Class Lesson June 4, 2017

Forget “friends.” Look for deeper connections.

We were created for two relationships:

1. A relationship with God.

2. A relationship with everyone else.

Each of those relationships affects the other.

We don’t lack for “relationships,” using the loosest definition of that word. Just look at our social media profiles. Many of us have plenty of “friends” online, and maybe even acquaintances we see at work or in the community. But what we long for are real relationships, people with whom we feel a genuine bond. 

God desires that for us, too. He designed us to live in community – in genuine relationships that are far from superficial.

This study examines relationships from a variety of viewpoints: from the foundation of true relationships, to the fulfillment we receive from deep friendships, to our responsibility within relationships with those who don’t know Christ. As you engage this study together, you’ll discover that an-abiding relationship with Christ leads to healthy relationships with everyone else. 

Be prepared, though. You won’t just find out about the kinds of friends you need when you read these pages; you’ll also discover the kind of friend you need to be to others.

REAL RELATIONSHIPS - 6 LESSONS

1. LOVE LIKE CHRIST

How have you seen technology change the way we relate to one another? 

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Ever noticed how more and more people seem to be having conversations with their phones rather than talking with the people around them?

Psychologist Sherry Turkle observes the impact of texting, email, and social media on our ability to have honest conversations and deepening relationships. “In today’s workplace, young people who have grown up fearing conversation show up on the job wearing earphones,” she says. “We are together, but each of us are in our own bubble, furiously connected to keyboards and tiny touch screens.” 

Technology has given us a world of better things, but not necessarily a better world. We are a culture starved for relationships, but even the latest smart phone app doesn’t seem to help us truly connect in those relationships. 

We read in the Gospel of John that Jesus gave us the key to relationships that matter. He showed us how our relationship with God affects all other relationships. That one relationship is the key that makes all the difference. 

POINT

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

John 15:9-11 

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

John 15 overflows with words we like to hear in context of our relationships: “love,” “remain,“ “joy,” and “friends.” But Jesus didn’t just apply these words to just any relationship: He used them in connection with the intimate relationship we can have with Him. 

Notice how Jesus began in verse 9: “As the Father has loved Me.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, enjoys an incredible bond with the Father. Their relationship is defined by unity, oneness, and love.  

Therefore, what an amazing truth to hear that Jesus loves us just as the Father loves Him! 

You’ll never meet anyone who loves you like God loves you. God has lavished His love on us through Christ. This love is without condition, but not without cost. Indeed, it cost the very death of Jesus. Our response to this great love can only be awe and wonder-filled obedience. 

Verse 10 says, “If you keep my commands you will remain in my love.” Jesus wasn’t saying, “If you obey me, then I will continue to love you.” That false statement would make His love conditional, and conditional love is the epitome of religion devoid of God’s grace. 

Instead, the proper order is that our obedience flows out of love. Because God loves us, we respond to His love through obedience. In other words, we don’t keep Jesus’ commands to earn His love; we keep His commands in response to His love. 

Best of all, the result of our love and obedience is joy, both for Christ and for us. 

How does obeying God’s commands demonstrate our love for Him? 

John 15:12-13 

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves us – but it doesn’t stop there. We are to love one another, and we are to love in the same way Jesus loved us. 

Loving like Jesus isn’t just hard – it’s impossible. We can’t do it on our own strength. But Jesus transforms us from the inside out. He places His Holy Spirit in us. And His Spirit guides us in truth and empowers us to live out that truth (see John 14:26; 16:7; 2 Peter 1:3-4). 

We saw the depth of Jesus’ love for us when He laid down His life on the cross, and verse 13 reminds us we are to express love for others in the same way. Throughout history, Christians have willingly laid down their lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because their love for Jesus led to a love for others. 

Today, we still see such love for one another among Christians. Lauren Sandler is an author and cultural observer. She’s not a Christian, but she spent a year living among and studying younger believers in America. She was amazed at their zeal and genuine love for God. 

Lauren Sandler observed two things young people need today: 

1. Certainty – that is, a truth to believe in. 

2. A love Christians call agape. Again, this is the kind of love God has shown to us. 

Even those who don’t know Christ recognize the need for truth and a love that goes beyond emotion. Both of those essential elements are found in an abiding relationship with Christ. 

