Back to Work

Well, at the start of every week, God calls us to come to worship him in the name of his Son and in the presence of God the Holy Spirit.

And we are so thankful that we can respond to that invitation from God as we come together to worship.

And we're going to begin by singing from Psalm 100 on page 362.

Psalm 100, and we'll sing the first version of the psalm.

And one of the things I love about this psalm is that it speaks about all the nations gathering to praise the name of God.

And I think it's so exciting for us to start a new week together, knowing that it's not just us that are praising Jesus.

There's people all across the world gathering to praise his name today.

And we can add our voices to that great multitude as we sing these words together.

All people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

Let's stand and sing together.

O people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

O people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

walk he doth

us

be

and for

his sheep

he doth

us

take

enter

then his

gates with

grace

and broached

with joy

his course

and truth

praise

God and bless

his

name

always

are

it

his

soul

to

do

for

why

the Lord

our God

is good

his mercy

is forever

sure

his truth

at all times

he is good

and shall

promise

to

his

death

do

let's pray

together

dear God

our Father

we are so

thankful that

as a new

week begins

that we can

come together

publicly to

worship you

to bow down

before you

our God

and to come

rejoicing in

the reality of

the resurrection

of your son

our saviour

Jesus

we thank you

that as we

come together

you have

promised to

be with us

by your

spirit

we thank

you

that you

are building

your temple

the people

of God

where your

spirit

dwells

and we

thank you

so so

much

that we

have this

time

where we

can come

together

knowing that

you are

with us

and knowing

that we can

hear your

voice speaking

to us

so we want

to start

our week

bowing down

before you

our God

Father

Son

and Holy

Spirit

the only

God

the awesome

God

the God

who has

been so

so good

to us

and so we

come today

rejoicing

we thank you

so much

that you

have not

abandoned us

we thank you

so much

that you are

a God

full of

mercy

and compassion

because we

are so aware

that we

on our own

we have

no right

to come

before you

we've

sinned

against you

and in

so many

ways

we have

turned away

from you

and we

have followed

after idols

and we

have made

many

many

mistakes

and there

are so

many

things

that you

have

commanded

us

and made

us

to do

and yet

we've

failed

to do

them

and so

we come

confessing

our sin

before you

we are

frustrated

by our

sin

we're

sorry

for it

but we

are also

so so

thankful

that in

Jesus

we can

have

full

and free

and perfect

forgiveness

and we

just come

rejoicing

in the

reality

of the

gospel

that the

blood of

Jesus

cleanses

us

from all

sin

that all

who come

to you

you will

never

cast out

that if

we confess

our sins

you're

faithful

and just

to forgive

them

and oh

these

and so

many other

gospel

promises

are so

good

and we're

so thankful

for them

and we pray

that the

reality of

that gospel

would just

fill and

enrich all

of our

hearts

today

and that it

would shape

every part

of our

lives

we pray

that as we

come together

we will be

drawn closer

to you

and closer

to one

another

and we

pray that

we will be

prepared

and equipped

for the

week ahead

we want

to live

this week

for you

and so

we come

today

with

repentant

hearts

we want

to turn

away from

sin

and we

want to

refocus

on you

and follow

you

in every

part of

our lives

in the

week

ahead

thank you

for everybody

who has

come here

today

those

gathering

in the

building

those

joining

us

online

thank you

for the

privilege

of being

able to

worship

together

we pray

father

that you

would help

each one

we all

come with

different

circumstances

maybe some

of us have

had a really

good week

maybe others

have had a

hard week

maybe for

some it's

been a

mixture of

both

you know

lord

and so

we come

and we

lay our

hearts

open before

you

and we

pray father

that you

would meet

with all

of us

that your

word would

speak to

us

and that

that you

would

nourish

us

and heal

us

where

we're

bruised

and that

you would

teach us

and guide

us where

we need

to be

led by

you

that you'd

encourage

us and

strengthen

us where

we feel

weak

that you

would

challenge

us where

our hearts

are hard

and that

you would

enable us

by your

grace to

live this

week and

every week

of our

lives for

your glory

we pray

for the

work of

this

congregation

we thank

you for

all the

work of

the gospel

that has

been done

here over

many years

and that

continues

at the

moment

we pray

that you

would

bless

abundantly

bless

the

congregation

here

we pray

for

Colm

and for

all the

office

bearers

and for

everybody

involved

in the

different

ministries

that are

undertaken

week by

week

we pray

that you

would

bless

all of

these

bless

every

family

here

every

individual

and we

pray

especially

for the

opportunity

to invite

people to

a back

to church

Sunday

in a couple

of weeks

time

father we

pray that

you would

give

everyone

the courage

to share

an invitation

and we

pray that

you would

be pressing

it onto

people's

hearts

to return

and we

pray that

over coming

weeks they

would see

both

people coming

back who

may be

drifted

and also

