WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.140 Thanks for joining this morning, everybody. It's nice to see you all. We'll go ahead and get started here. 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:17.820 ! I know a few people will probably continue trickling in, but we'll dive in. Let me open us up with a word of prayer before we get started. 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:29.980 Father in heaven, we give you praise and honor and glory, Lord, for the work that you've done in creation, Lord, the work that you've done in our lives, calling us out of death. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.340 And into life abundant with you, Lord. And we just ask that as we examine your word this morning, that it would teach us and instruct us. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:51.240 Lord, we pray for wisdom and discernment as we seek ways to understand the calling that you've given to us in our lives, both broadly and specifically, individually. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:56.740 And we just ask that this would be a time that's encouraging and edifying to each one of us. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:00.460 We thank you for Jesus, and it's in his name we pray. Amen. 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:12.460 All right. Well, I thought we could start today with a little bit of a review from last week. 00:01:12.540 --> 00:01:22.719 I'm hoping that this can be sort of conversational today. I have lots that I could say, but I would love for it to be a dialogue as much as we can. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:28.439 So please feel free to just jump in with questions, comments, anything that you want to say as I'm going. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:31.099 I'm happy to be interrupted. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:34.500 But let's start with a review. 00:01:35.459 --> 00:01:42.500 Anybody remember anything from last week, from Kunle's lesson about work? 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:46.799 What are some features of work that we discussed? 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:48.840 So God works, right? 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:51.599 It's good because God did it. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:54.819 He created the universe, created everything in it. 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:01.280 He delights in his creation. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:03.939 He saw that it was good. 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:10.520 In his work, he cares for his creation. 00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:14.180 It's providence for his creation. 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:21.479 And he commissions us to carry on his work, right? 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:30.879 So God's work in creation was perfect at the outset, but intentionally, I'll use the word incomplete. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:34.659 If I'm using doctrinally unsound words, you can correct me. 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:47.879 But it was intentionally unfinished in a way that leaves room for us to take part in his invitation to continue the cultivation process and creation. 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:57.620 So we see that God created the universe formless and empty so that his work of creation sort of progresses through the creation account. 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:02.180 He's bringing order out of chaos, so to speak. 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:12.340 And our call to participate in his work mirrors this in a way as we're instructed to fill and subdue the earth. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:26.560 It's a command not only in our work of bringing order out of chaos in our material world, but also there's an aspect of cultivating a society that brings glory to God, right? 00:03:26.580 --> 00:03:32.020 So we tend to think of, you know, work as being I'm working with my hands, and that's true. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:34.719 I'm going to work with my hands, and I'm going to mold something out of clay. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:39.980 But there's this work in bringing order to a society that's in view here. 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:47.079 Tim Keller says, human beings filling the earth means something far more than plants and animals filling the earth. 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:51.219 It means civilization, not just procreation. 00:03:52.139 --> 00:03:56.500 We get the sense that God does not want merely more individuals of the human species. 00:03:56.919 --> 00:04:00.959 He also wants the world to be filled with a human society. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:10.000 So God doesn't just sort of make everything and magically put it all in its exact place where he wants it to be. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:12.159 He gives us clay to mold. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:15.020 He gives us tools with which to build things. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:23.259 He gives us parents to rear children, teachers to instruct students, authorities to maintain order in society. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:32.879 All of these things are part of God's creative and cultivative work in the world that we are called to participate in. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:44.420 And we'll notice in this that this framework all happens before the fall, so we're invited to consider the goodness of work based on God's design of it. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:53.340 The command to work suggests that work is as much a human necessity as food and water. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:59.840 So much so that Dorothy Sayers says this about the Christian understanding of work. 00:04:59.840 --> 00:05:08.160 The Christian understanding of work is that work is not primarily a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:17.340 It is or it should be the full expression of the worker's faculties, the medium in which he offers himself to God. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:25.220 Okay, how many people have heard the phrase, you work to live, you don't live to work? 00:05:26.840 --> 00:05:27.360 Right? 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:33.180 Is that the exact opposite of what Dorothy Sayers is saying? 00:05:35.960 --> 00:05:37.440 What do we think about that? 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.520 I think Sayers is right. 00:05:44.340 --> 00:05:45.000 Say more. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:51.020 You live to work because God has assigned it, right? 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:57.520 So it really begs the question, what's the purpose of life? 00:05:59.440 --> 00:06:00.520 That's a good question. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.440 What's the purpose of life? 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.580 Yes, we'll see if we can answer that. 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:08.839 And of course, you know, in all things do for the glory of God. 00:06:09.039 --> 00:06:14.680 So you're putting your whole heart into your work because you're doing it for God, not for your patience. 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:15.699 Exactly. 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:17.579 Work heartily unto the Lord. 00:06:17.719 --> 00:06:18.019 Yes. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:18.819 Yes. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:24.039 That's a great point that we have to keep in mind here. 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:35.080 So what do we make of this idea that we hear in secular society, we don't live to work, we work to live? 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:37.099 Is there any wisdom in that? 00:06:37.099 --> 00:06:48.319 Yeah, I think, well, agreeing with what Sayers would say there, there's a risk of putting a good as the highest good. 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:50.039 It's not necessarily the highest good. 00:06:50.040 --> 00:07:04.379 Yes, yes. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.040 We're working to glorify God. 00:07:06.140 --> 00:07:09.080 It is not the only means by which we do so. 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:16.240 And that there is a way to place good things in their proper place in life. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:17.700 Yeah, these are all really great thoughts. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.160 Yeah, Peter. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:28.140 And work to live is actually putting your enjoyment of life as your higher God as opposed to live to work. 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:28.640 Yes. 00:07:29.340 --> 00:07:30.340 Yeah, exactly. 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:36.740 I think part of what's going on, too, is they're both right because they're both talking about different kinds of work. 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:41.660 One's talking about kind of work towards earthly ends and the other's talking about towards heavenly ends. 00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:44.560 Yes, I think that's a great point, too. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.100 What kind of work are we talking about when we say these things? 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:54.600 Are we talking about working for ourselves, working for the Lord, working for our friends? 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:55.820 What is work? 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.420 That's kind of what we're here to answer. 00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:58.040 What is work? 00:07:58.100 --> 00:07:59.360 And what's our calling to work? 00:07:59.400 --> 00:08:01.200 And how does it fit into our daily lives? 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:08.099 So that's a great segue into something that I want to do, which is define some of the words that we're using. 00:08:08.099 --> 00:08:15.259 And I've provided a handout that you can use to follow along a little bit if you don't have it. 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:17.219 I think Sarah has a few copies. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:25.159 But when I put definitions on these, I just want to say, I've said it explicitly on the worksheet, this is for the sake of this class. 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:29.279 So if you leave this class and you're like, I don't really like that definition, that's fine. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.119 You don't have to agree. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:34.199 We're just trying to get on the same page about how we're using the words. 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:41.100 So first, I think we can define the word occupation. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:45.500 And I think this is just our paid work, right? 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:59.120 The work that we go to our nine to five jobs, so to speak, and we are doing this for the specific sake of our material provision and in service to the common good, right? 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:03.860 Secondly, I think we can define vocation. 00:09:04.540 --> 00:09:10.860 And this can include our occupation but is not exclusive to it, right? 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:17.419 This is the work, the labor for which God has set us apart in service of the cultivation of his kingdom. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:24.200 So if you have an occupation, if you are paid to do work, it is part of your vocation. 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:25.960 God has assigned you to it. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:28.279 He has called you to it. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:33.840 And it is part of the work that he wants you to do to cultivate his kingdom. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:41.379 But there are many other things that you can be doing as part of your calling in life to cultivate his kingdom. 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:47.680 If you're a parent, if you are a mentor, if you are serving your church, if you're serving your community, 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:57.980 there are many ways that we can think of being set apart for work in the world according to God's call for our life. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:05.420 So when Dorothy Sayers says that work is the thing that we live to do, I think she's talking about vocation, not our occupation. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:12.480 And when many of us say that we work to live rather than living to work, we're more often talking about our occupation, right? 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.279 Our paid work. 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:20.560 And I think this can come with some unhelpful undertones that our occupation is just like a necessary evil, 00:10:20.680 --> 00:10:25.039 a thing that we have to do so that we can get along with the rest of our lives. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:27.259 And I think we want to battle against that too. 00:10:27.459 --> 00:10:33.959 But the point that we want to make here is that we have a calling in life and our occupation is part of it, 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:35.659 but it is not the totality of it. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.579 And I think that'll be important to keep in mind as we move forward. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:43.839 So, and since we're saying that there are different categories of work now, 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.519 it might be helpful to have an overarching idea of work. 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:55.899 And I think we can go again to Dorothy Sayers who defines it as a gracious expression of creative energy offered in service to others. 00:10:56.279 --> 00:11:03.460 So God's creative energy is flowing in and through us to participate in the cultivation of the world. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:07.919 And specifically, it's in service to others. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:12.399 If it's not in service to others, it may not feel like work as we're defining it, 00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:19.279 but rather an anxious toiling for ourselves or some other means. 00:11:19.599 --> 00:11:22.399 So these are not perfect definitions. 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:27.379 These are just to help us wrap our heads around what we're talking about here. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:33.799 But I think all of this leads us to a question that many of us would ask, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:40.019 which is what corner of creation am I called to cultivate? 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:45.659 It's something that we wrestle with both in our occupation and our broader vocation. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:52.879 And we just want to take a little time today to see if we can understand what a calling is 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.500 and if there is some wisdom that we can derive and how we might discern what that is. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.639 So any questions? 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.360 Let me pause for questions or comments. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.919 Yes, Peter. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:17.019 I was wondering about what you just said about occupation and vocation. 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:26.519 You said that the occupation is always part of the vocation, 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:32.659 whereas I'm wondering, like, if you're the mine cook at McDonald's, 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:34.419 you know, that's your occupation. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:40.679 But it's not – but in your spare time, you volunteer at a – 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:42.480 you know, so that would be more your vocation. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:47.500 And so therefore the occupation doesn't really coincide with the vocation. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.879 That's a great point. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:56.060 So this idea that if you're a line cook at McDonald's, say, 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:59.320 how does that align with your vocation? 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:02.300 It depends on what we mean by vocation. 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:07.000 What is this calling that we've been given by God? 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.500 And I think we'll try to get into this, 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:16.820 but the idea is that any meaningful work of cultivation in creation 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:19.580 has a God-ordained purpose 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:25.919 and that there is no form of work that's better – 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.279 and we're talking about good, legitimate work, right? 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:31.700 Like we can all envision, you know – 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.000 Ponzi. 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:34.159 Yes, yeah, Ponzi schemes. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:40.600 So any good, legitimate work is contributing to God's work of cultivating creation 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:42.480 in that he cares for creation. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.079 So if you're a line cook, you're making food for people who are then going off 00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:48.740 and being nourished by the food that you've made 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:52.120 to go do something else with their creative energy 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.980 that's taking part in God's cultivative work. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:14:03.060 So we do want to say that our occupation is part of our calling 00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:07.800 because it's been assigned to us and it has value and goodness 00:14:07.800 --> 00:14:10.860 because of the work that God is doing through it. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.120 And we want to try to unpack that a little bit more as we keep going. 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:15.060 Joshua. 00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:15.559 I'll just ask you real quick. 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:20.579 We've all – also we've all had good and bad experiences at McDonald's. 00:14:20.719 --> 00:14:21.059 Uh-huh. 00:14:21.099 --> 00:14:26.299 So being the best line cook or cashier or whatever that you can be 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:29.219 or whatever that is where God is placed to, 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.500 for the sake of reflecting our excellent God is – 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.500 Yes. 00:14:34.839 --> 00:14:36.000 Yeah, I think that's great. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.340 Now, it doesn't mean like you don't feel like – 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:43.159 like Dorothy Sayers mentioned like engagement or somebody – 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:47.159 I mean some other quote maybe mentioned engaging your full faculties. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.320 Like you feel like you have some sort of mobility, 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:54.700 not possibilities that doesn't exclude you from choosing that, 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:58.899 but like while you're there, like work hard to do. 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.240 Yes, I think that's a great point also. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:08.440 There's two different situations where we can envision applying some of this wisdom. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:15.379 One is the person who is considering a new calling in life, 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:18.279 whether it's an occupation or something else vocationally. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:24.019 And then there's the person who is in the midst of their current calling 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:30.360 and trying to understand how do I work heartily for the Lord in this context 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:34.480 because maybe I don't have the opportunity or the desire to move and do something else. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.740 So those are great points. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.379 I think I saw another hand. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:38.720 Pat? 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:42.360 As you're working as a wine cook, 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.720 the way you conduct yourself, 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:50.100 the way you share the love of God that you have, 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.279 with people who probably don't, 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.320 like the next job, 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:57.200 that's just as important as one of those. 00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:58.840 Yes. 