What does it look like to love others the way Jesus loves us? 

RELATIONSHIP STATUS? 

“There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith.” 

- Augustine of Hippo 

John 15:14-17 

14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 

What emotions do you experience when you consider these verses? 

Here’s the progression we’ve covered so far: 

• We are loved by God.

• We respond to that love by remaining in Christ and obeying Him. 

• This abiding obedience brings intimacy with Jesus. 

• We are brought into a relationship in which Jesus calls us friends. 

Savor that thought for a moment: Jesus calls His followers friends! 

The next step in this progression is to bear fruit. When we live in a continual relationship with Jesus, we can’t help but bear fruit. That’s what He told us: “I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain.” A healthy branch is connected to its source of life – the tree that provides the nutrients, water, and all it needs to thrive. As a result, it produces healthy fruit. 

My wife and I recently planted a young grove of pecan trees. The trees should start bearing pecans in a few years, and in the next decade or so, they will produce more than we can manage. It wasn’t a minor process. First, the trees had to be healthy, then they had to be planted in the right soil and climate, and now they have to be protected from disease to flourish. We are doing everything we can to ensure that at the right time, these trees will produce healthy pecans. 

Similarly, when we remain in Jesus, he provides us all we need to live – and to live fruitfully. That’s more than just existing. I met a young server in a restaurant whose arm was tattooed with this statement: “I want to live, not just exist.” We all want our lives to matter, and that starts with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (see John 10:10). 

When we walk with Jesus – remaining in Him, obeying Him, and loving as He loves – our lives will matter. We will bear fruit for Him. 

Another way this intimate relationship bears fruit is through our prayers: “I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.” The result of an intimate relationship with God is confidence when we talk to Him in prayer. This isn’t a “name it and claim it” kind of presumption that we can ask absolutely anything we want and God will hand it over. Instead, this passage teaches that our abiding in Christ leads us to obedience-based prayers focused more on glorifying God than getting more stuff for ourselves. 

It all comes back to love. Our prayers are grounded in our love for God, and what we ask is motivated by our love for others. 

We all want real, authentic relationships with other people. But that starts with a relationship with Christ. Let His love fill you and flow out of you into a love for others. Then all your relationships will take on the quality and depth you desire. Consequently, you will bear fruit in each of those relationships – fruit that will remain in the lives of others and bring glory to God. 

How have you seen these verses practiced within the church? 

LIVE IT OUT 

How will you let the unconditional love of Christ impact you and your relationships this week? Consider the following suggestions: 

• Reflect. Take some time to think about your experiences with Christ. List at least three reasons why obeying Jesus brings joy. 

• Read. Read John 15:9-17 each day and note what it says about your relationship with God. Ask God to give you a fresh perspective each day and to help you stay focused on Him. 

• Share. Find ways this week you can bring joy to others – in workplace, family, school, or neighborhood. Bringing joy to others is a way to show Christ’s love, and it can pave the way for opportunities to proclaim the gospel. 

Changes in technology won’t change our relationships – not in any meaningful way. Instead, our relationships will be healthy when they are founded on our relationship with Christ.

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Teacher's Notes

1. Love Like Christ

How have you seen technology change the way we relate to one another?

• Ever noticed how more and more people seem to be having conversations with their phones rather than talking with the people around them?
• Technology has given us a world of better things, but not necessarily a better world. We are a culture starved for relationships, but even the latest smart phone app doesn’t seem to help us truly connect in those relationships.

How do the people you love (whether close friends, spouse, or family members) know that you love them?

• What you say to them, how you say it to them. If your actions then match your words.
• You make them feel important. You do what is best for them.
• Timing … say the right thing at the right time. 
• Do nice things for them without being asked or without expectation of kindness in return.
• Always be careful when your spouse asks “do I look OK in this outfit” !!!
• Considerate treatment, fairness, kindness, understanding.

Jesus spoke to the issue of how to love.

• He said we should base every relationship on the unconditional love He has for us
• We are going to hear words from Jesus in John 15 today like love, remain, joy, and friends that He uses to describe the relationship we can have with Him!

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ.

I. Remain in the Love of Jesus John 15:9-11

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

What an amazing truth to hear and know, that Jesus loves us just as the Father loves Him!