new people

coming

who've

never been

before

and we

pray that

you will be

building up

the work

of the

gospel

here

and also

across the

town and

all the

congregations

we pray

that you

would bless

all the

work of

the gospel

that's been

undertaken

here in

Stornoway

and may

the weeks

ahead be

a time

of great

blessing

and a

time where

all of

your people

shine as

a bright

and a

beautiful

light

in a

town that

so desperately

needs the

gospel

so we

just commit

the congregation

and everybody

here to

your care

and we

pray father

for your

help as we

continue on

worshipping you

just now

we also

want to

remember

those in

need and

in difficulty

throughout the

world

praying for

those who

are suffering

especially those

caught up in

conflict

and we pray

for those in

authority and

those who have

power and

influence that

they would use

that power

for good

and that they

would seek to

find solutions

to so much

suffering that we

see around us

we thank you

father that

as we are so

often grieved by

the broken world

that we live in

we thank you

that we can

come to you

and see that

in Jesus you

have provided

healing and

restoration for

every individual

for the whole of

humanity and

ultimately for all

of the creation

how we thank you

for the gospel

and may our time

together just now

fill us anew

with the joy of

the gospel as we

learn more about

what you've done

for us and may

we be equipped to

go on from here

looking to Jesus

serving you

led by your spirit

all to your glory

we pray it in

Jesus name

Amen

well boys and

girls it's really

nice to see you

all here today

I hope you're all

well I hope you've

all had a really

good summer holiday

so I'm going to

need your help

today I know

you're a wee bit

far away from me

but I'm going to

need your help

and I'm actually

I'm glad that

you're far away

from me because

today we're going

to play a wee

game it's called

hearing test

so I'm going to

test your hearing

okay and so you

have to listen

very carefully to

what I'm going to

say so I'm going

to say some words

very quietly and

you have to tell

me if you can

hear them now

you guys are the

only people who

can play this

game the old

people in here

they've got no

chance they're not

going to hear

anything but you

guys can hear the

words and so you

have to listen

really carefully and

if you hear the

word you have to

put your hand up

and tell me what

I'm saying okay so

do you understand

the game yeah you

ready listen really

carefully tell me if

you can hear what

I'm going to say

it's going to get

harder and harder

so I'll start off

with an easy one

okay

sausages

did you hear what

I said

let's say it

again did anyone

hear what I said

what was it

well done

that was very

good how did you

hear you're so

far away

okay right

I'll have to step

back a wee bit

okay make it

harder let's see if

you can hear what

I say this time

bananas

did you hear me

again what did

what did I say

bananas

I said bananas

very good right

I'm going to have

to make this even

harder right

I'm going to I'm

going to stand

further back I'm

going to put a

book in front of

me okay let's

see you can hear

me this time

tomatoes

tomatoes

how did you hear

that that's so

good right last

all right I'm

going to make it

really hard I'm

going to go right

back here stand

right here see if

you can hear me

now okay

fish and chips

you're nearly

right it was

fish and chips

very good oh

well that was

fantastic you guys

have got really

really good hearing

that was so so

good well I'm

very impressed that

was very very good

for the older people

in here that was

just silence

but you guys have

got really good

hearing well done

do you know who's

got the best

hearing of all

God does

the best hearing

of all is God's

he hears everything

never misses a word

nothing is too quiet

for him in fact

even when we

don't open our

mouths and speak

quietly in our

hearts he hears

us and I want you

all to remember

that today and to

never forget it

because what it

means is that

every single time

you talk to God

he hears you

he never misses

anything

never misses a

prayer

your voice

never ever

goes unheard

and so every

time you pray

to God

whether it's in

church here

or at home

as you lie in

bed

or maybe at

school when

you're finding

it difficult

and you even

pray a really

short prayer

and a really

quiet prayer

and maybe you

don't even

open your mouth

God always

always hears

you

he has the

best hearing

of all

and I want you

always to remember

that because it

means that if

there's ever a

time this week

or in any time

in your life

when you are

having you're

finding it hard

when you're

worried about

something or

maybe something's

happened at

school that's

upset you or

maybe you're

going to bed

at night and

you've got lots

of worries

God's always

listening and

you can pray to

him and you can

talk to him

about it and he

will always

always hear you

because his

hearing is

perfect so

please remember

that it's

reminding us of

what a wonderful

privilege it is

for us to be

able to pray to

God we can

pray to him

every day

thanking him

for the things

that are good

and telling him

about all the

things that are

hard and he

always always

listens so

please remember

that this week

and please

remember it for

the rest of

your lives that

God's hearing is

perfect so you

can always talk

to him he'll

always always

listen and

so we're

going to pray

to him just

now together

and we're

going to pray

