First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Jeremiah 29 reminds believers that political
displacement, cultural hostility, and national instability are not new
challenges. God’s people have always lived between kingdoms. This passage
teaches that faithful political engagement is neither withdrawal nor worship of
the state, but hopeful obedience under God’s sovereign rule. Christians are
called to be present, prayerful, and purposeful — trusting God’s long-term
plans while seeking the good of the world around them.
Jeremiah 29 was written to God’s people
living in exile, under a government control they didn’t choose, facing a future
they didn’t like — but still called to live faithfully.
Jeremiah 29:1-11
These are the words of the letter that
Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles,
and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had
taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah and
the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the
craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was
sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah,
whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles
whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live
in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and
daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that
they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But
seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the
Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus
says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your
diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that
they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I
did not send them, declares the Lord. 10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy
years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my
promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for
you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope.
Do you tend to be more engaged in politics or
avoid it all together? Why?
How does God’s instruction to seek the good
of Babylon in this passage challenge our natural instincts?
What does this passage teach us about God’s
sovereignty over nations and governments?
What are warning signs that politics is
becoming an idol in our lives?
Closing Thoughts
Living as faithful exiles requires community,
humility, and prayer. Political engagement can easily divide believers, but God
calls His people to unity rooted in truth and love. When the church is divided,
the culture around us will look the same.
The best way for us to engage politically and
culturally is to share the gospel with our words and our lives. Then, we must
speak and stand where God has clearly spoken. This is how we seek the welfare
of our communities.
This is a thought provoking lesson in the fact that many people (Christians included) don't see the connection of these two words - work & worship. Work is secular, worship is spiritual. If you are retired, please share how you looked at this understanding before, and if you are still working, please share how you might still be wrestling with this connection.
From the opening pages of Scripture, work is
presented as a good gift from God. Before sin entered the world, God created
humanity in His image and entrusted them with meaningful responsibility.
Genesis 1–2 shows us that work is not accidental nor merely a means of
survival; it is part of God’s original design.
God calls His people to steward what He has
made, to cultivate creation, and to reflect His character through faithful
labor. When our work is connected to God’s mission and aimed at God’s pleasure; it becomes an act of worship. Our vocation (wherever God has placed us) is one
of the primary ways we live out our identity as image-bearers and participants
in God’s ongoing work in the world.
Genesis 1:26-31 & Genesis 2:15
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He
created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and
to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for
food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in
the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that
work is a curse or a necessary evil?
Why is it important to remember that we are
stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
In what ways has your view of work been
shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
How does seeing your work as worship change
your motivation or attitude?
What might it look like to view your job, or
daily responsibilities as a mission field?
Closing Thoughts
Work Where God Has Placed You.
God has intentionally placed you where you
are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one
of the primary ways you reflect Christ.
Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.
Living on mission often looks ordinary:
working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily
responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary
worship.
END
Teacher Notes:
Click Play to Watch
Do you work for God's pleasure?
Consider these 2 questions and common answers:
Now consider this:
Short answer? No — most people don’t. And
that’s true both in the culture at large and inside the church.
We’ve absorbed a sacred–secular divide. Many
believers (often unconsciously) believe work is secular and worship is
spiritual. So, worship gets confined to Sundays, while 40–60 hours a week feel
spiritually disconnected. That idea isn’t biblical, but it’s deeply cultural.
Culture tells us work is about self. The
dominant messages are:
• Find
your passion
• Build
your brand
• Maximize
income
• Climb
the ladder
That frames work as self-expression or
self-advancement — not service to God or others. Even Christians swim in that
water.
We equate worship with emotion. Worship is
often defined by how it feels. Work rarely feels transcendent or joyful — especially
ordinary or unseen work — so it doesn’t get categorized as worship. Scripture,
however, defines worship as obedient offering, not emotional experience (Rom.
12:1).
What Scripture says instead: The Bible
consistently presents work as worship when it is: done in faith, offered to God,
and shaped by obedience and love. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the
Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23)
Genesis 1–2 shows that God delighted in work
before sin ever entered the world—and humans were invited into that same joy
and responsibility.
Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:15
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He
created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and
to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for
food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in
the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that
work is a curse or a necessary evil?
