Lesson Six: Uncommon Work
There was once a traveler who came from Italy to the French town of Chartres to see the great church that was being built there. Arriving at the end of the day, he went to the site just as the workmen were leaving for home. He asked one man, covered with dust, what he did at the work site. The man replied that he was a stonemason; he spent his days carving rocks. Another man, when asked, said that he was a glassblower who spent his days making slabs of colored glass. Still another workman replied that he was a blacksmith who pounded iron for a living. Wandering into the church, the traveler came upon an elderly woman, armed only with a broom, who was sweeping up the chips and shavings from the day’s work.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
The woman paused, leaned on her broom. Looking up toward the high arches, she replied, “Me?” I’m building a cathedral for the glory of the Almighty God.”
So are we all. Selling cars to the glory of God. Serving meals to the glory of God. Designing software to the glory of God. Banking to the glory of God. Teaching to the glory of God. Driving a bus to the glory of God. Performing surgery to the glory of God. Playing ball to the glory of God. Taking tests to the glory of God. Each one of us as followers of Jesus seeks to live so that our faith surrounds our work.
Goals for the Lesson
● To better understand the biblical perspective on work
● To learn how to unite my faith and my work
Warm Up
● Share with the group the most unusual job you have ever had.
Bible Study
For our study today we are going to look at one of Jesus’ most controversial teachings, and discuss how it relates to work.
Mark 10:42-45
42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Discussion Questions
1. What do we learn about God from this passage?
2. What do we learn about mankind from this passage?
3. How is this passage counter-cultural as it relates to work?
4. Jesus talks about the Gentiles “lording over them”. Where do you see that in the workplace, and how does that attitude creep into your life?
5. What does it look like for each of us to serve those we work with?
6. Each man share one application from this passage
Talk by Skye Jethani
Listen to the message by Skye Jethani that was given at the 2020 No Regrets Men’s conference. The title of the talk is: “Redeeming Work” and can be found on the No Regrets app, under Conference Media/2020 Platform Talks.
Skye Jethani is an author, editor, speaker, consultant and pastor. He has numerous roles at Christianity Today and is a Senior Editor for Leadership Journal. He is also the Senior Producer of “This Is Our City”, a multi-year, multi-city project telling the stories of Christians working for the flourishing of their communities. In addition, Skye serves as the Creative Assistant to the President of Christianity Today where he contributes to strategic planning for the global communications ministry. Skye and his wife, Amanda, have been friends since high school. They were married in 1999 and currently live in Wheaton, Illinois, with their three children, Zoe, Isaac, and Lucy.
Notes from talk
Discussion Questions for Talk
- How do you know your work matters to God?
- What is your reaction to the statement “You are what you do?”
- Given that you believe God wants to reflect his kingdom though your work, what is making it hard for you to do that right now?
- How will this talk affect how you do your job when you go to work tomorrow?
Sharing and Prayer Time
Each man should briefly share what his work situation is with the entire group. Are you enjoying or enduring work? Do you feel you are accomplishing something of kingdom significance? How can your group members pray for you regarding your work?
Assignment for next week
For next week you will be listening to a talk given by Jeff Manion at the 2020 No Regrets Men’s Conference. The talk is called: “Dream Big, Think Small” and can be found on the No Regrets app, under Conference Media/ 2020 Platform speakers. There is space for notes in Lesson Seven.
“I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace, as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan that they had to write his title in Hebrew, in Latin, and Greek… at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that’s where He died. And that is what He died about. And that is where churchmen ought to be and what churchmen should be about.” - George MacLeod
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