Winning at Work
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Sermon Notes
In practicality, here are our purposes for work.
Needs
Upgrades
Identity
Purpose
Work Myths & Work Truths
Myth #1 God is not interested in my job. Truth #1 God is interested in you!
Myth #2 My work doesn’t matter… it’s just a job. Truth #2 Your work is worship. Working as worship turns every workplace into a cathedral transforming dark places with light.
Myth #3 At work, I am on my own. Truth #3 Our work is in partnership with our God. We are never on our own when we are living for God’s purposes.
The first words associated with work can be found in Genesis 1:2 “And God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. “God saw that the light was good and He separated it from darkness.”
Genesis 2:1-3
“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 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 He had done.
Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
3 New Ways to Look at Work
1. You were created for work – go co-create!
Ephesians 2:7-10 (Message)
7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
The gap between sacred and secular is smaller than you think.
What is the title of the political leader of Great Britain? Prime _______
The Latin root for Vocation means “we are called.” Calling is the first definition of vocation!
The Greek for church is ecclesia – it’s root means “called out ones.”
The distance between secular and sacred is not the job/trade or occupation, it is determined by…
Who we work for
Why we work
How we work
2. W_ _ S _ _ _ while you work!
Colossians 3:17, 23-24 (Amplified)
17 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Whether it’s your dream job, temp job, bridge job or entry level job – who you work for and how you do your work will determine winning.
Matthew 6:33
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”
3. Light Up the Place!
Isaiah 60:1-7 (Message)
1-7 “Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God’s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness. Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you’ll smile—big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations! And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God. And yes, a great roundup of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth, Welcome gifts for worship at my altar as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.
3 C’s of Hiring
Competency
Chemistry
Character
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” - General Norman Schwarzkopf
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” - Max De Pree, Author of “Leadership is an Art”
“A leader is a dealer in hope.” - Napoleon Bonaparte
The Low Hanging Fruit of Work Leadership
James 1:2-5
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
“Take God to Work” Prayer
“Lord I work for you. I submit myself to your leadership. Equip me for the work you have ahead of me and polish me to be an accurate reflection of you. I want people to see you in me. I invite you to interject, interrupt, intercede and intervene anywhere and in anyway you see fit. Amen.”
Benediction
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.