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.520 Yes, that's true. 00:16:00.520 --> 00:16:07.060 There's an aspect in everything that we do of proclaiming the goodness of God 00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.740 so that others might see it. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:16.640 And we often may never know how our words or our actions are playing out 00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:19.180 in God's grand plan to bring people to himself. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:24.459 But the promises that we see in the scripture are that he is doing so. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.859 And so there's a, 00:16:26.239 --> 00:16:26.500 again, 00:16:26.599 --> 00:16:30.099 it should bring meaning and purpose to the work that we're doing 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:36.919 in a way that gives us encouragement in any station in life. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.859 This is really great. 00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:43.139 We're getting into all the meat of everything that we wanted to discuss. 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:43.579 Sarah? 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:45.139 I guess, 00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:51.040 I think sometimes just reflecting on the words that are being said, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.759 I agree wholeheartedly. 00:16:52.920 --> 00:16:55.580 And I think sometimes in Christian circles, 00:16:55.940 --> 00:17:00.280 like secular work and sacred work can be thought, 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.160 like kingdom work as sacred work, 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.940 or like your ministry, 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.299 or like you're a whole time pastor, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:08.180 or you volunteer teaching Sunday school on Wednesday night to kids, 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:08.640 or whatever. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:14.259 Like we sometimes have these categories versus being like a line cook at McDonald's. 00:17:14.520 --> 00:17:20.120 But I think actually the point that you're making is that God is calling us to cultivate our corner of creation. 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:24.960 And that absolutely includes being a line cook at McDonald's. 00:17:25.060 --> 00:17:29.420 And like that vocation and what God has called us to from a work perspective 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:32.220 absolutely includes both of these things. 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:34.500 And that we shouldn't be thinking of like, 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:36.440 this is just my job, 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.779 and then this is my kingdom work. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.779 And like they're separate. 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.740 But that actually, 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:43.480 the vision that God lays out in the Bible for work, 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:45.779 like it is inclusive of these things. 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:48.600 And I think everyone's kind of reiterating that point. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.420 But I do think sometimes we think in these buckets, 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:56.980 but that actually the vision for work we see in the Bible is inclusive of, 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.000 you know, 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:02.940 bringing order to chaos by flipping burgers at McDonald's or whatever the thing God has called you. 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:05.980 That is your corner of creation to cultivate. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:08.480 And is kingdom work actually, 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:11.200 like even though it's not like ministry? 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:14.559 Would you agree with that? 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:14.860 Yes. 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.120 Yeah. 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:15.319 No, 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.059 I think that's great. 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.039 That's exactly right. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.319 Yeah. 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.480 Justin. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.160 Yeah. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.220 I think to that point, 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:23.680 I'll share just an example of a close friend of mine. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:28.960 He's a firefighter and he's also trained as a pastor. 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:35.720 And part of his like glorifying God in his work is, 00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:35.940 yes, 00:18:36.060 --> 00:18:39.420 like honoring his authorities above him as a firefighter, 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:41.779 performing his job technically well, 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:45.960 but also he's engaged in sharing the gospel at work. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:48.140 Like every week or so, 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.680 he's talking about a conversation that he had with a coworker where he's, 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:59.019 he's now positioned himself to be somebody who people will bring their stories to. 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:03.360 And if you can speak God's word into that, 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:05.019 into the situation. 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.500 So it is like, 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:06.700 yeah, 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:10.279 both of these things merged into one activity, 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:15.539 really not just doing your job well and doing ministry well. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.539 Yes. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.079 Integrated. 00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:19.259 Yeah. 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.180 I think that's a great, 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:20.440 yeah. 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.859 Integrating your work. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.159 And I, 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:26.539 and I think that helps reinforce, 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:29.000 I think what we're trying to say, 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:33.539 that your occupation is part of your broader vocation. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:39.539 If your broader vocation is proclaiming the glory of God for his, 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.139 his, 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:44.299 just for the sake of his glory and also for the benefit of society. 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:46.159 So that people might know his goodness, 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:55.099 that people might be confronted with what he has to offer in, 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.180 in, 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.039 in eternal life. 00:19:56.180 --> 00:20:03.359 I think that fitting your occupation into that broader vocation is exactly what 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:03.920 Justin was saying, 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.360 which is I am going to go to job and go, 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.740 go to work and do my job well. 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:15.640 And I'm also going to love other people in the process in a way that I'm sharing 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.900 the good news of the gospel. 00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:18.680 And this is an important, 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.860 important consideration. 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:24.120 So I want to move through some scripture, 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.220 which I've, 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:25.480 there, 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:27.759 there are a lot of passages that, 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:31.140 that we can examine and may not have time to do all of them today. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.560 And I've, 00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:36.000 I've put them on the worksheet so you can examine them yourself and follow along. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:40.660 But I kind of want to get into what is a calling? 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.860 If I'm asking the question, 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:44.920 what corner of creation am I called to cultivate? 00:20:45.280 --> 00:20:48.360 We have to understand what this calling is. 00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:52.500 And I think it's helpful to move through some particular passages. 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:56.880 So the Bible uses a number of words to, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.220 to reference, 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.820 I think what we're calling a divine commissioning. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.619 One that stands out is kaleo. 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:06.079 This is a Greek word that means bid, 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.859 call forth, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.679 name or invite. 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:11.079 And it's used in quite a few different contexts in the New Testament. 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:17.079 And I think we can look at this to kind of get a sense for what do we mean when we're talking about a calling. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.099 So the first one, 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.240 there's, 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:26.700 there's one application of kaleo in terms of God calling us into relationship with him. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:32.019 And I think this is our real overarching calling in life out of darkness and into light, 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.340 out of death and into life. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.240 And we can look at Romans 830 to start. 