Work existed before the Fall
In Genesis 1–2, God gives Adam and Eve
meaningful tasks before sin enters the world:
“Fill the earth and subdue it… have dominion”
(Gen. 1:28)
Adam is placed in the garden “to work it and
keep it” (Gen. 2:15)
That’s huge. Work isn’t a punishment for
sin — it’s part of God’s good design for human life. The curse in Genesis 3
affects work (pain, frustration, toil), but it doesn’t create work.
God Himself works and calls it good
Genesis 1 repeatedly shows God working:
creating, ordering, shaping, naming. Then He steps back and declares His work
“very good” (Gen. 1:31).
Humans, made in God’s image, are invited to
reflect Him by working too. Work is not beneath us — it’s one way we mirror our
Creator.
Work is tied to purpose and dignity, not
survival
Before there was scarcity, competition, or
exhaustion, Adam was already working. That means work wasn’t about “earning a
living” or avoiding hunger — it was about:
Stewardship
Creativity
Responsibility
Participation in God’s ongoing care of
creation
Work gives meaning, not just money.
Genesis 1–2 teaches that work is a gift
before it is a burden. Sin distorts work, but it doesn’t define it. Work is
part of what it means to be human, created in God’s image and entrusted with
His world.
Why is it important to remember that we are
stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
That distinction — stewards, not owners — is
foundational, and it reshapes almost everything about how we live and work.
It keeps us humble and dependent on God
If we see ourselves as owners, success easily
turns into pride and failure into despair. Stewardship reminds us:
What we have is received, not achieved (Ps.
24:1; 1 Cor. 4:7).
Our abilities, opportunities, and resources
ultimately belong to God.
That humility guards the heart and keeps us
reliant on Him rather than ourselves.
It reframes work as service, not
self-promotion
Owners ask, “How can this benefit me?”
Stewards ask, “How does God want this used?”
When we remember we’re stewards, work becomes
an act of worship (Col. 3:23), not merely a ladder for status, comfort, or
control. Faithfulness matters more than visibility.
It loosens our grip on possessions
Ownership leads to fear — fear of loss,
comparison, and scarcity. Stewardship leads to generosity and trust.
We hold resources with open hands.
We’re freer to give, share, and invest in
what lasts.
This is why Scripture links stewardship with
joy, not anxiety.
It gives meaning even to unseen or
uncelebrated work
If we are owners, unrecognized work feels
pointless.
If we are stewards, faithfulness matters even
when no one is watching (Luke 16:10).
God measures success differently than the
world does.
It points us forward to eternity
Stewardship has an end goal: “Well done, good
and faithful servant.”
We are managing what belongs to Another — for
a time. That eternal perspective keeps work from becoming either an idol or a
burden.
Remembering we are stewards, not owners,
keeps work from ruling us or ruining us. It anchors our identity in
faithfulness, frees us from control and fear, and aligns our labor and
resources with God’s purposes — not just our own.
In what ways has your view of work been
shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
How does seeing your work as worship change
your motivation or attitude?
Seeing work as worship quietly but radically
reframes why and how we work.
It shifts the audience
When work is worship, the primary audience
isn’t a boss, a customer, or even yourself — it’s God (Col. 3:23).
That means:
Integrity matters even when no one is
watching.
Faithfulness matters more than applause.
You’re no longer performing for approval;
you’re offering your work to the Lord.
It reshapes motivation
Instead of working mainly for pay,
recognition, or advancement, motivation becomes more about obedience and
gratitude.
Work turns from “What do I get out of this?”
into “How can I honor God through this?”
That kind of motivation is steadier — it
doesn’t rise and fall with circumstances.
It redeems ordinary or unseen tasks
If worship only happens in church, then much
of life feels spiritually empty.
But if work is worship, even routine,
repetitive, or unnoticed tasks gain eternal significance (Luke 16:10).
No work done faithfully for God is wasted.
It changes your attitude toward excellence
Worship doesn’t mean perfectionism — but it
does mean care.
Seeing work as worship encourages:
diligence without obsession
excellence without pride
effort without idolatry
You work well not to prove your worth, but
because God is worthy.
It softens frustration and hardship
Work is still hard in a fallen world. Worship
doesn’t remove thorns — but it gives context.
Frustration becomes something you bring to
God rather than something that defines you (Rom. 12:1).
It guards against burnout and resentment
When work becomes identity, burnout is
inevitable.
When work becomes worship, rest becomes an
act of trust, not guilt (Gen. 2:2–3).
