [02:24]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a personal challenge you are currently facing. How can you view this challenge as a unique cross designed for your spiritual growth, and what steps can you take to embrace it today?
Day 3: Vision and Intention in Discipleship
A clear vision of the kingdom of God shapes our intentions and guides us in selecting the means to achieve our spiritual goals. The church's role is to nurture this vision, focusing on discipleship rather than merely maintaining institutions. Discipleship extends beyond religious activities and into every aspect of our lives, especially our work. By aligning our vision with God's kingdom, we can transform our daily lives into acts of worship and service. [11:41]
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where your vision and intentions are not aligned with God's kingdom? How can you begin to realign this area today?
Day 4: Work as a Place of Discipleship
Our workplaces are primary arenas for discipleship, where we spend most of our time and exercise our reign. The church's role is to equip us to live out our faith in these environments, transforming our jobs into places of divine service. By understanding our work as a divine calling, we can turn our daily tasks into acts of worship and service to God. This perspective encourages us to see our work as an integral part of our spiritual journey. [22:02]
"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 transform a specific task at work into an act of worship and service to God today?
Day 5: Integrating Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines are essential but must be part of a broader framework of spiritual growth. Our vision and intention should guide the selection of means, emphasizing the importance of aligning our work with God's kingdom. By integrating spiritual disciplines into our daily lives, we can ensure that our actions are rooted in a clear vision of God's kingdom, transforming our daily tasks into acts of worship and service. [19:40]
"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can integrate into your daily routine to better align your work with God's kingdom? How will you start this practice today?
Quotes
"The things of the earth grow strangely dim, and then there's another sense in which the things of the earth grow strangely clear landscapes. The visible landscape is God's creation; it's good, and we need to see it for what it is, but we can only do that if we have got it positioned well within the other landscape." [00:00:25]
"The cross is the same for everyone, and the cross is laying aside your will in favor of the will of God. That is the cross; that's the one that you have to take, or you can't be his disciple, right? And in the hymns, the cross of glory towering over the wrecks of time." [00:02:34]
"The sovereignty of God does not come in the form of inflicting evil actions and bad things on people. It comes in his capacity to bring things out for good no matter what happens. That is how the sovereignty of God relates to the difficult things that turn out to be crosses in the plural." [00:04:36]
"If you have a vision that is right, to put it simply, then you can form an intention. If you don't have a vision, your intention will be weak and wobbly at best, and it will not be clear what it is an intention of, and as a result, you'll not be able to implement it." [00:09:09]
"The church always does best when it has the least. That's historically true, and it's true because as means proliferate, vision and intention diminish. Why is that? Because you start taking care of the means, you invest in them, you give your attention, you give your time to it." [00:10:49]
"Our vision for following Christ and learning to do the things that he did is the vision of the kingdom of God and your life in it. That's the fundamental thing; that's why we start where we do, then in that character, goals, what kind of a person was Jesus." [00:11:29]
"The place of discipleship is everywhere you are, but undoubtedly the main place of discipleship is where you work, and for a very simple reason, two simple reasons. One is you spend most of your time there, right? And if you don't do discipleship there, you are relegating most of your active life outside the range of discipleship." [00:21:02]
"Your job is not your life, but it is the place you spend most of your time, and that's why you want to understand that the place of discipleship is mainly there. Well, what's the church about? The church is about helping you understand how to do that." [00:22:02]
"Spiritual disciplines are not enough; they are part of a picture. I have these diagrams, and you kind of have to overlap them and put them in with the golden triangle and see what you can see what sense you can make of it. They do fit up, and it's a good challenge to do that." [00:19:40]
"Be faithful to your divine calling because the views which McDonald is expressing are actually the views of the Reformation. Luther is always talking about the plowboy and the milkmaid and how they are serving God in holy orders. You know about the priesthood of the believer." [00:25:16]
"How can one use what one does anyway, and now that's where you need the concept of what is a discipline. It's something in your power that you do to enable yourself to do what you can't do by direct effort. I'm hoping that if someone wakes you up at 2:30 in the morning and says what is the discipline, you would rattle that off." [00:32:38]
"Now, if you despise your vocation or your job, and you think this couldn't possibly be a holy calling, that itself then you need to do some reworking of the kingdom. And, of course, I don't know if there are various kinds of jobs that probably shouldn't be done." [00:36:17]
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