00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:40.160 And those whom he predestined, 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.120 he also called. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.700 And those whom he called, 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.600 he also justified. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.799 And those whom he justified, 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.159 he also glorified. 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:53.960 What do we see about how this relates to our work? 00:21:53.960 --> 00:22:11.819 I think sometimes we're fortunate enough to know that, 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.680 well, 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:16.940 God placed us in a particular job. 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:21.779 And when it's confirmed by the person who actually interviewed you and hired you, 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:25.320 that that's also feel that way. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:27.580 Then I think that's like something. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.779 It's a privilege and a responsibility. 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.440 Yeah, 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.200 that's a great point. 00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:33.580 There's, 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:40.380 there's a sense of God's sovereignty in our lives that he places us where he wants us to be. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:42.140 And that's an important thing to remember. 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:44.840 I think too, 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:48.000 when we look at this and we think about our work as it maps onto this, 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:51.840 our work in this verse is strikingly absent. 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:57.400 Our work has nothing to do with us being called into relationship with God, 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.140 right? 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:01.700 We can go to Ephesians chapter two to see this. 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.259 For by grace, 00:23:02.300 --> 00:23:03.300 you've been saved through faith. 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.060 And this is not, 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.360 and this is not your own doing. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.600 It is the gift of God, 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:10.020 not a result of works so that no one may boast. 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:15.960 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:19.139 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:24.839 So nothing that we do in our occupation, 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:33.519 in our vocation or otherwise has anything to do with God's calling us into life with him. 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:39.579 And that is a really fundamental basis for how we view everything else that we do in life. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.500 And so I think there's, 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:45.740 it's always an important reminder and foundation to consider that. 00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:49.000 And especially here where we're talking about our calling. 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:51.899 So we do see later in Ephesians, 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:55.240 Paul exhorting the church to walk in a manner that's worthy of the calling, 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.000 right? 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.439 He's using this word kaleo. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.799 And in chapter two, 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.439 he's sort of implicitly defined it, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.279 but in chapter four, 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.819 he's saying it a little bit more explicitly. 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.700 Um, 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:10.299 but I think what's also important to recognize here is that we're saved. 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:12.099 We're called into life with God, 00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:14.659 not because of anything that we do, 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:17.839 but it also says that we're saved for good works, 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:20.759 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.179 So, 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.579 okay, 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.059 but what good works, 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:25.819 right? 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.319 That's the, 00:24:26.439 --> 00:24:28.240 that's still the question that we're trying to get to. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.859 Um, 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:33.859 so we can maybe try to start whittling it down, 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.099 right? 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.839 So we, 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:41.480 we were saying calling is most broadly calling into life with God. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.519 Um, 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:45.680 we see other contexts where we're, 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:49.740 we're called and set apart for a new identity. 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:50.859 Um, 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.220 again, 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.319 the word kaleo is used here. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:53.559 Uh, 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.099 we see in Romans one, 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.019 uh, 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.720 Paul says, 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:58.279 he introduces himself, 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:58.579 Paul, 00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:00.640 a servant of Christ called to be an apostle, 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.839 set apart for the gospel of God, 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:05.680 which he promised beforehand through his prophets and the Holy scriptures. 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.960 And he goes on, 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:07.539 um, 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:07.920 later, 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.759 later it says, 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:12.620 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:16.779 to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:21.319 We can again look to first Peter chapter two, 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:21.940 verse nine, 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:22.620 you, 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:24.160 but you are a chosen race, 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.100 a royal priesthood, 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.799 a holy nation, 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.339 a people for his own possession, 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:34.619 that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into marvelous light. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.799 So again, 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.980 we're thinking about our calling. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:42.639 We're still kind of in the realm of vocation, 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.279 right? 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:43.859 Not, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.220 not occupation yet, 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:50.380 but our calling is to be saints. 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.600 Um, 00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:53.799 there's an identity that comes with our salvation. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.920 We're called to belong to Jesus Christ, 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:57.299 to be this community of saints, 00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.860 called to be a chosen race, 00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.720 a royal priesthood. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.400 Um, 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:03.039 Paul specifically is called to be an apostle. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.819 And in all of this, 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:08.980 we're doing it so that we might proclaim his excellencies. 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:11.920 This is something that's come up already is like when we go to work, 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.180 we're proclaiming his excellencies so that others might know his glory. 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:15.860 Richard. 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:16.700 Um, 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.220 I don't think we should, 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.940 uh, 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:21.680 skip over first Corinthians one nine too quickly. 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.839 Okay. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:28.899 because it says that we are called into the fellowship of his son. 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:33.159 So the essence of fellowship is being with Jesus, 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:33.639 right? 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.759 Yes. 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:42.839 So being with him right at the table and enjoying the fellowship of his company when he died, 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.679 right? 00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:52.799 But with him when he's in the crowd preaching and teaching and providing, 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.079 um, 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:56.079 bread and fish for the hungry people, 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:56.859 we're, 00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.139 we, 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:57.480 we, 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.519 we enjoy his fellowship then too. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:00.720 Uh, 00:27:01.199 --> 00:27:01.519 and, 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.079 uh, 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.699 and, 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:02.980 uh, 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:05.799 that second part looks more like work, 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:06.919 um, 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:07.480 uh, 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.000 but it's, 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:12.079 it's in the context of the fellowship we're called. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.079 That's great. 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:14.319 Yeah. 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.019 And I apologize. 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.379 I, 00:27:15.459 --> 00:27:17.459 I skipped over first Corinthians one nine, 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:17.839 um, 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.799 which is in the, 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.659 the handout, 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.059 but Richard is exactly right. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.539 I think we're, 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:25.099 we are called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.299 And I appreciate the, 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.200 the comment. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:31.339 It actually dovetails nicely into another note about, 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.399 uh, 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:37.000 the being a community of saints and being in fellowship with one another in Christ, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.720 uh, 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.960 that the word ecclesia, 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:39.940 uh, 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:44.539 which is the word that Jesus uses for the church literally translates the called out 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.019 ones. 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.139 Um, 00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:49.599 and so there is sort of a communal aspect to, 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.480 to what we're doing in our calling, 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.119 uh, 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.639 to live this calling out, 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.339 uh, 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.759 together. 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.220 So that's, 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.019 that's really helpful. 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.139 Um, 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.139 okay. 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.759 So we're, 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:02.480 we're getting a little more specific. 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:03.900 Uh, 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:09.059 we're getting the sense that our calling is related primarily to our relationship with 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.379 God. 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.380 Um, 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:13.800 we see that that comes apart from anything that we do, 00:28:13.800 --> 00:28:14.680 uh, 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:17.880 but that we are called out for the sake of something specific. 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:18.980 Um, 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:22.400 we still want to know how does this relate to our day to day life? 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.220 I think that's what we, 00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:24.500 we all are interested in. 00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.020 What's my, 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.960 what's my calling in creation here? 00:28:27.040 --> 00:28:27.240 So, 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:27.880 uh, 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:29.780 we can look further to, 00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.880 to Matthew four. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.640 Um, 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:35.460 while walking by the sea of Galilee, 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.540 he saw two brothers. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:36.780 He, 00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:38.180 Jesus saw two brothers, 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:38.720 Simon, 00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.920 who's called Peter and Andrew, 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.580 his brother casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.820 And he said to them, 00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:46.280 follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.640 Immediately. 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.200 They left their nets and followed him. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.060 And going on from there, 00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:51.060 he saw two brothers, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.520 James, 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.800 the son of Zebedee and John, 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:54.480 his brother in the boat with Zebedee, 00:28:54.560 --> 00:28:54.980 their father, 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.820 mending their nets. 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:59.040 And he called them immediately. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:02.420 They left the boat and their father and followed him. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:07.379 So now we're getting into this call of discipleship. 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:10.619 And we're starting to interface a little bit with occupation, 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.019 right? 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.460 These guys were fishermen. 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:16.460 So there's a call to Peter, 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:16.899 Andrew, 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.279 James, 00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:20.099 and John to follow Jesus and to be made fishers of men. 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:25.440 We see Jesus kind of tapping into their occupation as fishermen and pointing 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:28.759 forward in a way to how their occupation, 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:33.879 fits into this broader calling of their vocation as they follow Jesus. 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:41.480 So they're participating in their call to subdue creation as fishermen so that they might 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:43.480 promote the common good, 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:43.900 right? 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.680 They're feeding themselves. 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.839 They're feeding their families. 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.579 They're feeding their communities. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.700 They're taking care of people. 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:54.819 Jesus is saying in the same way that you're gathering fish for the sake of your community. 00:29:54.819 --> 00:30:00.559 So also will you now be gathering people for the sake of the kingdom of God. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:04.339 So both of these activities, 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.299 as Sayers would say, 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:12.440 are gracious expressions of creative energy that are offered in service to others. 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:19.960 One activity is participating in the cultivation of a local and temporal community, 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:25.920 but the other is participating in the cultivation of a global and eternal kingdom, 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.400 right? 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:31.860 So now we're starting to get into a little bit more mixing and mingling of occupation and 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.420 vocation, 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:36.140 but we're still trying to get a little bit more specific. 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:38.640 So how are we supposed to follow Jesus? 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.840 We're not all called to work in the same ways, 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.259 right? 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:44.880 God does call people to specific tasks. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.640 And this brings us, 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:45.920 I think, 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:51.259 to an important passage as we consider the concept of occupation as part of the broader 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.900 vocation. 00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:54.160 And that's first Corinthians chapter seven. 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.800 I put the whole thing on there, 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:58.039 but I'm just going to read the first verse. 00:30:58.039 --> 00:31:03.220 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.839 called him. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:09.019 So we got into this a little bit earlier, 00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:11.839 but just expand on it a little bit. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:16.639 Reformers like Luther leaned on this verse as they were arguing against a prevailing view 00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:23.539 in the medieval Catholic church that only spiritual work was the work that truly mattered. 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:25.539 The spiritual work was the kingdom work. 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:28.940 So if you wanted to do work that really mattered, 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.240 you should go be a priest. 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.579 You should go be a nun. 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.759 You should go be a monk. 00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:36.460 And everything else was spiritually inferior. 