• Jesus Christ, the Son of God, enjoys an incredible bond with the Father. Their relationship is defined by unity, oneness, and love. (Marriage)
• You’ll never meet anyone who loves you like God loves you. God has lavished His love on us through Christ. This love is without condition, but not without cost. Indeed, it cost the very death of Jesus. Our response to this great love can only be awe and wonder-filled obedience.

The writer of our lesson this morning said that years ago, he attended a conference on spiritual awakening led by Henry Blackaby - the author of Experiencing God. At the end of one of the sessions, he took questions from the audience. A college student went to one of the microphones and asked her question. She explained that she was a new believer, and she was grateful for what God had done for her through Christ. Then she asked this question, “How can I pay God back?” Blackaby said, “I didn’t doubt that her heart was in the right place, but I had to chuckle at her question. The thought of repaying God for His goodness to us is downright absurd. If we were capable of repaying Him, it would have been unnecessary for Jesus to die. On the other hand, I must also say that I appreciate the young lady’s perspective. Even though we can never repay God for what He has done, we can still show Him our gratitude.”

How can we do that? How can we show God our gratitude for what he has done?

• Jesus said to remain in His love, obey His commands, love others in the same way Jesus loves us, and to love others as God the Father loves Jesus, the Son.

What does it look like to remain in Jesus love?

• It’s not just a place I visit, it’s a place I dwell. It’s a place that I make my home there. I don’t have this relationship once a week – it’s a constant walk with Christ. We to remain or abide constantly in His presence. 
• We abide in His love by obeying Him. What does it mean to “abide” in Christ’s love? In verse four, Jesus told His disciples, “Abide in me.” That means having Him as your constant companion. Abiding in Christ’s love goes along with abiding in Christ. We live with a consciousness that He loves us and we love Him. Jesus desires that those who follow Him dwell continuously in a relationship of love with Him.

What is the link between love and obedience?

• Love is the Root, Obedience is the Fruit.
• The more we obey Him, the more we demonstrate that we love Him – and the more we love Him, the more we obey Him. Evidence of love is seen in our commitment to obey the commandments of the Father. 

How does obeying God’s commands demonstrate our love for Him? 

• I realize how much He loves me and want to respond to that
• I begin to see that His commands are good for me
• I come to understand that God loves me and gives directions how to live that benefit me and glorify Him
• Obedience also demonstrates trust, faith in Him – I can love God and obey Him because I trust His commands are the best way to live

How is obedience a source of joy?

• Love and obedience are the source of an eternal joy that only being in right relationship with Christ can produce.
• The result of our love and obedience is joy, both for Christ and for us.

What does this passage tell us about God’s design for our class, our church?

• God wants joy for us, even when times are tough we can know assurance of God’s love.
• The church, the Body of Christ will support one another with love.
• When we are walking in God’s love, it will be contagious, it will be passed along.

II. Love Others with the Love of Jesus John 15:12-13

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves us – but it doesn’t stop there. We are to love one another, and we are to love in the same way Jesus loved us.

What does it look like to love others the way Jesus loves us? 

• Loving like Jesus isn’t just hard – it’s impossible. We can’t do it on our own strength. But Jesus transforms us from the inside out. He places His Holy Spirit in us. And His Spirit guides us in truth and empowers us to live out that truth (see John 14:26; 16:7; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
• The greatest demonstration of love is to sacrifice self on behalf of another. While Jesus emphasized that His disciples are to love like He loved, we can do so only in a limited sense. His love to the point of death is unique in its character as the as the Holy One of God and in its accomplishment as the Savior of the world. Nevertheless, He expects us to strive to love as He loved.

When do you struggle with loving others the way Jesus has loved you? 

• Not all others are lovable … they are mean (statistician’s joke: on average people are mean).
• Some people “hate your guts”, some people are unpleasant to be around (they stink, they dress weird, they use foul language, they are sloppy, crude).
• Some people might be unpleasant because they are snooty, talk down to/at you, think they are better than you.

What are you commanded to do? 

What does it look like to lay down our lives for one another? What opportunities do you have to “lay down your life” for others? 

