Work as Worship: Embracing Discipleship in Daily Tasks

 

Summary

Embrace the new beginnings that God offers each day. Let go of the past and focus on the present, which is a gift from God. Today, we explore the profound connection between God and work. In Genesis, God is depicted as a worker, completing the work of creation. This portrayal is unique compared to other ancient stories where gods created humans to do the work they despised. In contrast, the Bible presents work as a divine activity, with Jesus himself stating, "I must be about my Father's business." This perspective invites us to view work as a primary place of discipleship.

Dallas Willard often emphasized that work is where we primarily follow Jesus. This idea challenges us to reconsider how we approach our daily tasks. Work is not just a means to an end but a sacred space where we can encounter God. In Genesis, God introduces Himself as a worker, highlighting humility and service. This challenges the notion that work is merely a stepping stone to something greater. Instead, every job, regardless of its nature, is an opportunity to serve and grow in discipleship.

The story of an emergency room nurse illustrates this point. Despite being tired and ready to leave her job, she was called to serve a patient who turned out to have a severe illness. This encounter reminded her that every moment at work is an opportunity to serve God and others. There are no insignificant jobs; each one is a chance to live out the gospel and serve with humility.

For those who dislike their jobs, this is an opportunity to practice love and service in challenging circumstances. It's easy to love a job that aligns with our passions, but true discipleship is demonstrated when we serve faithfully in less-than-ideal situations. As Philippians 2 teaches, we are never more like God than when we serve others. Work, whether paid or unpaid, is a primary place of discipleship.

Key Takeaways:

1. God as a Worker: In Genesis, God is introduced as a worker, emphasizing humility and service. This challenges us to view work as a divine activity, not just a means to an end. Our work is a sacred space where we can encounter God and grow in discipleship. [03:14]

2. Work as Discipleship: Dallas Willard's perspective that work is our primary place of discipleship invites us to reconsider how we approach our daily tasks. Every job, regardless of its nature, is an opportunity to serve and grow in our relationship with God. [02:08]

3. No Stepping Stone Jobs: Every job, no matter how insignificant it seems, is an opportunity to serve God and others. The story of the emergency room nurse illustrates that there are no stepping stone jobs; each one is a chance to live out the gospel. [05:14]

4. Serving in Challenging Situations: For those who dislike their jobs, this is an opportunity to practice love and service in challenging circumstances. True discipleship is demonstrated when we serve faithfully in less-than-ideal situations. [09:32]

5. Humility and Service: As Philippians 2 teaches, we are never more like God than when we serve others. Work, whether paid or unpaid, is a primary place of discipleship, where we can embody humility and service. [10:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [00:56] - God and Work in Genesis
- [01:26] - Ancient Stories vs. Biblical Perspective
- [01:39] - Jesus and the Father's Business
- [01:54] - Work as Discipleship
- [02:35] - First Impressions of God
- [03:14] - God as a Worker
- [03:42] - Work Before the Fall
- [04:32] - No Stepping Stone Jobs
- [05:14] - Serving in Every Job
- [06:41] - The Emergency Room Story
- [08:20] - Lessons from Unexpected Encounters
- [09:32] - Serving in Challenging Situations
- [10:14] - Humility and Service in Work

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 2:2-3 - "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
2. Philippians 2:5-7 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Observation Questions:
1. How does Genesis describe God's role in creation, and what does this imply about the nature of work? [00:56]
2. What is the significance of Jesus saying, "I must be about my Father's business," in the context of work? [01:39]
3. How does the story of the emergency room nurse illustrate the idea that there are no insignificant jobs? [06:41]
4. According to the sermon, what is the relationship between humility and work as demonstrated by God in Genesis? [03:14]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the portrayal of God as a worker in Genesis challenge common perceptions of work as merely a means to an end? [03:14]
2. In what ways does Dallas Willard's perspective on work as a primary place of discipleship change the way one might approach their daily tasks? [02:08]
3. How does the concept of "no stepping stone jobs" affect one's understanding of their current work situation, especially if they are not passionate about it? [05:14]
4. What does Philippians 2 suggest about the nature of true discipleship and service, and how can this be applied to one's work life? [10:14]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current job or daily tasks. How can you view them as opportunities for discipleship and service, even if they are not your ideal roles? [05:14]
2. Think of a time when you felt your work was insignificant. How might the perspective shared in the sermon change your view of that experience? [06:41]
3. How can you practice humility and service in your workplace, following the example of Jesus as described in Philippians 2? [10:14]
4. If you are in a job you dislike, what practical steps can you take to serve others and demonstrate love in that environment? [09:32]
5. Identify a specific task or responsibility at work that you often overlook. How can you approach it with a renewed sense of purpose and discipleship? [04:32]
6. How can you incorporate regular moments of reflection and prayer into your workday to seek guidance and strength from God? [05:14]
7. Consider someone at work who challenges your patience. What is one way you can serve them this week, embodying the humility and service of Christ? [09:59]