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:44.079 But Luther saw this verse in Corinthians in relation to the concept that we discussed earlier, 00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:52.240 that God's call or invitation into a relationship with him is not at all a product of our work. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.640 And because of that, 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:58.140 there's no work in life that could justify us before God in any way. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:06.460 And then all work then was to be viewed as important to God and part of his grand plan for ultimate cultivation and creation. 00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:07.799 So Luther says this, 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.359 I can't paraphrase Luther, 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.099 so I'll just say it. 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.720 In his vocation, 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:14.920 man does works which affect the well-being of others, 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:17.500 for so God has made all offices. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:20.019 Through this work in man's offices, 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.700 God's creative work goes forward, 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.940 and that creative work is love, 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:26.259 a profusion of good gifts. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:29.799 With persons as his hands or coworkers, 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:34.319 God gives his gifts through the earthly vocations toward man's life on earth, 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.400 food through farmers, 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.359 fishermen and hunters, 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.139 external peace through princes, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.559 judges and orderly powers, 00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:42.180 knowledge and education through teachers and parents, 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.559 et cetera, 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:42.920 et cetera. 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.579 Through the preacher's vocation, 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.200 God gives the forgiveness of sins. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:51.680 Thus love comes from God flowing down to human beings on earth through all vocations, 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:55.120 through both spiritual and earthly governments. 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:55.900 Okay, 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:59.400 so that was a really long way of saying all work matters to God, 00:32:59.580 --> 00:32:59.920 right? 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:04.140 No work is more important than other work. 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:10.700 And this is why Paul can tell us in 1 Corinthians that God has assigned us a specific station in life 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:18.800 and that we can work diligently and confidently knowing that our occupation is indeed part of our calling 00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:22.140 without being the source of our salvation. 00:33:26.620 --> 00:33:27.420 All right. 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:33.519 I'm lost in my notes for a second. 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:33.840 Sorry. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:38.240 I think we need to add, 00:33:38.340 --> 00:33:43.120 without being the source of our salvation or contributing to it. 00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:45.000 Yes, 00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:46.279 that's a helpful clarification. 00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:48.740 Our work is not the source of our salvation, 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:51.300 nor does it contribute anything to our salvation. 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.240 I think that's right. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:57.240 So there's two kind of, 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:03.779 Tim Keller would sort of boil it down into two different categories here, 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:09.599 talking about work as an act of love and a ministry of competence, 00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:10.559 right? 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.219 So, 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:14.559 our work is in service to others. 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:17.340 That is a key point of what we're doing. 00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:20.300 In being a ministry of competence, 00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:26.120 the best thing that we can do as we work heartily for the Lord is to do it to the best of our abilities. 00:34:26.180 --> 00:34:27.860 Not that we have to be the best, 00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:37.980 but that doing our best is the best thing that we can do in service to the Lord as we're participating in this work of cultivation. 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.680 And this is in Colossians 3. 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.400 Whatever you do, 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:42.460 work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:45.980 So, 00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:48.960 Keller gives this example of traveling, 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.340 and I think this is related to, 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.619 again, 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:52.760 to something that we discussed earlier. 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:59.199 If I'm traveling on vacation and I want to go to Philadelphia, 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:01.119 it sounds nice and easy, 00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:04.240 but there's a whole host of things that had to happen for me to get there. 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:06.079 A road had to get built. 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.940 And for that road to get built, 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.300 somebody had to plan the road, 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.840 and somebody had to pour the concrete, 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:13.220 and somebody had to paint it, 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:14.640 and somebody had to do all of it. 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:17.300 Somebody had to put up the signs on the exits and everything else. 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.060 And so, 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:37.300 there's this idea of people showing up to do a very specific task as part of a much greater call to build something that's in service to individuals, 00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.740 individuals to community, 00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.680 to the globe. 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:47.460 And that's a combination of what Keller's calling a ministry or an act of love and a ministry of competence. 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:49.099 So, 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.920 I want to, 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:53.639 I put, 00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.320 again, 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.460 on the worksheet, 00:35:55.559 --> 00:36:02.039 there's like a summary at the end of points that I'm hoping we got to that are clear. 00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.380 But, 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:08.340 what we really want to boil this down to is our ultimate call is into relationship with Jesus. 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:12.720 Our ultimate call does not depend on any work that we do. 00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:15.500 And within the greater call, 00:36:15.600 --> 00:36:19.740 there's a more specific call to engage in work for the sake of the kingdom. 00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:26.960 This work that we've been called to is appointed by God and thus has meaning, value, and purpose. 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:33.460 Our call is in response to God and in service to the good of others through cultivation and creation. 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:35.800 That's the ministry or the act of love that we're talking about. 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:39.660 And our call includes a command to work with all of our heart as for the Lord. 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:42.980 And that's our ministry of competence. 00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:44.620 So, 00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:47.120 these are helpful. 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:48.160 It's already 940. 00:36:48.280 --> 00:36:48.400 So, 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:50.560 we're like coming up on the end of, 00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:52.240 of this. 00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:55.400 I wanted to give one specific example from Exodus 31. 00:36:57.100 --> 00:36:58.620 And I won't read the whole thing, 00:36:58.680 --> 00:36:59.660 but this is an example, 00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:01.080 I think, 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:04.720 of God calling someone to a specific occupation. 00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:07.359 And this is in the creation of the tabernacle. 00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:08.379 He says, 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:10.219 I called by name Bezalel, 00:37:10.299 --> 00:37:11.039 the son of Uri, 00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:13.559 and I filled him with the spirit of God, 00:37:13.639 --> 00:37:14.719 with ability and intelligence, 00:37:14.899 --> 00:37:16.319 with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.839 to devise artistic designs, 00:37:17.919 --> 00:37:18.519 to work in gold, 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:18.939 silver, 00:37:19.419 --> 00:37:19.759 et cetera, 00:37:19.859 --> 00:37:20.159 et cetera. 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:22.079 And the idea here is that 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:24.339 God has actually, 00:37:24.439 --> 00:37:26.659 we see in our vocational calling, 00:37:26.659 --> 00:37:27.339 a lot of, 00:37:27.940 --> 00:37:30.719 a lot about our relationship to God, 00:37:30.799 --> 00:37:31.619 and our desire, 00:37:32.239 --> 00:37:33.219 our call to, 00:37:33.899 --> 00:37:37.019 to share the good news, 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:39.339 to participate in the cultivation of his kingdom. 