the Lord's

prayer that

you'll find on

the inside

page of your

bulletin and

we'll pray this

together and

afterwards we'll

let the boys and

girls who are

heading out make

their way to

the hall

our father

which art in

heaven

hallowed be

thy name

thy kingdom

come

thy will be

done on

earth as it

is in heaven

give us this

day our daily

bread and

forgive us our

debts as we

forgive our

debtors and

lead us not

into temptation

but deliver us

from evil for

thine is the

kingdom the

power and the

glory forever

amen you see

information on

your bulletin

sheet about the

provision for

children during the

holidays so please

feel free to make

your way through the

hall if you'd like

to do so but

also children are

so welcome to stay

in for the service

as well if you'd

rather remain here

we're going to sing

together again from

psalm 57 and we're

singing the sing

psalms version which

is on page 75

psalm 57 singing

from verse 7

my heart is

steadfast lord with

music I will sing

awake my soul wake

harp and lyre my

song the dawn will

bring these words

down to the end of

the psalm just

express our praise

and thanksgiving to

God recognizing that

as we live out our

lives among the

nations of the world

we want to honor and

praise and glorify him

at all times so we'll

stand and sing these

wonderful words

together

my heart is

steadfast lord

with music

I will sing

awake my soul

wake our

hello

my

know

my

The Lord of the earth, my songs of you I'll raise.

Great is your steadfast love, which reaches through the sky.

Your constant faithfulness, O Lord, extends to heaven high.

Above the highest ends, O God, exalted thee.

And over all the earth, O best way, your majesty.

Our reading this morning is from 1 Peter chapter 2.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

1 Peter chapter 2, it's just nearly at the very end of the Bible.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

It's on page 1220 of the Bible I have, but it might be different page numbers in yours.

1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter together.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up to salvation,

if indeed you've tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,

to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in Scripture,

So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people for his own possession,

that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people.

Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles,

to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable,

so that when they speak against you as evildoers,

they may see your good deeds, and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,

whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

or to governors as sent by him,

to punish those who do evil, and to praise those who do good.

For this is the will of God,

that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free,

not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,

but living as servants of God.

Honour everyone,

love the brotherhood,

fear God,

honour the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect,

not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the unjust.

For this is a gracious thing,

when, mindful of God,

one endures sorrows,

while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it,

if when you sin and are beaten for it you endure?

But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure,

this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example,

so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin,

neither was deceit found in his mouth.

When he was reviled,

he did not revile in return.

When he suffered,

he did not threaten,

but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins on his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed,

for you were straying like sheep,

but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

Amen.

This is God's word,

and may he bless it to each one of us.

Well, before we come back to the passage,

we're going to sing again,

this time in Psalm 61.

And we're singing from the Scottish Psalter version on page 293.

The first two Psalms that we sung have spoken so much of praising God,

rejoicing in his goodness,

and celebrating all the wonderful things that God has done for us.

But we know that that is always just half of the Christian's experience.

As we follow Jesus,

life also brings many challenges and bruises and struggles.

And the amazing thing about God is that as we come to him,

we don't just come with our joys and thanksgivings,

we also come with our sorrows and our struggles.

And that's captured so powerfully in this Psalm.

We're going to sing verses 1 to 4,

and these are a great reminder that we can come to the Lord for shelter and protection

in all the times when we feel like we are struggling.

So for those of you who have had a tough week,

and who are here feeling like your heart is overwhelmed,

this Psalm is just a wonderful opportunity to pour all that out before the Lord,

and to cast yourself into his loving care.

So we'll stand and sing verses 1 to 4,

Psalm 61, to God's praise.

O God, give thee unto my cry,

unto my prayer at end,

from God's voice corner of the land,

my guide to thee I'll say,

What time my heart is overwhelmed,

and in perplexity,

who thou believe unto the Lord,

that higher is the night.

For thou hast for my refuge been,

a shelter by thy power,

and for defence against my foes,

thou hast been a strong turn.

within thy tabernacle I

forever will abide,

and under cover of thy wings,

with confidence behind.