You can stop working because your value isn’t
on the line.
Seeing your work as worship transforms
motivation from self-centered to God-centered and turns attitude from
resentment to purpose — even when the work is hard or unseen.
What might it look like to view your job, or
daily responsibilities as a mission field?
Viewing your job, or daily responsibilities
as a mission field doesn’t mean turning everything into a sermon — it means
seeing people and moments through God’s purposes rather than just your
schedule.
Here’s what that can look like in real life:
Seeing people, not just roles
A mission field mindset asks:
Who has God placed around me?
What burdens, questions, or hurt might they
be carrying?
Coworkers stop being obstacles. Customers
stop being interruptions. They become image-bearers God deeply loves.
Excellence as testimony
Doing your work well is part of your witness —
not to earn favor, but to reflect God’s character.
Showing up prepared
Working honestly
Owning mistakes
Treating authority with respect
This quietly communicates that your faith
shapes how you live, not just what you say (Col. 3:23).
Prayerful awareness
Mission-minded people learn to pray:
before the day begins
during tense conversations
after unexpected opportunities
Prayer tunes your heart to God’s work already
happening around you.
A long-term perspective
Most mission fields aren’t one-time
encounters — they’re relationships built over time.
Trust grows slowly. Influence deepens
quietly. Seeds are planted long before fruit appears.
A mission field isn’t defined by geography —
it’s defined by calling.
God hasn’t just sent you somewhere to work or learn;
He’s placed you there to represent Him.
Closing thought:
When does work become worship?
Work becomes worship when it is done for
God’s pleasure, not personal glory.
Conclusion
Work Where God Has Placed You.
God has intentionally placed you where you
are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one
of the primary ways you reflect Christ.
Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.
Living on mission often looks ordinary:
working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily
responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary
worship.
Every human life has inestimable value
because it is formed, known, and loved by God from the womb.
In a culture that treats life as accidental,
disposable, or self-defined, Psalm 139 reminds us that human life is sacred
because it originates with God Himself. David reflects on God’s intimate
involvement in every stage of human life, especially in the hidden place of the
womb.
Where do you see culture challenging or
redefining the value of human life today?
Why is it important that God defines life
rather than individuals or society?
How does believing that God determines your
worth affect insecurity, comparison, or pride?
What does Psalm 139 teach us about God’s
presence in places we cannot see or control?
How should the belief that God directs every
life shape the way Christians speak about and live out the sanctity of life?
Closing Thoughts
Believing that every life is fearfully and
wonderfully made changes the way we live, speak, and love. To affirm the
sanctity of life is not only a conviction we hold — it is a mission we live out
together as the people of God.
Live with Gospel Conviction and Gospel
Compassion.
We must hold firmly to the truth that life
begins in the womb and is sacred to God, while also extending grace to those
who carry wounds, regrets, or guilt related to abortion. Our posture is not one
of condemnation, but of Christlike compassion and redemptive hope. The same God
who forms life also forgives sin and restores the broken.
Be a Voice for the Vulnerable.
God repeatedly calls His people to speak up
for those who cannot speak for themselves. This means advocating for the
unborn, the marginalized, and the forgotten — through prayer, support,
generosity, and presence. We do not remain silent in the face of injustice; we
respond with courage rooted in love.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be
constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show
hospitality.
What
tends to dull your spiritual passion the most — comfort, distraction,
discouragement, busyness?
What are
the dangers of apathy in our lives and in the life of the Church?
How do prayers
and community help protect us from growing spiritually cold?
Closing Thoughts
Spiritual slothfulness and apathy lead us
into a multitude of sins and destroys our relationship with God and the church.
One of the ways we kill apathy in our lives is by living in community with
other believers.
Identify one area in your life where you have
become apathetic to the things of God and confess it to another brother or
sister in Christ.
Pray daily for God’s help in killing apathy
in your life; pray for other believers as we seek to be zealous for the gospel.
Identify one person in your life who is far
from God, who has embraced an apathetic spirit. Pray for them, invite them to
our church, and seek to share the gospel with them.
END
Teacher Notes:
Culture Wars
How can we possibly engage the culture if we
don’t care?
Apathy?
Romans 12:11-12
How would you explain it? What can we do about it?
In Romans 12:11, Paul addresses one of the
most subtle threats to the Christian life: apathy.