00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:42.559 There is example in scripture, 00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:47.319 of God calling someone to a specific kind, 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:50.640 of hands-based work, 00:37:50.640 --> 00:37:53.720 that seems a lot like what we would call an occupation, 00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:54.300 right? 00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:58.600 And if we were trying to devise some general wisdom, 00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.900 and how we can assess, 00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.360 what are we called to, 00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:02.559 we can kind of look to this, 00:38:02.580 --> 00:38:02.880 and again, 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:04.840 Keller would point out, 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.680 a couple of key questions, 00:38:06.780 --> 00:38:07.260 which are, 00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:09.059 what are you good at, 00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:11.680 and what does the world need? 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:13.200 What's an area that God has, 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:15.099 sort of revealed to you, 00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:18.579 where he's calling you to participate in, 00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:19.519 in the cultivation, 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:19.839 right? 00:38:19.879 --> 00:38:20.739 And so in this example, 00:38:20.819 --> 00:38:21.579 in Exodus 31, 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:24.079 there's a need, 00:38:24.299 --> 00:38:24.980 so to speak, 00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.279 right? 00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:27.639 The Israelites need a tabernacle, 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:31.159 because God wants to dwell with them. 00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:34.599 Nobody can gaze upon the glory of the Lord without, 00:38:34.939 --> 00:38:35.480 and survive. 00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:39.739 So there's got to be a place for God to be with his people, 00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:41.399 and he raises up people, 00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:44.920 with specific skills, 00:38:45.200 --> 00:38:46.119 specific abilities, 00:38:46.260 --> 00:38:47.220 he fills them with the Spirit, 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:50.300 and he equips them to do that work. 00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:51.160 And so I think, 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:52.019 I really, 00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:52.619 I was, 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:55.700 we don't have as much time to spend on this as I would have liked, 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.740 but I think, 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:58.340 if we're looking at, 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.740 a new calling, 00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:03.300 and we're asking ourselves, 00:39:03.820 --> 00:39:08.380 how do I identify what God is calling me to do? 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:13.519 There's good general wisdom in trying to answer these two questions. 00:39:13.640 --> 00:39:17.200 There's secular frameworks that kind of follow this, 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.300 something called Ikigai, 00:39:18.380 --> 00:39:19.800 and it adds a couple of different questions, 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.119 which is, 00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:20.780 what do I love, 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:22.140 and how do I get paid? 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:22.840 Those, 00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:23.260 I think, 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:25.180 also are helpful questions to ask, 00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:28.799 but really what we want to boil it down to is those two things, 00:39:28.799 --> 00:39:35.079 to try to identify where we can find satisfaction, 00:39:35.419 --> 00:39:36.759 not in our own abilities, 00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:38.539 not in our own achievements, 00:39:38.919 --> 00:39:42.559 but in connecting to the work that God has called us to, 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:44.719 because of the way that he's designed us, 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:50.980 and because of the opportunities that he's given to us to cultivate creation. 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:57.719 And I think there's an exercise in examining this in our own occupations, 00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.740 and our vocations, 00:39:58.860 --> 00:39:59.079 right? 00:39:59.320 --> 00:39:59.760 So, 00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:03.199 there's all kinds of caveats to this that I can't get into. 00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:06.740 There's lots of times in scripture when God calls people to things that they're not good at. 00:40:07.240 --> 00:40:07.420 You know, 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:09.300 Pharaoh was a corrupt world leader, 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:12.159 and he called Moses to go give him some bad news, 00:40:12.240 --> 00:40:13.460 and Moses had a speech impediment. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:13.679 Like, 00:40:13.699 --> 00:40:15.000 he probably wasn't, 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.880 worldly speaking, 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:18.559 like the guy that's best equipped to do that, 00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.920 but God called him to do it anyway. 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.720 There's, 00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:21.099 you know, 00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:24.119 Jonah didn't want to go to the Ninevites, 00:40:24.180 --> 00:40:25.360 but he was called to do it anyway, 00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:25.539 right? 00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.059 So, 00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:28.680 there's lots of examples where we're breaking that mold, 00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:30.820 but we're sort of asking for general wisdom. 00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:33.800 How do we discern our calling? 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:38.940 I should stop for questions. 00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:40.760 There's lots more that we could say, 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.059 but 00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:45.019 thoughts, 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:46.039 comments? 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:46.480 So, 00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:52.800 so the Exodus passage ends with the last sentence that says, 00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:59.360 and I have given to all able men ability that they may have, 00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:00.619 they may all have, 00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:05.340 that they may make all that I have commanded you. 00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:05.800 That's, 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:10.800 that's, 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.920 that's astounding. 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:12.820 I mean, 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.039 it is. 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:14.760 Yes, 00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.460 that's a great, 00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.519 that's a great point, 00:41:16.620 --> 00:41:17.000 and it's, 00:41:17.220 --> 00:41:21.220 it gives credence to this idea that we see in the New Testament that in the church, 00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:22.960 we're all part of the body of Christ, 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:23.380 and not, 00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:25.940 not everybody has the same form and function, 00:41:26.140 --> 00:41:26.400 right? 00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:28.620 Somebody is the eyes to see, 00:41:28.820 --> 00:41:29.300 somebody is, 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:30.079 you know, 00:41:30.160 --> 00:41:31.220 a hand to do some work, 00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:32.880 somebody is the feet that gets you walking, 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:33.440 you know, 00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.539 you don't want to be the, 00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:36.220 the, 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:36.640 you know, 00:41:36.680 --> 00:41:37.360 the appendix, 00:41:37.640 --> 00:41:38.559 biologically active, 00:41:38.700 --> 00:41:40.420 but like serving those a certain real purpose, 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:40.680 right? 00:41:40.720 --> 00:41:41.079 Like that's, 00:41:41.180 --> 00:41:41.840 you want to, 00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:43.880 you want to find the intersection of these two things, 00:41:43.940 --> 00:41:44.119 like, 00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:46.420 but yes, 00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:47.920 God is calling up people, 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:50.019 and equipping people, 00:41:50.640 --> 00:41:52.640 with all skill and ability and knowledge, 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:56.119 to do everything that he has preordained, 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:58.420 to do in, 00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:59.380 in creation. 00:41:59.380 --> 00:42:01.019 It goes back to this idea that we're, 00:42:01.019 --> 00:42:03.579 there's still work to do. 00:42:03.699 --> 00:42:04.880 God created everything, 00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:07.300 but he left some of it on form, 00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:09.579 so that we could participate in this call, 00:42:09.800 --> 00:42:11.420 to join in cultivation, 00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:13.840 and we all do it a little bit differently. 