• We might not end up dying for someone else, but we can give up things to help others. I might forego a purchase I wanted to make it possible that a child or grandchild was able to do something special. Give of your valuable time to help someone with a need they had. Dedicate a time in my schedule each day to join others in prayer for a special ministry of our church or our mission. Be willing to drive across town, out of my way to enable some kids to come to a special program. Donate skills to do help a family in need. Share the Gospel, give to send the Gospel around the world. Pray faithfully for children, grandchildren.

III. Love with a Love that Lasts John 15:14-17

14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

What emotions do you experience when you consider these verses?

• Here’s the progression we’ve covered so far: We are loved by God. We respond to that love by remaining in Christ and obeying Him. This abiding obedience brings intimacy with Jesus. We are brought into a relationship in which Jesus calls us friends. Savor that thought for a moment: Jesus calls His followers friends!

What does it mean to be a friend of Jesus?

• We have the privilege of being friends with Jesus, a relationship in which we serve Him out of mutual love. We trust Him, submit to Him, serve Him, and follow Him.
• Our relationship with Jesus opens the door for us to approach the Father with e will provide for our needs.

What is the fruit Jesus wants us to bear?

• The next step in this progression is to bear fruit. When we live in a continual relationship with Jesus, we can’t help but bear fruit. That’s what He told us: “I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain.” A healthy branch is connected to its source of life – the tree that provides the nutrients, water, and all it needs to thrive. As a result, it produces healthy fruit.
• When we walk with Jesus – remaining in Him, obeying Him, and loving as he loves – our lives will matter. We will bear fruit for Him.

Lesson’s important truth: an-abiding relationship with Christ leads to healthy relationships with everyone else. 

Conclusion: There is nothing more important to God our Father than our relationship, a real relationship with Him and with everyone else! We all want real, authentic relationships with other people. But that starts with a relationship with Christ. Let His love fill you and flow out of you into a love for others. Then all your relationships will take on the quality and depth you desire. Consequently, you will bear fruit in each of those relationships – fruit that will remain in the lives of others and bring glory to God.

Hope to see you on Sunday!


In His Love,

David & Susan

It's all about...

Class Lesson May 28, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Has your town made the list? A variety of companies and websites keep updated lists of the best cities to live in, the best neighborhoods for bringing up children, the best business-friendly towns, and so on. The criteria vary from list to list, and their choices can be highly subjective—especially if your community didn’t make the cut! 

One word that might be used to describe the foundation of these lists is “treatment.” How do we treat tourists and other visitors to our area? How do teachers and administrators treat our kids? How well do local governments treat businesses in the area? 

In short, we can tell a lot about a community by how it treats others. 

In a similar way, disciples of Jesus reveal much about our identities in the way we treat others. That’s because how we treat others—how we love and respond to their needs—is directly connected to our love for God and our relationship with Him. 

As we turn to the Gospel of Matthew, we’ll find a powerful message from Jesus on how our identity as His disciples must be lived out in our communities. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Matthew 25:34-36 

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’” 

To help us live out our identity as His followers, Jesus told a parable that takes us to the end of history. It’s a picture of His second coming, with all the nations gathered before His throne (see 25:31-32). 

In the parable, a King separated all of his people into two groups. He did this “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (v. 32). Sheep were more highly valued in that day because of their wool. While telling the story, Jesus said these more highly valued animals were placed on the King’s right, symbolizing the place of honor. 

Jesus issued an invitation to these “sheep” because of how they treated Him. Specifically, they had met several of His needs out of their own kindness and compassion. Jesus listed a number of these needs, including the following: 

• Hunger and thirst. Water could be hard to come by in that region, especially in late summer or early fall. To share this precious commodity would be a great act of love. 

• A stranger. In Jesus’ day, when a stranger—a non-resident—came to town, he usually came with no job or means of supporting himself. As such, strangers were viewed with suspicion, and they were often treated harshly. But notice what “the sheep” did for the stranger: “You took me in.” That’s hospitality! That is more than handing over a little money and then walking on; it’s an investment of time, energy, and love. 

• Naked. This phrase usually referred to a person wearing only an undergarment. Lacking the necessary clothing in any culture can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. 

• Sick. People didn’t have “sick days” in this culture. Therefore, sickness typically meant a lack of daily necessities. Visits from caring were especially beneficial, even life-saving. 

