Malyon Workplace

The High Calling of Our Daily Work – 3 sermon outlines from Tom Nelson

26671Each quarter, the people at The High Calling publish sermon notes.

In the first quarter, 2013, they published sermon notes from Tom Nelson, author of Work Matters – Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work.?

The three sermon titles that can be accessed here are:

  • Sermon 1: Work is More Than a Curse
  • Sermon 2: More Than a Carpenter, But Not Less
  • Sermon 3: Working in the Spirit

You can watch Tom Nelson being interviewed about his book here. ?This video is highly recommended for pastors and church leaders.

Six Ideas on How to Lead Congregations to Integrate Work and Discipleship

Workplace visit“Most Christians do not have a theological framework that accommodates the integration of faith and vocation. Many are even hostile to the idea. They are more comfortable with a life that is not integrated, compartmentalizing work and discipleship. Any attempts at integration feel like intrusions into their private lives. Worship is viewed as an escape from ?secular? concerns. And let?s face it, if we really pursue integration, we will discover uncomfortable things about our lives.”?

Michael Kruse shares six ideas for pastors who want to help their congregations integrate their faith and their work more effectively – to be whole-life disciples:?

  • Confess your insecurities and be open to learn
  • Get curious – as theological questions
  • Go to work – start with five members of the congregation and join them in their workplaces
  • Preach with awareness – use workplace stories as sermon illustrations
  • Foster a movement – start work/faith conversations in your faith community
  • Institutionalize?? find ways to incorporate work and discipleship into the life of the congregation.? [Read more…] about Six Ideas on How to Lead Congregations to Integrate Work and Discipleship

The importance of integrating faith and work

In this video?(1.08), Jenny White from Art House America describes her perspective on integrating one’s faith with work: “We can’t keep living these segregated lives.” (from High Calling).

A useful discussion starter for a small group discussion:

  • ?In what ways is your work life separate from your faith life?
  • How does the work you do have value ‘… even though it may not have a crucifix on it’? ?How does it reflect your creator?
  • What would it mean for a pastor to have a focus on vocation? ?How could this help them to ‘to equip his people for works of service’ (Ephesians 4:12)?

The High Calling – Everyday conversations about work, life and God

Here is the introduction to the High Calling website:

Welcome to The High Calling, a collection of resources founded on the belief that God cares about our daily work. On our site, you?ll discover a broad range of articles, interviews, devotionals, and inspirational stories?all specifically created to help you find God in your work, family, and the broader culture. Our writers and bloggers tell engaging stories crafted to encourage you in the high calling of your daily work.

Honoring God in our daily work is much more than mere evangelism. Our work itself should be a testimony to our creator. That is why we encourage each other to remember the high calling of our daily work.

The High Calling is also a safe place to ask difficult questions about work, leadership, culture, family, and faith. Our community of Christ followers shares differing opinions about matters of faith and doubt. ?We believe in the power of open dialog, and aim to be a safe place to raise difficult issues. We simply ask that each person be respectful of others, rooted and grounded in love.

Features of the website are daily reflections and quarterly sermon outlines?available on subscription.?