As we turn back to 1 Peter,

let's just pray together for a wee moment.

Father, as we come to your word now,

we pray that our ears and our minds and our hearts

would be open to hear from you.

We pray that you'd help us to understand your word,

help us to apply it to our lives.

May it be written on our hearts,

and may it shape every part of our lives this week,

and for the rest of our lives.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, we're going to turn back to this passage,

and I'd like to read again a wee section in the middle,

from verse 11 down to verse 16.

Peter writes,

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles

to abstain from the passions of the flesh

which wage war against your soul.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable,

so that when they speak against you as evildoers,

they may see your good deeds

and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord's sake

to every human institution,

whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

or to governors as sent by him

to punish those who do evil,

or to praise those who do good.

For this is the will of God,

that by doing good,

you should put to silence

the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free,

not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,

but living as servants of God.

At this time of year,

many of us are getting back

into the routine of work and school.

Summer is nearly over,

although this year in Lewis,

we're asking the question,

did it ever even start?

But certainly,

according to the calendar,

summer is nearly over.

Most of us have had holidays,

or those of you who still have holidays,

they're going to be over soon.

School has started.

Many of us are back to work again.

And for some of us,

that might be exciting.

For others,

it might be depressing.

For many of us,

it's probably a mixture of both.

Whatever,

however you feel,

getting back to routine,

there's no denying that work and school

are a massive part of our lives.

It's always important to remember,

we spend far more time at work or at school

than we do at church.

And apart from sleeping,

it's the thing that you're probably going to spend

the most time doing

in the week ahead.

And that's true even if you're not

in paid employment,

or if you're retired.

You still have many, many duties

that you have to attend to this week.

Lots of responsibilities to carry.

There's always going to be things

that you need to do.

And all of that still work.

And for those of you who are retired,

I remember speaking to a friend of mine

who has had a very busy retirement.

And I said,

you seem to be as busy as ever.

And he said,

yes,

the only difference is now I don't get paid

and I don't get holidays.

And so,

everyone's busy.

Everyone's working.

It's all work.

And so,

the title for our sermon today

is Back to Work.

And we're going to use that title

to think a little bit

about what the Bible teaches

about work.

And I hope that that will help us all

as we go into the week ahead

and as we head back into routine.

We've got two main headings,

The Theology of Working,

The Opportunity of Working.

So,

first of all,

The Theology of Working.

The biblical theology of work

can be summed up

in three short statements.

Work is brilliant.

Work is rubbish.

Work is being renewed.

Work is brilliant.

Work is rubbish.

Work is being renewed.

And so,

the first of these,

the fact that work is brilliant,

is something that we learn

from the very start of the Bible.

And in so many ways,

work is a wonderful thing.

It's an immense blessing

to be employed,

to be involved in our community,

to have a home to look after,

to be able to use the gifts

and abilities that we have

for a purpose.

And we must never forget

that that's always been part

of what God has intended for us.

When God placed Adam

in the Garden of Eden,

he placed him there

to work it

and to keep it.

You see that in Genesis 2,

chapter 15.

And so,

it's reminding us

that we're all created

to be workers.

Paradise,

in Eden,

includes work.

And of course,

that makes perfect sense

of the experience

that so many people have

and maybe some of you

have had at times

in your life

when we are unemployed

or we're incapacitated

through illness

or some other reason.

And when we have

those periods in life

when we can't work,

it's so hard.

And for many people,

that's debilitating,

frustrating,

and depressing.

And all of that makes sense

from a biblical point of view

because work is part

of what God has created us to do.

In fact,

working is part

of how we bear

the image of God.

So if you think about God,

God's always active.

He's always utilising

his attributes.

He's always accomplishing

his purposes.

He's always fulfilling

his responsibilities.

God's never bored.

God's never wandering aimlessly.

God's never thinking,

I don't have anything to do.

I don't know what to do.

God never experiences that.

He's always active,

always working.

And as his image bearers,

we're to do the same.

And that's one of the

extraordinary privileges

we have as image bearers.

He's given us capacities,

abilities,

gifts,

to do that.

And,

you know,

we can see that

there have been

so many amazing things

achieved

through humans

getting up in the morning

and working.

And,

likewise,

school is the same.

To have an education

is brilliant.

We have been created

by God to learn

and to grow

and to understand.

And so,

I know that

some aspects of school

are rubbish.

There was lots about school

I didn't like.

But,

as a general principle,

to be educated

is such

an extraordinary privilege.