Devotional

Day 1: God as the Divine Worker
In Genesis, God is introduced as a worker, emphasizing humility and service. This challenges us to view work as a divine activity, not just a means to an end. Our work is a sacred space where we can encounter God and grow in discipleship. The portrayal of God as a worker is unique compared to other ancient stories where gods created humans to do the work they despised. In contrast, the Bible presents work as a divine activity, with Jesus himself stating, "I must be about my Father's business." This perspective invites us to view work as a primary place of discipleship. [03:14]

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." (Genesis 2:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you view your current work, whether paid or unpaid, as a sacred space where you can encounter God today?


Day 2: Work as a Pathway to Discipleship
Dallas Willard's perspective that work is our primary place of discipleship invites us to reconsider how we approach our daily tasks. Every job, regardless of its nature, is an opportunity to serve and grow in our relationship with God. This idea challenges us to reconsider how we approach our daily tasks. Work is not just a means to an end but a sacred space where we can encounter God. In Genesis, God introduces Himself as a worker, highlighting humility and service. This challenges the notion that work is merely a stepping stone to something greater. [02:08]

"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: What specific task at work can you approach with a heart of service to God today, seeing it as an opportunity for discipleship?


Day 3: Every Job is Significant
Every job, no matter how insignificant it seems, is an opportunity to serve God and others. The story of the emergency room nurse illustrates that there are no stepping stone jobs; each one is a chance to live out the gospel. Despite being tired and ready to leave her job, she was called to serve a patient who turned out to have a severe illness. This encounter reminded her that every moment at work is an opportunity to serve God and others. There are no insignificant jobs; each one is a chance to live out the gospel and serve with humility. [05:14]

"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a task you consider insignificant. How can you perform it today with the mindset that it is a chance to serve God and others?


Day 4: Serving in Challenging Situations
For those who dislike their jobs, this is an opportunity to practice love and service in challenging circumstances. It's easy to love a job that aligns with our passions, but true discipleship is demonstrated when we serve faithfully in less-than-ideal situations. As Philippians 2 teaches, we are never more like God than when we serve others. Work, whether paid or unpaid, is a primary place of discipleship. [09:32]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a challenging aspect of your job. How can you approach it with love and a spirit of service today, seeing it as an opportunity for growth in discipleship?


Day 5: Humility and Service in Work
As Philippians 2 teaches, we are never more like God than when we serve others. Work, whether paid or unpaid, is a primary place of discipleship, where we can embody humility and service. In Genesis, God is depicted as a worker, completing the work of creation. This portrayal is unique compared to other ancient stories where gods created humans to do the work they despised. In contrast, the Bible presents work as a divine activity, with Jesus himself stating, "I must be about my Father's business." [10:14]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody humility and service in your work today, considering others' needs above your own?

Quotes


In the Book of Genesis uh as you all know this after it talks about all of creation when it gets to the end of it it says on the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing and it's kind of fascinating that it uses that word um we've looked at in looking at Genesis how in other ancient uh stories about creation the gods didn't like work and in fact they actually uh created human beings so that they would work and raise foods that Gods could eat so they wouldn't have to work that was the purpose of creation. [00:56:23]

One of the things that Dallas Willard used to talk about often was that work is our primary place of discipleship and if that doesn't push you back on your heels for a minute yeah uh we hear a lot about Dallas at our house it's such a breathtaking perspective on how do I follow Jesus how do I first consider my work and I remember one time when Dallas said it we were out in the backyard and I teased him I said oh no Dallas the right answer is always your family and he said no actually just the nature of work. [01:57:84]

