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Jul 08, 2018

Wisdom for Work

Passage: Proverbs 24:30-34

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: Proverbs

Category: Grace Brevard

This week, we find in the book of Proverbs a short parable about a person who has neglected the care of his vineyard and is therefore left in poverty.  The writer of this parable is offering a warning against becoming a “sluggard,” something that is reinforced by our culture (for example, ‘the early bird get the worm’).  But how does the gospel change the way we view work and rest? How does the finished work of Christ on the cross guard us from both “busy-ness” as well as “sluggardliness” (negligence)?

OrDer of worship

Prelude: Montage - Cursed Work

Call To Worship: Lamentations 3:21-24

Songs: 

Reading: Matthew 11:28-30  

Prayer:

Guide us, O heavenly Father,

By your Word and Spirit,

That in your light we may see light,

In your truth find freedom,

And in your will discover your peace,

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Missional Living: The Haven (Jim Walker)

Sermon Title: Wisdom in Work and Rest

Central Text: Proverbs 24:30-34

Illustration: Invention of Lying - Eternal Happiness 

Response: based on Psalm 67

ALL:  Almighty God, Be gracious to us and bless us, and make your face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon the earth, your saving power among all nations. Empower all the peoples to praise you, O God, that the nations may be glad and sing for joy. For you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Enable all the peoples to praise you, O God, for the earth has yielded its increase and you, our God, have blessed us. We ask that you will continue to bless us so that all the ends of the earth will revere you. Amen.

Benediction:  Ephesians 3:20-21

Media:

7.08.18 Album

Related Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 6:10-12   

John 6:27-29

Discussion Questions & Applications:

  1. Do you see yourself as someone who occasionally struggles with “sluggardliness”?  If so, why do you think this is? Why is simply becoming busy not a lasting cure or antidote for our sluggarliness?
  2. On the other hand, do you feel that you are in a perpetual state of work (in life, relationships, spirituality)?  Do you feel that you can never do enough? If so, what are some examples of this?
  3. How does the Gospel of Jesus free us from the snares of sluggarliness as we as guard us from the anxiety that comes from fearing that we can never do enough?  How can the promise that “It is finished” (John 19:29) provide the hope and freedom that we so desperately need?

Docs & Quotes:

  • “The woman who makes a dog the centre of her life loses, in the end, not only loses her human usefulness and dignity but even the proper pleasure of dog-keeping. The man who makes alcohol his chief good loses not only his job but his palate and all power of enjoying the earlier (and only pleasurable) levels of intoxication.. . . You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.” - C.S. Lewis
  • "Work is taking the raw material of creation and developing it for the sake of others." – Timothy J. Keller
  • "The lack of joy in your life is due to your lack of mission." – Timothy J. Keller
  • “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” - Albert Pike

Sermons & Articles:

The Most Important Reason We Work by Philip Holmes

Making Space: Work by Jeff Vanderstelt

Proverbs 6:6-11

Lazy Busy by Tom Reinke

Work and Rest by Timothy J. Keller

Luke 6:1-11