And it's really important

for children,

young people,

to remember

that throughout history

and even still

throughout the world today,

there are so many people

where their one dream

in life

is to get an education.

education.

And that's part

of what we're made for

because we're made

to learn

and grow.

Education is an extraordinary

privilege.

Teachers and school staff

are a precious,

precious gift

from God.

There's so many ways

in which work

is brilliant.

But work is also rubbish.

And experience

tells us

that work

and school

can be really,

really hard.

And sometimes

it's

Monday to Friday

that

brings the most

bruises

and struggles

in our lives.

And again,

the Bible gives us

an explanation

for this.

Adam was given

the mandate

to work

and the Garden of Eden

is an environment

of harmony

and fulfillment

and purpose.

But sin

has brought

a curse.

And as you come

into Genesis 3,

as Adam and Eve

sin against God

and bring

a curse

onto all of creation,

part of that curse

is to turn

work

into toil.

Let me read

from Genesis 3, 17.

To Adam,

God said,

because you've listened

to the voice of your wife

and have eaten

of the tree

which I commanded you,

you shall not eat of it.

Cursed is the ground

because of you.

In pain,

you shall eat of it

all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles

it shall bring forth for you

and you shall eat

the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face

you shall eat bread

till you return to the ground

for out of it

you're taken

for your dust

and to dust

you shall return.

And ever since then,

ever since Genesis 3,

sin has had a devastating effect

on work.

And so,

we can work our socks off

striving to accomplish something

only for it to come to nothing.

We can face hostility,

criticism,

and animosity

from the colleagues

that we work with

or from the members

of the public

that we're trying to serve.

We can go into a new day

hoping to do our best

only to be hit

by disappointments

and discouragements

again and again.

We can constantly be under

the crushing pressure

of expectation,

stress,

to make sure we achieve

and do things at work

even though

all the time

it's pushing us

to breaking point.

And at the opposite end

of the spectrum

some of us

could go to work

and really struggle

with boredom

and a lack of satisfaction

feeling like

we've never quite

done the thing

that we really longed

to do.

And for these

and for many other reasons

work can be

really, really hard

and going back to work

or going back to school

after the summer holidays

can sometimes

be a real thought.

Sometimes it just puts

that kind of tension

down the back of your neck

and it makes your heart sink.

Everybody experiences that

from time to time.

If you're experiencing

that this week

or if you experienced it

last week

or whenever it is

you return to work

or school

please remember,

please remember

that God knows that.

please remember

that Jesus cares

for the burdened.

And that's

that's the amazing thing

about Jesus.

He never ever comes to us

expecting us to be strong

and capable

and confident

because he knows

we're not.

He expects us to come

to him

acknowledging

the fact that

oh man

Monday morning's a thought.

My email inbox

is a nightmare.

I don't want to go

to school today.

I am feeling crushed

by the pressure

I'm under.

You can bring

all of that

to Jesus.

Tomorrow morning

and every day

that is hard

you can lean on him.

He knows

that work

is now rubbish.

But we also need

to know

and remember

that work

is being renewed.

The Bible gives us

a coherent explanation

why we all

have that desire

to work

and why it brings

so much

fulfilment to us.

The Bible has

the explanation

for why

at the same time

going to work

on a Monday morning

or going to school

is really hard.

We must never forget

though

that the great goal

of the gospel

the great goal

of God's redemptive plan

is to put right

what went wrong

in Genesis 3.

And so so much

was broken

in Genesis chapter 3

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

work included

and the gospel

has come to

restore

and heal

all of that.

And so that means

that God's

redemptive plan

and the goal

of the gospel

includes your job

and your education

that the renewal

of the gospel

should affect

all of these things.

And that applies

now

to our lives.

So that means

that following Jesus

and living for him

should make

a massive difference

to how we find

work and school

and the influence

of the gospel

should shape

the way that we live

and behave

and approach

all of these things.

So going to work today

going to work this week

the gospel comes with us.

We don't leave it

at church on Sunday.

It comes to us

and should

comes with us

and should shape

the way we live

and behave

in all the responsibilities

and duties

that we have

in Monday to Friday.

So it all applies now

but like everything

in the gospel

there is a now

and a not yet

because the fulfillment

of all of this restoration

lies in the future

in the new creation

when once again

work will be restored

to being work

without toil

and the curse

of the sin

will be undone

and as we serve Jesus

in the new creation

we will enjoy

that incredible fulfillment

of using the gifts

that God has given us

to serve him

to work together

to accomplish.