If I were God and you know your mom always told you you have one chance to make a first impression and you've all been on the other side of that where you're still carrying your mind the first impression you had of somebody and it really sticks if I were God in Genesis 1 I would say hey I'm God and I'm omniscient you think you're smart I'm way smarter than you or I'm omnipotent I'm the most powerful creature in the universe but he took those two qualities of his and you put them in the back burner and he said those can wait because what I want to say my first impression I want you to know hi I'm God I'm a worker. [02:48:06]

There are no stepping stone jobs and here's what I mean by that in our culture we hear a lot about what's your passion what do you want to be what's your fulfillment those are questions of luxury those are not the most important questions whatever you may be on your way to matters not at all when it comes to how do I see the intersection of faith and work and living out the gospel and the kingdom and my discipleship at my current place of work. [04:37:08]

So if I'm in a place where I don't love my job I'm not passionate about it I see something else it's that's tertiary what's critical is that every day I go to work I show up asking Jesus to help me coming back to him multiple times during the day to say I made a mistake what should I do next taking care of people serving people's really deeply serving them there are no stepping stone jobs. [05:05:75]

I used to be many iterations of my work life ago an emergency room nurse and I remember one night we had a patient come in at 11 28 pm and if any of you are shift workers you know that that's two minutes before you get to go home and I was a week away from finishing up my career in nursing and moving to Chicago to finish Seminary so you had just met me not long before this yes that's a whole other story for another video. [05:36:39]

Three or four nights before I was ready to be done in the emergency room a patient came in at 11 28 while the doctors were giving the nurses incoming on the next shift their report and the doctor said to me Nancy will you take this patient let all the other nurses go home let the girl who had been doing double shifts in order to get ready to move to Chicago take the patient now I've been a Christian long enough to know you sit on the inside where nobody can see you and on the outside I said, but on the inside I thought, why pick me the nurses that are going home right now have not worked double shifts I'm so tired. [06:09:00]

I went into the room with this 28 29 year old woman mother of two her husband and her two little girls had gone the day before up to Mammoth Mountain this is in La she was going to go the next day separately because she had to work and I just remember being annoyed and thinking after I took her vitals and took her history thinking oh my gosh you have the flu you don't go to the emergency room at 11 28 for the flu you go to bed and then you wake up the next morning and you call your doctor which mostly meant you don't inconvenience me. [06:46:31]

So 20 minutes later in the fax machine which if you're under 30 you can Google it but it's a machine that sits on the counter and it spits up a paper report from the laboratory and I went over to look at it and I saw her blood results and the doctor came over and looked over my shoulder and he said um here's two more tests we need to order have a flu she said fulminating leukemia she never left the hospital she was there for the next six weeks for the next week before I left for Chicago I was up in the ICU every day before my shift started to visit her. [07:39:59]

I met her husband and her children her body was unrecognizable when I left and I feel like on the way home that night God and I had this conversation with something like this oh you're on your way to wait you're on your way to fulfill your passion and live your best life and serve me and be a pastor and a leader and what I did tonight is I put one woman in front of you and you were irritated and you ignored her there are no stepping stone jobs whatever it is you're doing right now whether it's for a paycheck or not for a paycheck it is a primary place of discipleship for your work. [08:11:84]

What would you say to somebody right now that really doesn't like their job this is wonderful wonderful because Way Beyond when you get to your passion job you have an opportunity to live out what Jesus says what good is it if you love people that are just like you ah oh and kind of the same thing what good is it if you love a job that is really absolutely yeah if you have a chance to be the kingdom way more than you ever will when you're in your passion job. [09:24:66]

How do you show up and ask Jesus for help confess when you've been wrong apologize to other people treat other people with dignity serve them of Philippians 2 John's talked about this a lot before but Jerry Hawthorne who is a professor at Wheaton said most of our translations will say who even though he was God he took upon the form of servant but the actual best Greek translation is exactly because he was God he took upon the form of servant you are never more like God than when you serve wow and you get a chance to do that at work whether it's paid or non-paid primary place of discipleship. [09:59:22]

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