Sending Path · Business as Mission · Lesson 1: Work Was Part of the First Calling
This lesson in one sentence: Work existed before sin and is part of God’s first calling; in the Bible, work and mission are not two separate things.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Describe your present work in one sentence: a job, a business, studying, looking after a household all count.
Read Together
15The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.
Gen 2:15 · WEB
1After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. 2He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them, 3and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. 4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:1–4 · WEB
33I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. 35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:33–35 · WEB
23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:23–24 · WEB
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Col 3:23 · WEB
Practice Together
Each person writes down what their work is ‘cultivating and keeping’ and whom it serves, then shares it with one other person. Finally the leader asks the whole group: is there any honest work that God does not see?
Discussion
- “to cultivate and keep it” (Gen 2:15)—work existed before sin. How does that change the way you see your own work?
- Paul worked so as not to burden anyone, to set an example, and to “help the weak.” (Acts 20:35) Which of the three reasons moves you most?
- Wherever Aquila and Priscilla’s business took them, a church met in their home. How could your work or your home welcome people?
This Week
Each day this week, before you start work, give the day’s work to God in one sentence. At the weekend, look back: at what moment were you really working ‘as for the Lord’?
Each person says what sentence they plan to use each day this week to give their work to God before they start.
Closing
In pairs, pray one sentence for each other’s work this week.
Tips for the leader
- The group may include full-time pastors, or someone thinking of leaving a job for full-time ministry. As the lesson says, both paths are in the Bible; do not compare who is more spiritual.
- If someone feels their work is ‘too ordinary’ or ‘not spiritual’, listen first, then ask them whom this work serves.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.