I'm sure you've heard

this many many times

but we must never

think of heaven

as playing harps

on clouds.

It's a new creation

a restored universe

where we will

live and serve

together

with purpose

and with all

the curse

of sin

gone forever.

And all of this

is reminding us

that God's word

is teaching us

that work

is a key part

of the theology

that the Bible

presents to us

and so we can go

through the Bible

and we can find

explanations

for all the experiences

that we have

in our jobs

or in our school.

The theology of work

is incredibly important

but one of the

massive lessons

that the theology

of working

in the Bible

teaches us

is that work

gives us

amazing opportunities

and that means

that for the Christian

if you are a Christian

or if you become

a Christian

that means that

a biblical understanding

of work

makes Monday morning

exciting

and that's so important

for anybody

who is not yet a Christian.

One of the mistakes

that we can make

this is

probably easy

to misunderstand

so please don't get me

wrong when I say this

but one of the

big, big, big mistakes

that we can make

when approaching

the gospel

is to think

that it just

fixes eternity.

Now it does

fix eternity

and Jesus does mean

trusting in Jesus

does mean

that we are going

to be safe

on the day

that we die

and he will take us

to be with him

and we will enjoy

eternity with him

in his new creation

and with all our

brothers and sisters

and the eternity

he has for us

is absolutely amazing

but that is not

just what the gospel

does.

The gospel

doesn't just

fix eternity

the gospel

makes a massive

difference now

and there are

many, many people

who are Christians

who think

that life now

is rubbish

but at least

I've got my ticket

to heaven.

That's a really,

really truncated

understanding

of the gospel

that's only half

the gospel

because following

Jesus actually

makes such

a massive difference

to our lives

today

and so

as we go

into a new week

having our eyes

on Jesus

having our hearts

filled with the

truths of the gospel

makes a massive

difference.

The theology

of working

in the Bible

teaches us

that work

gives us

amazing opportunities

and so I want

to unpack that

a little bit more

the opportunity

of working

and what I want

us to see

is that

1 Peter chapter 2

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

gives us

two clear reasons

why work

and why the

opportunity

of working

is so important.

First of all

your work

and when

keep reminding

when I say work

I don't just mean

the thing you're paid

for

work

employment

school

or whatever

responsibilities you have

in your home

or your family

or your community

your work

is an opportunity

for Christian

contact.

It's an opportunity

for Christian

contact.

Look again at

verse 11 and 12

Peter says

Beloved I urge you

as sojourners

and exiles

to abstain

from the passions

of the flesh

which wage war

against your soul

keep your conduct

among the Gentiles

honourable

so that when they

speak against you

as evildoers

they may see

your good deeds

and glorify God

on the day

of visitation.

I want you to notice

three crucial words

in that passage

in verse 12

among the Gentiles

so Peter is writing

to Christians

who are spread

all across Asia Minor

which is what we would

call Turkey today

you see the place

is listed at the very

start of the letter

and he describes

the people he's writing

to as the dispersion

the Greek word there

is the word diaspora

it's describing people

who are scattered

across various

locations

in the ancient world

and as the result

of that dispersion

these Christians

are not living

in a Christian nation

or in a Christian community

they are living

in a predominantly

non-Christian society

and that of course

explains why Peter

describes them

as sojourners

and exiles

they were living

in a world

that at first

had no interest

in Christianity

Christianity

but over time

during the first century

became more and more

hostile

to the Christian faith

and in which Christians

were not at home

in other words

it was a world

where they did not

fit in

and as we think

about that situation

we would maybe

expect Peter

to say

cut yourselves off

keep away

from

there's a ton

of terrible influences

around you

keep away

from them

flee

from any interaction

with that society

so that you're

not exposed

to unhealthy

influences

and

so many Christians

throughout history

have done that

and

if you read about

the early church

in like the second

and third centuries

one of the things

that you'll often

read about there

is

sometimes people

who became hermits

so went to live

completely on their own

others

who would maybe

form communities

often

as monks

or as nuns

communities

that were kind of

cut off

isolated

from all the negative

influence

in the world

around them

and that pattern

has continued

maybe not to the extremities

that you see

in the early church

but even in our own

island culture

I think that it's

true to say

that

we are often

drawn to that mindset

where we

are conscious

that the world

around us

is becoming

less and less

shaped by the bible

and our instinct

is to retreat

and

to keep away

and to cut

ourselves off

from those

who are

around us

and

I understand

why people feel

like that

and there is

an aspect

in which

part of that

can be helpful