Economic Discipleship 3: Freedom In Work

Freedom in Work May 5, 2024 Economic Discipleship, Part 3 Freedom in Work Chapter 1 God’s plan for Work Chapter 2 Our problem with Work Chapter 3 Gospel – Set us Free in Work Freedom in Work Chapter 1 God’s plan for Work Chapter 2 Our problem with Work Chapter 3 Gospel – Set us Free in Work Freedom in Work G o d ’s p l a n f o r w o r k The Design of Work The Dignity of Work Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 26 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 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… 27 2 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it 15 Genesis 2 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1 Freedom in Work G o d ’s p l a n f o r w o r k Work as Cultivation God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Work as Service Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 17 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 15 Genesis 1 1 Corinthians Freedom in Work Chapter 1 God’s plan for Work Chapter 2 Our problem with Work Chapter 3 Gospel – Set us Free in Work Freedom in Work Our problem with Work Does work feel like punishment? “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 18 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” 19 Genesis 3 Our problem with Work The tyranny of meritocracy We can achieve anything. Freedom in Work Our problem with work The tyranny of meritocracy We can achieve anything. Freedom in Work Problem with work “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 28 Matthew 25 Freedom in Work Freedom in Work Our problem with work Work Money Status Worth Our problem with work The tyranny of selfcenterednes s We are all there is Freedom in Work Problem with Work Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 13 Luke 12 Freedom in Work Problem with Work And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 16 Luke 12 Freedom in Work Freedom in Work Problem with Work 03 Request Refusal Rebuke Grant us what I want: Divide the inheritance with us “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” Freedom in Work Chapter 1 God’s plan for Work Chapter 2 Our problem with Work Chapter 3 Gospel – Set us Free in Work 10 Gospel set us free If you were born as a different person We can achieve anything. 11 Freedom in Work Gospel set us free God already made you into a different person What would you do, as child of God? 03 Freedom in Work Freedom in Work Gospel set us free You’re heir of God. Why do you worry? “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]? 25 Matthew 6 Freedom in Work Gospel set us free “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Matthew 6 28 Gospel set us free “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 19 Matthew 25 Freedom in Work Gospel set us free 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. 17 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 23 Colossians 3 Freedom in Work Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow w e a r y, Rest in an identity s e c u re d F re e d o m i n w o r k