A theology of work presentation session one
•Télécharger en tant que PPTX, PDF•
0 j'aime•588 vues
An overview of the Biblical Theology of Work, including an introduction of the concepts of vocation and calling. (Part one of a four part series)
Recommandé
Contenu connexe
Tendances
Tendances (20)
En vedette
En vedette (20)
Similaire à A theology of work presentation session one
Similaire à A theology of work presentation session one (20)
Dernier
Dernier (20)
A theology of work presentation session one
- 1. A Theology of Work: God’s Arena for Kingdom Service Session One What Is Work? Towards a Biblical Understanding of Work
- 2. Introduction: Why a “Theology of Work”? • Meaning • Balance/Fullness • Freedom • Accessibility • Preparation
- 4. Issues of Concern • Compartmentalization – place our lives into silos • Reductionism – limiting the “work” of God • Depreciation – lost effectiveness/limiting service to church activities • Distortion – unknowingly diminish the Lordship of Christ over every area of life
- 5. Soli Deo Gloria: Our Context for Everything • “The Greatest Command” – Mark 12:28-31 • Everything for God’s Glory – Colossians 3:17;23 • Ambassadors for Christ – II Corinthians 5:17-21
- 6. Who are we and what are here for? “The church is called to be wise and beautiful, a voice of hope to the world.” Mike Hayden “It is not so much a case that God has a mission for His Church in the world, as that God has a church for His mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church, the church was made for mission God’s mission.” Chris Wright, The Mission of God’s People “The church must be seen as the company of pilgrims on the way to the end of the world and the ends of the earth.” Lesslie Newbigin
- 7. Worldviews/Paradigms of Work • Materialistic • Animistic • Unbiblical Dualism • Biblical Worldview of Work
- 8. Sacred Work – What is Vocation “The doctrine of vocation amounts to a comprehensive doctrine of the Christian Life, having to do with faith and sanctification, grace and good works. It is key to Christian ethics. It shows how Christians can influence culture. It transfigures ordinary, everyday life with the presence of God….The priesthood of all believers did not make everyone into church workers; rather it turned every kind of work into a sacred calling.” Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God at Work
- 9. Some Definitions of Work “The place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” Frederick Buechner “a certaine kinde of like, ordained and imposed on man by God, for the common good.” William Perkins “Work is any activity undertaken with a sense of obligation to self, one’s community, or one’s God.” David Jensen
- 10. A Comprehensive Definition of Work “Any necessary and meaningful task that God calls and gifts a person to do and which can be undertaken to the glory of God and for the edification and aid of human beings, being inspired by the Spirit and foreshadowing the realities of the New Creation.” Ben Witherington, III
- 11. Abodah: Work=Service=Worship • To Cultivate – Genesis 2:15 • Making bricks as slaves – Ex 1:14 • Artisans building the Tabernacle – Ex 35:24 • Fine craftsmanship of linen workers – I Chronicles 4:21 • Leading corporate worship/praise – II Chronicles 8:14 “Properly understood, our work is to be thoughtfully woven into the integral fabric of Christian vocation, for God designed and intended our work, our vocational calling, to be an act of God-honoring worship.” Tom Nelson
- 12. Conclusions • Work is God’s Intent for Us • Work is God’s Provision for Us and Our Neighbors • Work is Good and has intrinsic value • Work is Service to God
- 13. A Prayer for Our Work Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Ps. 90:16–17)
- 14. Next Week • Why Do We Work? Our Motivation, Purpose, and Opportunities for Work
Notes de l'éditeur
- In week #1 we are going to talk about the “what” is work and little bit about the “who” work is for and from and “why” we workIn week #2 we will dive a little deeper into the “why” we work and introduce some ideas about “how” we are to workIn week #3 we are going to talk more about “how” we are to work and introduce some ideas about “when” we should workFinally, in week #4 we are going to finish the series with more about “when” we are to work and wrap-up the series. So I’m hoping that when we are finished we will have a good understanding of the following:WhatWhyWhoHowWhen
- Why a theology of work? Several reasons:First, because a theology of work would bring meaning to that portion of our lives that occupy most of our waking hours. In addition, our work is central, not peripheral, to our lives. Second, it is essential that we place “work” in its proper place, in perspective. Work cannot be our God. Nor can work be seen as a curse. Also, God has given us all thongs to enjoy, which includes our work.Third, A proper theology of work can be liberating for Christians. Since we live our lives in multiple spheres; among the “gathered” and among the “dispersed.”Fourth, because every believer is called to mission and most of us are placed in “secular” roles where “professional” ministers have no access.Fifth, the scriptures indicate that our “deeds” (our work) will follow us into eternity where we will have a continuation of work in the New Heaven and New Earth.