When was a time in your life that you felt
most passionate about serving the Lord?
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:11
Click Play to Watch
Rocky shows us that a passion to win is built
on daily discipline.
Romans 12 shows us that spiritual passion is
built on constant prayer and dependence on God. This too is a daily discipline!
Paul warns us about a cooling devotion that
can take place in our lives, and we may not even recognize it.
Romans 12:11-13
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
How would you explain?
Slothful can mean lazy – lack of motivation,
or apathy – you just don’t care
Zeal or zealous means great energy or
enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause
Spiritual apathy is a settled indifference toward
God – what’s that mean
To be lethargic, low energy, run down, weary,
dull, sluggish, lacking enthusiasm, half-hearted, and lazy. And to no longer
really care. Another common phrase would be, “To be in a funk!”
Wayne said we shrink back or we lean-out vs
leaning-in to what God wants us to do. Examples Adam/Eve, and David. Never win the
“Culture War” if Christians lean-out to what God calls us to do.
Dustin – We neglect the things that matter
the most – God’s Word, our relationship with Jesus, our family – And we are
proactive to the things that matter the least – like buying a new grill or our
fantasy football.
Not a rebellion against God, but a neglect of
God.
A quiet drift where God remains acknowledged
but no longer eagerly sought.
How does this play out in the life of a
Christian and what are the dangers?
Wayne – Shrink back from engagement with the
culture. Legalism: Christians either isolate – withdraw from the conversation or escalate – fight with
self-righteousness (say right things the wrong way)
Relationship with God becomes functional, not
relational
Spiritual growth stalls or is wasted
completely
Ministry becomes mechanical
Love grows cold – Matthew 24:12 “the love of
many will grow cold”
Prayer loses priority
What tends to dull your spiritual passion
the
most:
comfort, distraction, discouragement,
busyness?
What would you tell a person that you believe
is in spiritual apathy?
Wayne – don’t waste your life.
Dustin – you are going to do less for God,
and you are going to miss out on blessings that God wants to do through you.
People not leaned-in in the bible – Lot and
Sodom & Gomorrah
Person leaned-in in the bible – the Good
Samaritan
You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. This
is something every believer experiences.
God is not surprised by your coldness. He
already knows the temperature of your heart, and He’s still inviting you.
Don’t wait to feel warm before you come to
Christ. Psalm 23:3, Matthew 11:28, James 4:8.
Go back to the gospel, not just your
disciplines. Remember how you came into this life. Revisit the mercy of God,
not just the mechanics of obedience.
Hey it’s Biblical…
Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost that Loving
Feeling
“… You don’t love Me or each other as you did
at first!” – Rev 2:4 NLT
How do prayers and community help protect us
from growing spiritually cold?
Prayers and community are God’s primary
safeguards against spiritual coldness because they keep us connected — to God
and to one another.
Quiet time with God, Sunday school class, and
bible studies, and men’s accountability groups
What does it mean to be fervent in spirit?
Fervent means a passionate intensity
The apostle Paul encourages believers to love
and serve one another not only sacrificially but also enthusiastically
Be emotionally inflamed, enthusiastic, or
excited.
Hearts eager to do good and serve God with
enthusiasm
On fire for the Lord
on the boil – making tea
Godly zeal must be tempered with a solid
foundation in biblical truth, discernment, and spiritual perception (Romans
10:1–4). Without knowledge, spiritual enthusiasm can become seriously misguided.
The apostle Peter describes those who are
fervent in spirit as having an eagerness to “turn from evil and do good” and
“seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10–13).
When you think of a Christian on fire for
Jesus – what do you think of?
Dustin – Intentional: time we spend on
certain things (with God)
Wayne – Centered: on the Word of God
Dallas – on fire for the church and
God’s Word - 10 Love one
another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Christians
competing for honoring one another – they are on fire for Jesus!
How can we self-examine ourselves for
spiritual apathy?
We are passionate about the things we care
about.
How passionate are we about Jesus?
11 Stay excited about your faith as you serve
the Lord. 12 When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you
pray, be faithful. - New International Reader's Version
Conclusion
Romans 12:11–13 calls us to wake up from
spiritual complacency. The Christian life is not a passive wait for heaven, but
an active, disciplined daily pursuit of God. When we resist apathy and rely on
the Spirit, our lives can become a powerful engagement to the Culture War.
