Sermon - 4 August 2013 by Bruce McCallum

2. • Occupation - from after breakfast until supper –
what occupies your time?
• Vocation - to give voice to, a calling.
Your occupation is your vocation

3. Government
Family
Health
Education
Communication
Arts
Science / Tech
Business/Econ
Church
Levitical
Priesthood

4. Use your occupation to live out
your Kingdom vocation

5. Acts 2:40-47 (NIV)
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded
with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They
devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone
was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs
were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together
and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and
goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they
continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the
people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved.

6. 1. Church is ‘Jesus to this world’
Luke: “Followers, continue to do what Jesus lived &
taught.”

7. 2. Your lifestyle in your workplace
changes society
1. They practiced a healing and supernatural
lifestyle. They were willing to pray for people in
the society.
2. The early Christians loved each other and lived
out their faith at 2 levels: corporately to
celebrate & receive the apostles teaching and in
homes
3. They practiced economic sharing & a generous
lifestyle. “Live simply so that others simply live.”

8. “ … glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying
the favour of all the people”

9. 3. Favour favours the courageous
How did the early Christians gain favour and respect
of God and society?
1. Because of their commitment to each other in
celebrations and in homes
2. Because of their healing and supernatural practices
3. Because of their economic sharing and generosity

10. Acts 4:29-30 (NIV)
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your
servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform
miraculous signs and wonders through the name of
your holy servant Jesus."

11. 4. Christ followers work hard
Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV)
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and
do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win
their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence
for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24
since you know that you will receive an inheritance
from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.

12. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-15 (NIV)
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind
your own business and to work with your hands, just
as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the
respect of outsiders and so that you will not be
dependent on anybody.

13. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (NIV)
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command
you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who
is idle and does not live according to the teaching you
received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you
ought to follow our example. We were not idle when
we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food
without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked
night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would
not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not
because we do not have the right to such help, but in

14. order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this
rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We
hear that some among you are idle. They are not
busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we
command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle
down and earn the bread they eat.

15. “The Romans and the Greeks despised manual labour or any
work with their hands because it was slave labour but the
followers of Christ are known not only for their willingness to
do manual labour, but their diligence and thoroughness in
doing manual labour.”

16. 1. Diligent faithful hard work. They impressed.
2. For their love. “… behold how they love one another”
Pliny (AD79)
3. Known in world – ‘any person not able to be healed by
the apothecary (doctors) of the day would be sent to
‘the people of the way’…. ‘Send them there – they will
be healed.’

17. Use your occupation to live out
your Kingdom vocation.

18. • Live out your faith in a sincere and committed way.
Commit to celebrate together as a whole and meet
in each other’s homes. You’ll are known for your love
• Take courage to pray for healing in the work place.
People need an experience of God.
• How can you build your finances and lifestyles
around economic sharing & a generous lifestyle?