- When we consider where we spend the majority of our waking hours, we should have some theological understanding of this space.
- There are several issues we should be concerned about, which a proper understanding of work, the place where we spend most of our days, would help us address. First, we have to be aware of our tendency to compartmentalize our lives and to place parts of our lives in silos. Second, there is a danger of reductionism, where we focus our attention upon what is having within the church, more specifically church gatherings. The danger here is that we unwittingly limit the “work” of God to what happens on Sunday.Third, one of the effects of this type of mindset is that we lose our intended effectiveness in the world, where God has called to be. In essence we depreciate our own effectiveness, when we limit God’s work to organized church activities. Finally, the most dangerous effect of an improper theology of work is that it distorts our understanding of the Lordship of Christ over every sphere and area of life.
- The greatest commandment is to love God with our entire being, then to love our neighbor, also, with our full being. Our work is one of the principle areas where this occurs. As people who have been “raised up with Christ” whose “members are dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry”, we are to do everything with thanksgiving, in the name of Christ, working “as unto the Lord.” This also means that the ultimate focus the object of our work is God. This means the question we may ask our selves is – can my work bear the name of Christ?Finally, as “new creatures” in Christ, as those who have been reconciled to God, who is working to reconcile all things unto Himself, we have been made ambassadors, vice-regents, who represent Him in the many places we live and work. I would argue that we best represent Christ when we are engaged in and joined with Him in His reconciling and creation redeeming work. One of the points I want to state clearly is that that type of work is much more than the types of things we may think of as “God’s Work” (I.e., things that occur within the confines of the organized church).
- Last week one of the things Mike had us consider was how we – the Body of Christ – should minister into our world, in particular how we should minister to and with those around us. As the Church of Christ we are always “on mission.” Our deeds, our work, our very lives are always “on mission.” Therefore, we are to be a “missional” people, our work is a perfect arena for us to be more consistently “on mission.”
- The Biblical view of work is based on the fact that God calls everyone to work. Just as he initially called Adam to cultivate within the garden, we as Adam’s seed, are also called to labor by God. God is the supreme caller, which is where we get the word vocation, which is derived from the Latin “Vocare”, which literally means “to call.” The word vocation addresses the wholeness of life and the sovereignty of God to call people into places where they are equipped to serve the purposes of God and to serve others. One passage I like to refer to Romans 13 that refers to governing magistrates. The Apostle goes so far as to call those who are called by God to serve in these roles as ministers.
- Defining work from a Christian/Biblical has taken many forms. Here are a few “definitions” that I thought it would be good to review, just to give you a sense that these are things that others have considered. Note that focus of the work, the source of the work, and varying emphases on community, God, need of others, etc.Basically, these are all helpful and useful, but I think there is a more comprehensive definition.
- What I appreciate about Ben Witherington’s definition is his emphasis on God calling people into work, as well as equipping them for that work. Another thing I appreciate is his articulation of the purpose for work – to glorify God and aid others. Finally, his reference to the “new creation” speaks to the divine mission of God – reconciling all things to Christ and how our work has eternal worth, even when may not see or understand it.This comprehensive definition has breadth and will generally be the definition I refer to throughout this series.
- As we wrap up I want to show you how “necessary and meaningful” work can span various types of work, from toilsome labor to the work of artisans. One of the Hebrew words the Bible translates as work is the word Avodah. This work is also translated as service and also as worship. In the beginning, when God calls Adam to cultivate (work) the garden, the word is avodah. When the enslaved Hebrews are given hard service, the word is avodah. When the work to build the tabernacle of God is described, the word is avodah. When the Levites are appoint for praise and ministry, the word is avodahMy point is work, in God’s eyes, takes many forms, including work within the service of the House of God, but mostly work within the world, but both categories of work are given by God and ways we glorify Him.