• In prison. Even today, a person who is incarcerated has no income, and therefore, no way to provide for his or her family. Prisoners in the first century had it even worse, since prisons weren’t interested in keeping their inhabitants healthy, or even alive; inmates were entirely dependent on the help and hospitality of others. 

What’s interesting about this list of needs is that anyone can respond to them. There are no special skills or additional education required to feed someone who is hungry, to clothe someone who is naked, to care for the sick, and to help those in prison. 

Our society has different views on how to handle needs like these, ranging from government involvement, to charities, to church ministries. There’s no reason to dismiss any of these approaches. Yet we should pay close attention to the personal touch in Jesus’ words: “I was a stranger and you took me in” [emphasis added]. The “sheep” in Jesus’ parable didn’t just give money or help from a distance; they got personally involved. 

We’re surrounded by needs: people hurting, people doing without basic necessities, people who can’t provide for their families, and more. We can’t meet every need, but we can do something—and we can do it in Jesus’ name.

Matthew 25:37-40 

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” 

We’ve been looking at people who struggle because they lack some of the most basic needs. But Jesus wasn’t talking about other people; He was talking about Himself. He was the one who was hungry. He was the one in prison. He was the one who was sick. 

You’ve got to love the reaction of the sheep—the ones Jesus now called “the righteous.” They were surprised! They never recalled seeing Jesus in such dire straits. They didn’t deny helping others; they just couldn’t recall seeing Jesus among them. 

So why did they help? They saw a need. Period. Because their identities were being conformed to Jesus’ identity, they gave no thought to the relative merits of the person in need; all they saw was a person in need, and they chose to do something about it. 

To the surprise of the righteous, Jesus replied with the most powerful statement in this parable: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Parents understand this. If you want to do something for me, help my kids. When you step into the life of one my kids and help them avoid trouble, learn a skill, or land a job, you have my gratitude! 

The second half of the parable (vv. 41-46) is symmetrical with the first half, but it involves the “goats.” These people failed to do everything the righteous did freely. They showed a completely different attitude in their reactions to Jesus’ list. Whereas the righteous helped out of an instinctual love, the attitude of the unrighteous was calculating. They only helped others when it would benefit themselves. They surely would have helped Jesus in order to win God’s approval, had they known He was in need—but helping “the least of these” just wasn’t worth their time.

Surely to the horror of those He had placed on His left, the Lord answered: “‘I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment” (vv. 45-46). 

Jesus referred to “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine.” These were His brothers in a spiritual sense, of course, which also makes them our brothers in Christ. This parallels what Jesus said earlier in the Gospel of Matthew: “And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward” (10:42). 

As Christians, we are family! Throughout the New Testament, believers in the church are referred to as brothers (and sisters). Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, that person is my brother and sister and mother” (12:50). It’s a great witness to our connection to Christ when we, the church—brothers and sisters in Christ—love and take care of each other. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). 

Does this mean we don’t have to meet needs outside the church? No! Our love for Jesus compels us to love others—inside and outside the church. Our identity in Christ is demonstrated in how we live and serve in the community: first, the community of faith, and second, the community at large. 

In short, let’s serve Jesus by serving others! 

LIVE IT OUT

What can you do this week to serve Jesus by serving others? Consider these suggestions as a starting point: 

• Start small. You will see someone who needs help this week. It may be something minor, but step in and help—and do so without making a judgment call about whether or not he or she deserves it. 

• Work together. As a group, identify a need in your group or church and create a strategy for helping that person or family through whatever hardship they are facing. 

• Get involved. Look into the ways your church serves and ministers to those in need—both inside the church family and outside. Invest your time and energies in working in one of those ministries for a longer period of time. 

You may not live in one of the best communities in the country according to some list. But you live in a place filled with needs. Therefore, you have so many opportunities to serve Jesus, your Lord.

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Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson May 14, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question all of us were asked as kids. And we responded with things like: “I want to be an astronaut.” “I want to be a doctor.” “I want to be a ballerina.” 

It’s interesting to think about that question in more depth. When we ask it of others, we’re typically talking about the work someone wants to do—what career they want to pursue. Yet we phrase the question by asking what a person wants to be. Hear the difference? 