00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:14.280 And again, 00:42:14.340 --> 00:42:16.079 just really highlighting this idea, 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:17.900 that there's no form of work, 00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:19.739 that's more or less important than another, 00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:22.599 because it's all ordained by God, 00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:25.639 to contribute to the work that he's doing in creation. 00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:29.279 Yeah, 00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:30.279 anecdotally, 00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:32.480 the very building we're sitting in, 00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:34.379 is a great example of that, 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:34.859 because, 00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:38.279 at the time when we were doing this building project, 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:38.980 for the church, 00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:41.379 we really needed a real estate lawyer, 00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:42.159 to help us out. 00:42:43.099 --> 00:42:44.400 And the lot around us, 00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:45.199 was getting developed, 00:42:45.339 --> 00:42:46.639 as we were working on this. 00:42:47.339 --> 00:42:47.719 And, 00:42:48.019 --> 00:42:48.619 lo and behold, 00:42:48.719 --> 00:42:50.119 about a year or two earlier, 00:42:50.739 --> 00:42:52.219 a couple came to our church, 00:42:52.219 --> 00:42:54.139 and that is exactly what he had done, 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:55.419 for decades in New England. 00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:57.339 And there were ways in which, 00:42:57.859 --> 00:42:58.859 he had done his work, 00:42:59.059 --> 00:43:00.059 to glorify God, 00:43:00.139 --> 00:43:02.199 and to be a light for his kingdom, 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:03.939 and it had no connection, 00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:06.099 to the explicit work of the local church. 00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:08.079 And yet here he was, 00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:09.779 at this time and place, 00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:10.939 and, 00:43:11.299 --> 00:43:11.639 you know, 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:13.500 he was able to serve us, 00:43:13.619 --> 00:43:14.719 very massively, 00:43:14.879 --> 00:43:16.419 as we had to do negotiations, 00:43:16.939 --> 00:43:17.959 and work, 00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:18.959 and things like that. 00:43:19.399 --> 00:43:20.439 Some of you may remember, 00:43:20.439 --> 00:43:21.319 Bob Wanaburger, 00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:23.019 who was speaking of, 00:43:23.140 --> 00:43:23.320 so, 00:43:23.640 --> 00:43:24.260 just wonderful, 00:43:24.380 --> 00:43:24.880 godly man, 00:43:24.940 --> 00:43:25.260 and he said, 00:43:25.380 --> 00:43:25.620 wow, 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:27.660 this might be the one time, 00:43:27.660 --> 00:43:28.460 my gifts, 00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:30.260 can serve directly, 00:43:30.600 --> 00:43:31.460 the local church, 00:43:31.860 --> 00:43:32.840 doing what I do, 00:43:33.019 --> 00:43:33.260 right? 00:43:33.640 --> 00:43:34.360 But of course, 00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:35.680 that wasn't the only time, 00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:36.620 his gifts were used, 00:43:36.680 --> 00:43:37.400 in God's kingdom, 00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:37.740 right? 00:43:37.780 --> 00:43:38.780 Because he was obviously, 00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:39.620 you know, 00:43:39.680 --> 00:43:40.360 being salt, 00:43:40.600 --> 00:43:41.019 and light, 00:43:41.200 --> 00:43:42.440 and making sure, 00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:42.920 that there was, 00:43:43.280 --> 00:43:43.620 healthy, 00:43:43.740 --> 00:43:44.800 good legal practice, 00:43:45.260 --> 00:43:45.940 in the world, 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:46.860 as he did his work. 00:43:46.960 --> 00:43:47.140 But, 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:48.940 sometimes we might be surprised, 00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:49.800 at ways in which, 00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:51.019 what we think of, 00:43:51.080 --> 00:43:51.800 as two spheres, 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:52.160 which, 00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:53.340 as we've said in this class, 00:43:53.400 --> 00:43:54.260 really aren't two spheres, 00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:55.880 but how they often interlap, 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.680 over, 00:43:57.000 --> 00:43:57.380 over, 00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:58.900 yeah, 00:43:58.980 --> 00:44:00.039 intersect with one another. 00:44:00.200 --> 00:44:00.440 So, 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:01.019 you know, 00:44:01.080 --> 00:44:02.640 you may have a very obscure, 00:44:02.640 --> 00:44:03.280 profession, 00:44:04.080 --> 00:44:04.539 and yet, 00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.760 who knows how God, 00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:06.980 is using that work already, 00:44:07.120 --> 00:44:07.860 to advance his kingdom, 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:08.640 through what you're doing, 00:44:08.760 --> 00:44:08.940 but, 00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:10.840 it may have a very direct, 00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:12.760 connection to a local church, 00:44:13.080 --> 00:44:14.120 and helping to advance, 00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:15.519 the kingdom of your local church too. 00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:15.880 So, 00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:17.599 God does really prepare, 00:44:17.780 --> 00:44:18.739 and advance good works, 00:44:18.820 --> 00:44:19.280 for us to do, 00:44:19.380 --> 00:44:19.800 some of which, 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:21.900 we may never anticipate. 00:44:22.119 --> 00:44:22.380 Amen. 00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:23.199 Amen. 00:44:27.880 --> 00:44:28.360 Alright, 00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:28.980 this has been, 00:44:29.420 --> 00:44:29.860 great. 00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:31.579 Thanks everyone, 00:44:31.739 --> 00:44:32.159 for joining. 00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:32.940 Next week, 00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:34.440 we will, 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:35.380 get into, 00:44:35.739 --> 00:44:36.900 some of the ways, 00:44:36.980 --> 00:44:37.759 that we deal with, 00:44:38.420 --> 00:44:39.199 sin, 00:44:39.320 --> 00:44:39.900 and brokenness, 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:40.380 in our work, 00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:41.159 and how we can, 00:44:41.639 --> 00:44:42.920 think through those, 00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.780 some of those problems, 00:44:43.880 --> 00:44:44.119 as well. 00:44:44.119 --> 00:44:44.299 So, 00:44:44.339 --> 00:44:44.900 hope you can join, 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:46.719 next week for that. 00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:48.159 But, 00:44:48.259 --> 00:44:48.839 thanks everyone, 00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:49.480 for joining. 00:44:49.559 --> 00:44:50.179 I'll just pray, 00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:50.839 real quick, 00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.880 and then we can dismiss. 00:44:53.079 --> 00:44:53.699 Lord God, 00:44:53.759 --> 00:44:54.819 we just thank you again, 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:55.299 for, 00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:56.500 for your work, 00:44:56.619 --> 00:44:57.359 in creation, 00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:57.920 and your work, 00:44:57.960 --> 00:44:58.420 in our lives, 00:44:58.460 --> 00:44:58.819 and just, 00:44:59.339 --> 00:45:00.719 ask that, 00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:02.699 this time together, 00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:03.179 would, 00:45:03.659 --> 00:45:05.339 would be planting, 00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:06.299 good gospel seeds, 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:07.259 in our hearts, 00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:07.980 Lord, 00:45:08.059 --> 00:45:08.500 that it would bear, 00:45:08.679 --> 00:45:09.119 good fruit, 00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:10.359 and Lord, 00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:11.079 that we might find, 00:45:11.079 --> 00:45:11.659 encouragement, 00:45:11.859 --> 00:45:12.259 in the ways, 00:45:12.339 --> 00:45:13.079 that you have called us, 00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:13.779 to participate, 00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:16.059 in your work, 00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:16.980 in the world, 00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:17.699 and for your kingdom. 00:45:18.819 --> 00:45:19.440 Be with us, 00:45:19.460 --> 00:45:19.859 as we, 00:45:20.199 --> 00:45:21.599 go to worship, 00:45:21.799 --> 00:45:22.519 and it's in Jesus name, 00:45:22.559 --> 00:45:22.799 we pray, 00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:23.219 amen. 00:45:25.139 --> 00:45:25.519 All right, 00:45:25.559 --> 00:45:26.039 thanks everyone. 00:45:26.039 --> 00:45:26.500 Thank you, 00:45:26.500 --> 00:45:26.099 everyone. 00:45:26.099 --> 00:45:26.500 Thank you, 00:45:26.500 --> 00:45:26.139 everyone. 00:45:27.460 --> 00:45:28.460 If I could get, 00:45:28.539 --> 00:45:28.900 like, 00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:29.799 two people, 00:45:29.940 --> 00:45:31.319 to help set up the tables, 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:32.880 for children's ministry, 00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:33.799 that would be great. 00:45:33.940 --> 00:45:35.480 The tables are just around the corner, 00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:37.039 so we need to kind of move the chairs, 00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:38.179 out to the edge of the room, 00:45:38.339 --> 00:45:39.480 and then bring those things in, 00:45:39.960 --> 00:45:40.460 and then, 00:45:40.679 --> 00:45:42.159 turn some of the chairs, 00:45:42.259 --> 00:45:42.940 and then bring those tables. 00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:45.059 Um, 00:45:45.059 --> 00:45:43.519 thank you. 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.519 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:50.840 Thank you.