It’s easy for our identity to get wrapped up in what we do— especially if we love our work. But what happens to our identity at the end of the workday, when we come to retirement, or if we lose our job? If we define our identity by our work, these transitions can become debilitating. 

The good news is that we’re far more than what we do for a living. For Christians, our identity is defined not by who we are, but by whose we are. Our identity is wrapped up in Christ. And that identity makes all the difference in our work.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Colossians 3:22 

22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 

Since our identity isn’t found in what we do, but in whom we serve, God’s focus isn’t on what we do—it’s on how we do it. The apostle Paul addressed this by writing to those working to serve another person. 

Slavery has been an ugly and evil part of human history. Yet in Paul’s day, slavery wasn’t seen as a form of abuse. It was simply one way many people found work. Slaves frequently were highly skilled workers or artists; in some cases, they were far more educated than their masters. None of this is meant to excuse the practice of slavery, but simply to point out that slavery in the Roman world was very different from what occurred in America leading up to the Civil War. 

Of course, many slaves in Paul’s day hated their conditions and wanted freedom. Paul wasn’t opposed to freeing slaves, nor to slaves working to become free; he simply remained focused on the mission he’d been given. He wrote elsewhere: “Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity” (1 Cor. 7:21). 

Paul wanted slaves to work not for their masters, but for Jesus. He understood that a slave’s identity was founded not in his position as a slave, but in his position with Christ. Slaves were free in Christ; thus, they were free to serve Jesus with all their hearts. They could demonstrate that service to Jesus by serving their masters with integrity and faithfulness. 

Workers today aren’t slaves; we have bosses instead of masters. But we still work to please Jesus. Therefore, we’re called to work wholeheartedly and with obedience, integrity, and dependability. 

Colossians 3:23-25 

23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism. 

Do you remember the excitement of getting your first job? Most of us were thrilled when we landed our first “real” full-time job. Over time, though, that excitement and enthusiasm can morph into a daily grind—maybe even into boredom or drudgery. 

So how do we maintain enthusiasm? I’ll admit it: some jobs are just plain boring. But that doesn’t mean our attitude has to match our circumstances. Paul told us, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.” A heart centered on Christ makes all the difference. 

In the early years of planting a church, I had to take an additional job to support my family. I was thrilled when a local private school hired me as a teacher, but two months into working, they told me the salary they had offered me was incorrect. They had made a mistake, and they would have to reduce my pay. My family was on a tight budget, and I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t afford to quit, so I finished the school year—but with a terrible attitude. When I resigned at the end of the year, I wrote a scathing letter. 

Years later, I was convicted about my bad attitude. I made an appointment to go to the school and apologized to those who had worked with me. 

What changed? My motivation was different. No matter what I do— and no matter what you do—we’re to do it enthusiastically, since we’re really doing it for Christ.

Paul mentioned several things that can fuel our enthusiasm for work, including the following: 

• Christ’s reward. “Knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.” This surely appealed to slaves who had no reward or compensation in this life. 

• Christ’s lordship. “You serve the Lord Christ.” The sovereign Lord who loves us deeply is the One we truly serve. 

• Christ’s justice. “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.” God will reward obedience and will justly deal with disobedience. 

Who I am in Christ—my identity in Him—is seen by all when I do my work enthusiastically for Him.

Colossians 4:1 

1 Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. 

I’ve been the employee many times in my working career, and I’ve been the boss. Both roles have their benefits, and both have their challenges. Being the boss, supervisor, or employer generally means more responsibility as well as more pay. Historically, those with the better positions and bigger paychecks also get better treatment. Even today in America, we are aware of CEOs and corporate “big dogs” in the news who seem to get better deals in the judicial system than those who are poor or have less influence. 

Two thousand years ago, slaves had virtually no rights, while masters had almost every right. Most clerical work and manual labor was performed by slaves, and 80 percent of industry and retail work was carried out by slaves. As noted earlier, many slaves were treated well, but not all. Many slaves were considered inanimate objects, which meant the masters were usually allowed to do whatever they wanted with them and to them. 

In this passage, however, Paul commanded Christian masters to do as Jesus would do. Even masters had “a Master in heaven”—the Lord Jesus Christ—and He would hold them accountable for how they treated their slaves. Culture may favor the boss with the power, more pay, and greater influence, but when we stand before God, He won’t play favorites. 

When Jesus spoke about judging others and our treatment of them, He said, “For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use” (Matt. 7:2). Those are critical, practical words. We should be mindful of looking harshly on others, lest God use the same harsh standard on us when we face His judgment. 

On the London subway, every time you enter and exit the subway, you hear the phrase, “Mind the gap!” Americans would say, “Watch your step.” They say that because there’s a gap between the train and the platform; if you don’t “mind the gap,” you could fall in. 

In a similar way, disciples of Jesus should “mind the gap” we’re often tempted to create between others and ourselves. As Christians, we’re called to do what’s right for others—to treat them “justly and fairly”—just as Jesus so faithfully does what’s right for us. 

Let’s never lose sight of the value and importance of the people who work with us and for us. Let’s see them as Jesus sees them—and let’s treat them accordingly each day.

LIVE IT OUT

How will your work reflect your relationship with Christ this week? Consider the following suggestions: 

• Be positive. Employees often speak disparagingly about their employers and companies. Choose to stand out in your workplace by being consistently positive in your speech. 

• Encourage. Take a step to encourage someone you work with this week. Be open and direct about your desire to offer support as an act of obedience to Christ. 

• Pray. Think of a person who is confrontational or difficult to work with. Pray for that person each day. Seek opportunities to be a witness for the love and grace of Christ as you work. 

There are many of us who still don’t know what we want to “be” when we grow up. But all of us will need to work even as we seek our dreams. Therefore, all of us have the opportunity to reflect Christ and the values of His kingdom in the work we do.

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Teacher Notes

IDENTITY

Christian    Mom/Dad    Your Job

Why is it that for so many of us that our work becomes our identity? And is this a bad thing?

·       It’s easy for our identity to get wrapped up in what we do — but what happens to our identity at the end of the workday, when we retire, or if we lose our job? If we define our identity by our work, these transitions can become debilitating.

·       We are far more than what we do for a living. For Christians, our identity is defined not by who we are, but by whose we are. Our identity is in Christ. That identity makes all the difference in our work.

“When you make your work your identity…if you’re successful it destroys you because it goes to your head. If you’re not successful it destroys you because it goes to your heart—it destroys your self-worth.” – Tim Keller

 

   

In a national survey of 180,000 American workers, 80 percent indicated a dislike for their jobs. Why would that be?

There is an old story set in the Middle Ages during the construction of one of the great European cathedrals. A nobleman was walking among the workers, asking about their labors. The stonemason explained the care involved in raising a plumb wall. The glass worker pointed out the details of a leaded glass window. The carpenter spoke about the wooden frame which provided the support for the whole building. Finally, the nobleman spotted a peasant woman with a broom and a bucket cleaning up the trash. He asked her what she was doing. She replied, “I’m building a cathedral for the glory of God!”

This woman understood the biblical doctrine of work. Why?

Colossians 3:22-25

3:22 Slaves (Employees), obey your human masters (Employers) in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

3:22 Servants (Employees), do what you're told by your earthly masters (Employers). And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. 23 Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. 25 The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work. The Message

EPHESIANS 6:6-8  

6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

As Christians, what should be our attitude about our work?

·       Since our identity isn’t found in what we do, but in whom we serve, God’s focus isn’t on what we do—it’s on how we do it. In work relationships, we are to be faithful to fulfill our obligations to our employer.

How does the way you work reflect on Christ?

·       The way we do our work is a reflection of our attitude, spiritual disposition, and relationship with God in Christ.

1.     God takes our work seriously. (3:22)

Work is not something out of God’s concern. It is a major part of human life that God takes very seriously. Work has intrinsic value—it is inherently worth doing. Why? There are two reasons:

1.     God is a Worker. God first reveals Himself in Scripture as a worker. He created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1) and called this activity work (Gen. 2:2). The fact that God called what He does work and calls it good means that work must be significant, that it must have intrinsic value.

2.     God created people to be His coworkers. Man was created in the image of God and since God is a worker, man—created in God’s image—must be a worker, too.

God ordains work. All legitimate work is an extension of God’s work.

2.     The Bible does not differentiate between secular and sacred work. (3:22-23)

It’s clear in this passage, by using the words everything (v. 22) and whatever (v. 23) that Paul is not differentiating between secular and sacred work. Paul made no distinction between secular and sacred. We must shelf the idea that secular vocation is a step-child to sacred calling.

3.     Our work is done for the Lord. (3:22-23)

·       Some people work for money. They are the living embodiment of the bumper sticker that reads: I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

·       Others work for opportunity. Advancement and ambition drive them. Someone once told me, “The reward for a job well done is a better job.”

·       Others work for respect. Many want the admiration that good jobs bring. They think that having power and authority on the job will win them the attention from acquaintances and friends at home.

But what happens when the money dries up? What happens when the opportunities stop? What if people don’t like you? What if there is a downturn or downsizing? What then?

If God is a worker and He calls us to be coworkers with Him, then our work must be for Him.

4.     We must give our best at work. (3:23)

We may not have the most glamorous or the best paying job in the world, but we can still give that job the best we have to offer. If we are coworkers with God, and God does His best, then we too must do our best. When we serve our employer well we serve the Lord well. He can use us in our position just as he used Joseph as Potiphar’s overseer and Pharaoh’s Prime Minister, Daniel as the king’s advisor, and Nehemiah as cupbearer to a king. Working with all our heart means being the sort of employee who knows what it is to work for the King. Why do we work with all our heart, giving our best? Because Someone is watching. And that Someone is God, who rewards our efforts.

5.     Our work will be rewarded. (3:24)

Paul reminded us that those who do their work faithfully, recognizing that ultimately we serve the Lord, will “knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord” (Col. 3:24). As far as God is concerned, a slave’s labor in the wheat fields, when done in faithful submission to God, is worthy of a crown as was Paul’s preaching at Rome. It is something for which he, too, will receive a reward.

This thought challenges and comforts me. As a Christian I receive not only a paycheck but also the promise of a heavenly reward far greater than any salary.

When we work for ourselves or for others, we have nothing beyond a paycheck and the material goods it can buy. These cannot ultimately satisfy. But for believers the thoughts of standing one day before Jesus and hearing him say, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!” (Matt. 25:23) drive us on. That will be far greater than any Oscar, Pulitzer, Nobel, or Grammy prize that the world offers.

God wants us to see work as His gift to us. Why don’t we?

·       It is not a result of the Fall. God gave Adam and Eve the job of cultivating the garden and exercising dominion over the world before sin entered the world. We were created to work, and for work. 

·       Being happy in our work doesn't depend on the work, it depends on our attitude. To make the most of our job and be happy in our work is a gift God wants to give us!

·       Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!

Work is God's gift to us. 5 major reasons why work is valuable:

1.     Through work we serve people. Most work is part of a huge network of interconnected jobs, industries, goods and services that work together to meet people's physical needs. Other jobs meet people's aesthetic and spiritual needs as well.

2.     Through work we meet our own needs. Work allows us to exercise the gifts and abilities God gives each person, whether paid or unpaid. God expects adults to provide for themselves and not mooch off others. The Bible tells us, "If one will not work, neither let him eat!"7

3.     Through work we meet our family's needs. God expects the heads of households to provide for their families. He says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."8

4.     Through work we earn money to give to others. In both the Old and New Testaments, God tells us to be generous in meeting the needs of the poor and those who minister to us spiritually.

5.     Through work we love God. One of God's love languages is obedience. When we work, we are obeying His two great commandments to love Him and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.10 We love God by obeying Him from the heart. We love our neighbor as we serve other people through our work.

We bring glory to God by working industriously, demonstrating what He is like, and serving others by cooperating with God to meet their needs. In serving others, we serve God. And that's why our work matters to God.

  

LIVE IT OUT

Work is God-ordained. God gave the first man a work assignment, not as punishment, but as a divine partnership. One Bible commentator described work as an act of worship. “To work in order to bring pleasure to God is sufficient motivation to be faithful stewards of our talents and opportunities.”

We need to give our work our best because in doing so, we are giving God our best. And as others view us taking our work seriously, they can also see evidence that our work is more than a job; it is a reflection of our relationship to Christ who gives life meaning and purpose.

Solomon said, “After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, The Message

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan