WEBVTT

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 We put flags on our cars and drink copious amounts of alcohol

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 and get arrested as we celebrate who we are as a nation.

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 And part of the Australian Day celebrations,

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 the two Aussie larrikins, Roy and HG, were part of the televised...

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 I think they were at the Opera House or something like that.

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 And at one point during the celebrations,

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 Roy suggested that Australia Day should be renamed as Bludger's Day.

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 And it should, in fact, not be a day of celebration,

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 but it should be a whole week of just doing nothing, just being a bludger.

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 And at which point did the crowd, when he said that,

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 just erupted with cheers and applause.

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 They were obviously thinking it's a great idea.

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 And then he suggested at that point that, well, you know,

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 the fact is no one wants to work.

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 Certainly no one wants to go back to work tomorrow after a day like today.

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 And the crowd cheered even more at that point.

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 They tapped, in that moment, they tapped into something of the Australian psyche.

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 The most popular Australian song of all time is Friday On My Mind,

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 which was released in 1966.

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 It's been popular since 1966 amongst Australians, released by the Easy Beats.

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 It's a song that catches something of our Australian culture.

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 On Friday...

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 Sorry, on Monday, I've got Friday On My Mind.

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 The day I start work, I'm looking forward to the day when I stop work.

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 I think about the day when I'm stopping work.

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 You know, we are known as the land of the long weekend and of strikes and of sickies and false compo claims.

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 And you look at television and newspapers and billboards,

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 they sell the stage of life that we call retirement as the ultimate freedom.

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 That is, in our culture, we aspire to retire.

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 That's what we aspire to.

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 It's the ultimate freedom.

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 You work in order to accumulate so that you don't have to work.

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 A number of years ago, there was a survey in the United Kingdom

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 which asks why the Australian show Home and Away was so popular in the UK.

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 And not surprisingly, it wasn't the acting.

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 Or the plot.

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 Three things were mentioned as the top reasons why British people,

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 millions of British people, tuned into Home and Away every day.

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 Number one, the sun's always shining.

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 Popular in England.

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 Number two, the beach is always inviting.

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 And number three, no one ever appears to be working.

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 You could say that the dominant mentality in our culture

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 is that we work in order to live.

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 That is, work is a means to an end.

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 We work in order to holiday.

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 We work in order to have the money for leisure.

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 We work in the...

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 And the series that we're launching into now,

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 over the next number of weeks,

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 is about putting some purpose back into what we do

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 when we're not gathered in this place.

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 It's about lining what we do Monday to Saturday

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 with what we're doing here right now on Sunday.

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 And I think this is so essential for us

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 because we are now working harder and harder,

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 faster and faster for what is seemingly more and more meaningless.

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 And if we could truly believe that what we do

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 for most of our waking hours

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 is actually part of God's good and eternal purposes,

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 I think it would be a tonic more invigorating than a couple of these.

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 Or a...

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 No, I agree, Sam.

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 Or a triple shot espresso.

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 Or whatever it is that you use for your tonic.

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 We may even result in this, I think,

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 waking up on Monday morning

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 and instead of thinking of Friday,

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 might actually conclude,

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 thank God it's Monday,

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 ready for another week of serving him.

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 And so my task tonight is to connect

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 what we do with the rest of our weeks,

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 what I'm calling through this series,

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 and you've seen up there on the screen,

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 your front line with God's purposes.

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 That is, I want to give us a different view of our working life

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 to the standard view which is in our culture.

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 And the rest of this series will be unpacked,

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 beyond this one,

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 be unpacked in how we might see God honoured

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 in the rest of our week outside of this building.

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 Now, I should first of all explain what I mean by work.

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 Otherwise, the retired, the unemployed,

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 the art students, the parents,

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 the care...

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 I will rebuke myself later for that comment.

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 I want you to know that.

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 The children amongst us,

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 we'll just switch off for the next few weeks.

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 The biblical idea of work has its meaning in the word vocation.

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 One of the major differences

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 between what you might call a job or a vocation

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 is that someone calls you into a vocation.

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 The word vocation simply means calling.

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 And so I'm thinking of vocation

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 when I talk about work.

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 And understood in the correct way,

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 Christian vocation is centred on the sovereign God

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 who calls us to embrace the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and to follow him in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 And so our first and primary calling is to Christ.

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 That is, we are called to someone rather than something

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 or somewhere.

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 But under our calling to Christ,

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 we all have secondary callings in life.

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 And it's where we live out our primary calling to Christ,

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 where we live it out with faithfulness and fruitfulness

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 to the God who's called us.

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 And even though it's a secondary calling,

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 it must not be minimized or devalued.

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 What makes the secondary calling significant

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 is the God is the one who calls us to it

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 in a life of service and contribution to him and to society.

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 And so first and foremost, work, vocation,

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 is not about economic exchange or financial remuneration

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 or personal significance or career paths

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 or the thing that I must do in order to have holidays

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 and long service leave and everything else.

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 Work is about God honoring creativity

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 and contribution to others.

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 Our work or vocation, our calling, our position in life,

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 whatever it is, whether we are paid for it

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 or whether we are not,

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 is our specific human contribution

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 to God's ongoing creation

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 and to the common good of society.

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 And that's what this series is all about

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 and how we are to be faithful and fruitful

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 and God honoring in your vocation,

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 whether you are retired,

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 whether you're a student,

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 whether you're a child,

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 whether you're unemployed,

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 whether you're a banker,

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 whether you're an electrician,

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 whatever it is that you are,

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 whatever position you are in life.

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 What that means is

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 that there's not a person in this room who doesn't work.

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 That's what I mean.

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 And I'll be referring to that work or that vocation

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 as your front line throughout this series.

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 It's the place where you spend the majority of your time

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 outside of this building.

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 It is where you're in contact with God's world,

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 society and the people who need Jesus.

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 That's your front line.

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 So let's jump into the Bible.

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 Genesis chapter one.

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 Just read out to us a moment ago.

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 Grab a Bible.

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 It would be fantastic if you had that in front of you.

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 It's noteworthy,

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 as Sam has just read out for us,

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 that the Bible begins talking about work

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 as soon as it begins talking about anything.

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 That is how important and basic it is.

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 Genesis describes God's creation of the world as work.

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 And then it shows us human beings working in paradise.

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 It is remarkable that at the end of Genesis one,

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 God not only works,

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 but that he finds delight in his work.

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 Verse 31,

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 God saw all that he made

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 and it was very good.

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 God finds what he has worked for,

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 what he has done,

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 as beautiful.

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 Like all and good, satisfying work,

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 the worker sees themselves in it.

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 Genesis two goes on to show

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 that God works not only to create,

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 but also to care for his creation.

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 God creates human beings

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 and then he works for them as their provider.

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 He forms the man in verse seven,

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 plants a garden for him

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 and he waters it in verses six and eight

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 and fashions a wife for him,

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 a helper for him in verses 21 and 22.

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 And the rest of the Bible tells us

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 that God continues to work as provider.

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 He is caring for his world,

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 watering it and cultivating the ground in Psalm 104.

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 He gives food to all he has made,

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 giving help to all who suffer

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 and caring for the needs of every living thing

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 in Psalm 145.

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 Not only does God work, however,

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 but that he commissions his people,

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 his workers to carry on his work.

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 So in Genesis chapter one, verse 28,

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 he tells human beings to fill the earth

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 and subdue it to rule over it.

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 The word subdue there indicates

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 that though all God had made was good,

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 there was still a great degree of it

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 which was undeveloped.

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 God left creation with a deep,

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 untapped potential, if you like,

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 for cultivation, development,

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 for society that people were to unlock

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 through their work of exercising rule

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 over the created order

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 under God as his image bearers.

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 And then you see in Genesis chapter two,

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 verse 15, that he puts Adam and Eve

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 in the garden to work it and keep it.

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 And so while God works for us as our provider,

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 we also work for him doing his work.

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 He works through us.

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 So the book of Genesis leaves us

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 with a striking truth.

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 Work was part of paradise.

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 God's good plan and creation

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 always included human beings

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 living in a constant cycle of work,

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 rest, work, rest, work, rest.

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 It was part of God's perfect design

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 for human life.

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 We were made in God's image

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 and part of his glory and happiness

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 is that he works.

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 And the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who is the perfect image of God,

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 says this of himself in John 5,

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 my father is always at his work

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 to this very day

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 and I too am working.

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 So the Lord Jesus did the work

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 his father assigned him to do

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 and he calls us as his disciples

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 and ourselves as image bearers of God

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 into God's work in his world.

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 It's startling to think

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 that God made work part of paradise.

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 Work wasn't introduced

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 as part of the brokenness

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 and curse of sin.

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 Work is part of the blessedness

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 of the Garden of Eden.

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 And so work is much

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 a basic human need

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 as food and beauty

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 and rest and friendship

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 and prayer and sexuality.

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 It is not simply medicine.

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 It is in fact food for the soul.

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 According to the Bible,

00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.960
 we don't merely need the money

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 from work to survive,

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 we need the work itself

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 to survive and thrive.

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 Rather than working to live,

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 we live to work.

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 That is,

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 I have four weeks annual leave

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 in order to be refreshed

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 to work the rest of the year.

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 That's the purpose of my leave.

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 I don't work in order

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 to accumulate annual leave.

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 I get annual leave

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 in order to work.

00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:40.519
 That's a complete flip

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.180
 of the culture in which we exist.

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 But that's a biblical view.

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 So rather than working to live,

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 we live to work.

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 And I think the Apostle Paul

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 makes that point

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.939
 in 2 Thessalonians 3,

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 verse 10,

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 where he says,

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 if anyone is not willing to work,

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 let him not eat.

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 Now, Paul doesn't rebuke

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 those there that cannot work

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 for any reason,

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 but he does say

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 an unwillingness to work

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 is no trivial matter.

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 For anyone to refuse to work

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 is a fundamental violation

00:14:17.619 --> 00:14:19.959
 of God's design for humanity.

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:23.019
 But the Bible also keeps us

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:25.119
 from falling into the opposite mistake,

00:14:25.219 --> 00:14:27.399
 and that is making work

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 the only important human activity

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 or the badge of honour.

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 So when we say,

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 you know,

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 I work long hours

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 and I work all the time

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 and I haven't had a day off

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 for weeks or something like that,

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.240
 that's sin.

00:14:42.280 --> 00:14:44.220
 That's making an idol of your work.

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.340
 That's not part of God's good design.

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.140
 You see, work is not all there is to life.

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:54.020
 You will not have a meaningful life

00:14:54.020 --> 00:14:54.880
 without work,

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.840
 but you cannot say

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.420
 that your work

00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.760
 is the meaning of your life.

00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.720
 If you make any work

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.800
 the purpose of your life,

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:03.980
 including church work and ministry,

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.680
 you create an idol

00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:07.520
 that rivals God.

00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:10.540
 So first of all,

00:15:10.640 --> 00:15:11.780
 it's a real tonic to know

00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:12.600
 that it's not just

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:14.140
 your service in the church

00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:15.160
 that matters to God.

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.040
 That's the first thing.

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.660
 Your vocation,

00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.840
 your position in life

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.960
 matters to God.

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.880
 And as I mentioned before,

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.520
 I get that from 1 Corinthians 7,

00:15:23.880 --> 00:15:25.960
 where God assigns people

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:27.180
 their position in life.

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.720
 Your front line

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:30.620
 is where God has put you

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:32.760
 to fulfil his purpose

00:15:32.760 --> 00:15:33.640
 for his world.

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.799
 It's a further tonic

00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:36.679
 to know that God

00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:38.980
 is in fact still at work

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.480
 in his world himself.

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:43.939
 So in Colossians chapter 1,

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.220
 which Sam read out to us,

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.480
 Paul is allowing

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.899
 the Colossian church

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:51.539
 to in on his prayer life.

00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.259
 And his prayers

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.840
 are prayers of thanksgiving

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:57.519
 as he reflects on the fact

00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.360
 that the gospel

00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.379
 is bearing fruit

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:02.139
 all over the world.

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:04.319
 It is transforming situations

00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:05.319
 in verse 6.

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:07.720
 And so when Paul moves

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:10.199
 to pray for the Colossians,

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.919
 what does he think

00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:13.279
 their greatest need is?

00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.539
 And bear this in mind

00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:15.939
 as we enter into a week

00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:17.879
 of prayer here at St. Paul's

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.779
 in terms of how to shape

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:22.199
 your prayer life in this week.

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.600
 What are your prayer priorities?

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:24.939
 What does he think

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:26.439
 the Colossians need

00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.759
 more than anything else?

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:29.620
 What shapes his prayer for them?

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:32.059
 It is that they be filled

00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.199
 with the knowledge

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:34.259
 of God's will.

00:16:34.459 --> 00:16:35.539
 In verse 9,

00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:38.639
 so that they will live lives

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.919
 that are worthy of the Lord

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.279
 and that they will bear fruit

00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.779
 in every good work.

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.639
 Growing in the knowledge of God

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.679
 and strengthened to keep going

00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.039
 in their lives of faith.

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:55.159
 That's what he desires

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:58.259
 for the Colossian church.

00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:01.080
 He then moves in to talk about

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.200
 the significance of what Christ

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:03.840
 has done

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.200
 and then he just puts on display

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.559
 from verse 14

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.599
 at just a litany

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.019
 of amazing truths

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.180
 about Jesus Christ

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.440
 that are probably the most

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:15.799
 concentrated descriptions

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:18.019
 of the glories of Jesus

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.759
 in all of the New Testament.

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.879
 Have a look at it there.

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.240
 There's 15 of them

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.180
 in a few verses.

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.840
 Verse 14,

00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.200
 in him we have redemption,

00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.519
 the forgiveness of sins.

00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.799
 Verse 15,

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:31.019
 he is the image

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:32.100
 of the invisible God.

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.080
 Verse 15 again,

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.240
 he is the firstborn

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.700
 of all creation.

00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.140
 That is,

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.759
 he's the specially honoured

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.039
 firstborn son,

00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.720
 the inheritor

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.460
 of the estate

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.500
 of all.

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:41.920
 That is,

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.560
 he's the inheritor

00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.700
 of all creation.

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.759
 Verse 16,

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.759
 by him all things

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.400
 were created

00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.340
 in heaven and earth,

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.600
 visible and invisible

00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.279
 where thrones

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.840
 or dominions

00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.240
 or rulers

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:51.940
 or authorities.

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.259
 Verse 16,

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:53.720
 again,

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.500
 all things

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.019
 were created

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.799
 through him.

00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.660
 Verse 16,

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.120
 again,

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.600
 all things

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.080
 were created

00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:58.920
 for him.

00:17:59.340 --> 00:17:59.940
 Verse 17,

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.799
 he is before

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.640
 all things.

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.480
 Verse 17,

00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:02.940
 again,

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.799
 in him all things

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.400
 hold together.

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.200
 Verse 18,

00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:05.799
 he's the head

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.259
 of the body,

00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:06.900
 the church.

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:07.880
 Verse 18,

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.220
 again,

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.059
 he's the beginning.

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.180
 Verse 18,

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.660
 again,

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.559
 he is the firstborn

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.200
 from the dead.

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:12.820
 Verse 18,

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.320
 again,

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.580
 he is the preeminence

00:18:14.580 --> 00:18:15.539
 in everything.

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.980
 Verse 19,

00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:18.279
 in him all the fullness

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.740
 of God

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.700
 is pleased to dwell.

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:20.840
 Verse 20,

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.639
 he reconciles

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:22.619
 all things himself,

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.379
 whether on earth

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.919
 or in heaven.

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:24.919
 Verse 20,

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.439
 again,

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.579
 he makes peace

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.240
 by the blood

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.319
 of his cross.

00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:32.059
 It's an astounding

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:34.099
 list of the glories

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.879
 of Christ.

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.259
 And frankly,

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.559
 you know,

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.319
 what I should have done

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.579
 is,

00:18:40.199 --> 00:18:40.899
 time permitting,

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:43.119
 just read each one

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.959
 and just sat there

00:18:43.959 --> 00:18:44.779
 and savored it

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.399
 for a moment.

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.099
 You see,

00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:48.619
 in order to live lives

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.259
 that are worthy

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.019
 of your calling

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:52.819
 and to labor

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.959
 to be fruitful

00:18:53.959 --> 00:18:55.179
 in fulfilling

00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:55.959
 God's purposes

00:18:55.959 --> 00:18:56.699
 in this world,

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.439
 you need to have

00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:58.279
 confidence

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.959
 in the God,

00:19:00.699 --> 00:19:01.519
 what he is,

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.039
 in God,

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.799
 what he's done,

00:19:02.979 --> 00:19:04.019
 in what he is doing

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:05.119
 and what he will do

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.000
 into the future.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.919
 And that's what

00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:09.259
 those verses do for you.

00:19:09.479 --> 00:19:10.419
 You need to have

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:11.339
 a big vision

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:13.099
 that the whole

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:14.099
 of creation

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.979
 matters to God.

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:20.259
 if we are to live

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.299
 whole lives

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.920
 for the glory

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.539
 of God,

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.019
 we need to see

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.140
 that God's mission

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:26.900
 is about

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:28.160
 all things

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.759
 being reconciled,

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.480
 all things

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.519
 being reconciled,

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.259
 all things

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.339
 being transformed

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.360
 and not just

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.160
 some things.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.440
 Jesus created

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.900
 all things

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.480
 in the beginning,

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.860
 he holds all things

00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.759
 together as a rule

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.559
 of the universe

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:43.519
 and God will reconcile

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.299
 all things

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.200
 through Christ

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.519
 at the end of time.

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.860
 And my friend,

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.580
 let me just pause

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:49.940
 for a moment.

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.680
 If your heart

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.420
 wavers,

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.360
 you know,

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.420
 you leave this building

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.620
 and you're out there

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.480
 on a Monday morning

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.779
 at your front line,

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.039
 whatever it is

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.660
 that you're doing,

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.220
 you know,

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.640
 raising children

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:03.240
 or being a banker

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.960
 or whatever it is

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.460
 that you're doing,

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.539
 if your heart

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.880
 ever wavers

00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.000
 or it grows cold

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.580
 as a disciple

00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.740
 of the Lord Jesus

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.980
 out there

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:14.180
 in that world,

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:16.640
 then come back

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.420
 to these verses.

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.180
 Memorize

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:22.120
 this list

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.560
 of the glories

00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:24.680
 of Christ

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:26.100
 and ask God

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:27.759
 to give you

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:29.080
 affections

00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:30.680
 that correspond

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:32.320
 to the measure

00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:33.299
 of the greatness

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.080
 of Christ.

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:40.419
 Paul teaches us here

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.199
 that Jesus Christ

00:20:41.199 --> 00:20:43.119
 created all that is.

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.220
 They were created

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.960
 through him.

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.199
 He was with

00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:47.099
 and in God

00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:48.139
 and was God

00:20:48.139 --> 00:20:49.019
 and as God

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.059
 created all things

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.519
 through him

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.000
 and all things

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.559
 were created

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.419
 for him.

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.379
 All that came

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.879
 into existence

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:56.819
 came for Christ.

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.579
 That is,

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.119
 everything exists

00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.980
 to display

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.899
 the greatness

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.679
 of Christ

00:21:01.679 --> 00:21:03.139
 to his created order.

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.860
 Nothing,

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:05.020
 let me just emphasize

00:21:05.020 --> 00:21:05.520
 that,

00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:06.360
 nothing

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:10.340
 in the universe

00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:11.200
 exists

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.500
 for its own sake.

00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.040
 Everything

00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.900
 from the bottom

00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.759
 of the oceans

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.000
 to the top

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.620
 of the highest mountains,

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.740
 from the smallest

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.280
 particle

00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:23.380
 to the largest star,

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.200
 from the most

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:26.100
 boring school subject

00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.140
 to the most

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:29.000
 fascinating science experiment,

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.240
 from the ugliest

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.200
 cockroach

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.240
 to the most

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.440
 beautiful human being,

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.920
 from the most

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.920
 glorious saint

00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.640
 to the most

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.340
 wicked

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:38.759
 genocidal dictator,

00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:40.279
 everything that exists

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.000
 exists

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.180
 to make

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.860
 the greatness

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:43.519
 of Christ

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.440
 more fully known

00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:46.660
 to his world

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:48.380
 and that includes

00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:48.799
 you

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.319
 and the work

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.200
 that you will do

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.740
 tomorrow morning.

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:57.880
 Is that a tonic

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.799
 to get you out of bed

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.460
 a little bit better

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.000
 than a coffee?

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.599
 I'm not saying

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.440
 abandon the coffee,

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:01.980
 I mean I'm not going

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.359
 to do that

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.839
 tomorrow morning,

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:06.779
 but a shot

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.380
 in the arm,

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.980
 there's a lot

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.859
 of undoing here

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:14.039
 because over the years

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.859
 our primary

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.579
 and second

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.779
 callings in life

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.440
 have been

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.839
 unhelpfully separated

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.079
 and a hierarchy

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.899
 have been put

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.559
 in place

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.599
 and I was

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.699
 disciplined,

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:25.519
 sorry,

00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.299
 I was discipled

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.539
 in this kind

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.099
 of teaching.

00:22:28.459 --> 00:22:28.919
 That is,

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:29.859
 I was discipled

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.240
 in the teaching

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.019
 the most important

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.639
 thing that you can

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.439
 do with your life

00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:33.220
 is to live

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.939
 for Christ

00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.740
 and therefore

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.519
 if that's true

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.379
 the most important

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:36.899
 thing that you can

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.759
 do with your life

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.980
 is to go

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:41.240
 into full-time

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.659
 ministry

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:46.599
 and if you're

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.319
 not in full-time

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.759
 ministry

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.339
 and not every

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.119
 Christian is,

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.519
 and you are

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.019
 a Christian

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.239
 then your vocation

00:22:52.239 --> 00:22:52.739
 should be to

00:22:52.739 --> 00:22:53.439
 support full-time

00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:53.879
 ministry.

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.519
 Get a job

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.659
 and give money

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.319
 to the church

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.779
 and when you're

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.679
 not working

00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:59.179
 at that

00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:01.379
 sign up to a

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.079
 roster on church

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.719
 time and give

00:23:02.719 --> 00:23:03.479
 your time to the

00:23:03.479 --> 00:23:03.899
 church.

00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:06.119
 The most

00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:07.439
 influential thinker

00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:08.179
 in Western

00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:08.719
 Christianity

00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:10.259
 in the 300s,

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.779
 that's a long

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.319
 time ago,

00:23:11.699 --> 00:23:12.779
 was Augustine

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.519
 of Hippo.

00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.699
 He distinguished

00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:18.479
 between the two

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.380
 main aspects

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:19.799
 of life.

00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.360
 He called it

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:20.779
 the active

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.779
 life and the

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.599
 contemplative

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.000
 life.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.779
 The active

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.380
 life was all

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:25.960
 the ways that

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.539
 people serve

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:26.940
 one another.

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.539
 So for him

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.880
 it was farming

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.519
 and crafting

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.140
 and trading

00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.960
 and raising

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.599
 families and

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.099
 stuff like that.

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.200
 The contemplative

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.420
 life was the

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.319
 Godward life,

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.000
 the Godward

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.000
 focused life in

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.720
 prayer and

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.579
 worship and

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.480
 spiritual disciplines

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.059
 and stuff like

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.299
 that.

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.539
 Now while for

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.960
 him both aspects

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.680
 were good,

00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.259
 he suggested

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.740
 that the

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.440
 contemplative

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.420
 life was

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.140
 the most

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.339
 spiritual and

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.000
 God-pleasing

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.599
 in life.

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.660
 Now the

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.799
 separation of

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.339
 the physical

00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.079
 and spiritual

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.720
 aspects of

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.500
 life were

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.500
 further distorted

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.519
 in the 11th

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:02.019
 century when

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.920
 clergy were

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.799
 mandated to

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.279
 celibacy and

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.539
 therefore separated

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.379
 from ordinary

00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.500
 active life of

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.059
 family and

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.579
 business.

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.099
 They were put

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.559
 away in

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.119
 monasteries,

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.759
 put brown

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.660
 robes on them

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:17.580
 and walked

00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.100
 around and

00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:18.519
 hummed and

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.040
 stuff.

00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.279
 Now the

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.100
 key development

00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:23.540
 in understanding

00:24:23.540 --> 00:24:24.320
 work happened

00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:25.080
 ironically in

00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.840
 the 6th century

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.680
 by a guy

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.340
 named Gregory

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.000
 the Great.

00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:29.860
 Like I've

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.300
 said this

00:24:30.300 --> 00:24:30.640
 morning, I

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:30.880
 don't know

00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.360
 why he was

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.779
 great but

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.040
 we'll just

00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:32.300
 call him

00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:32.700
 Greg.

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.540
 Greg was

00:24:34.540 --> 00:24:35.840
 a monk who

00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:36.519
 valued the

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.140
 contemplative

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.300
 life above

00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:39.040
 the active

00:24:39.040 --> 00:24:40.300
 life but

00:24:40.300 --> 00:24:41.060
 whose world

00:24:41.060 --> 00:24:42.019
 was totally

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.560
 rocked when

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:45.240
 the Pope

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.379
 called him

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.139
 to Rome

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:48.119
 to head up

00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.720
 administrative

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.659
 duties and

00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.000
 he's like

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.059
 all of a

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.419
 sudden he's

00:24:51.419 --> 00:24:51.679
 got to

00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.099
 work.

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.619
 And his

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.539
 whole world

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.000
 was rocked

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.259
 and his

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.759
 personal

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.419
 journey helped

00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.019
 him to see

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.619
 that the

00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.319
 active life

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:58.759
 of service

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.440
 to others

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.179
 was not

00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.139
 an unwelcomed

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.779
 or a

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.339
 spiritually

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.179
 damaging

00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:03.779
 distraction

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.200
 from the

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.759
 contemplative

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.159
 life.

00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:05.799
 So he

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.200
 connected

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.279
 every aspect

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.839
 of life

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.279
 into a

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.659
 unified

00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.220
 whole,

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:09.679
 the

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:10.319
 contemplative

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.740
 life

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.519
 equipping

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.059
 us for

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.940
 active life

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.400
 service

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:13.920
 of others

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.640
 and the

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.120
 active

00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.660
 life

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.640
 grounding

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.160
 us in

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.680
 acts of

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.019
 love to

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.200
 our

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.539
 neighbours

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.400
 which kept

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.720
 us from

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.200
 floating

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.460
 off into

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.259
 spiritual

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.059
 pride and

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:24.000
 you know

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.059
 irrelevancy.

00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:28.120
 He connected

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.740
 work and

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.140
 particularly

00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.820
 service of

00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.640
 others and

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.120
 use of

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.980
 gifts and

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.640
 position in

00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.160
 life with

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.720
 spiritual

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.380
 maturity.

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.320
 Primary

00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:36.440
 and secondary

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.700
 calling are

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.299
 intimately

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.860
 connected.

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:42.179
 And so

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:43.539
 the impact

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.219
 of Greg's

00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:45.179
 work was

00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.579
 that in

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.500
 the Middle

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.099
 Ages

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.299
 Pope

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.779
 Benedict

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.519
 made

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.199
 manual

00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:50.779
 labour

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.279
 the duty

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.000
 of every

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.419
 monk in

00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:53.899
 a monastery.

00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.599
 So they

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.579
 blamed Greg

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.039
 and they

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:59.399
 made mead

00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:01.179
 whatever else

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:01.639
 they did

00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.279
 scotch and

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.659
 stuff.

00:26:04.479 --> 00:26:04.719
 Now

00:26:04.719 --> 00:26:05.619
 let's be

00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.079
 frank here

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.779
 old habits

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.519
 die hard.

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:09.599
 we are

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.379
 in danger

00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.299
 and I've

00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:11.740
 been there

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.379
 let me tell

00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:12.740
 you of

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.619
 propagating

00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:13.980
 this

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.819
 historical

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.980
 secular

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.599
 sacred

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.200
 divide.

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.660
 And part

00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:17.859
 of what

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.240
 we're doing

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.559
 in this

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:18.940
 series is

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.559
 trying to

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.059
 break that

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.480
 down a

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.759
 little bit

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.379
 for us.

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.240
 It is

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.980
 easy to

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.480
 class,

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.839
 let's be

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.319
 frank about

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:24.740
 this,

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.480
 it is

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.039
 easy to

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.519
 class what

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.799
 we are

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.579
 doing now

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.220
 in corporate

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.759
 worship

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.339
 as worship

00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.319
 but it's

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.160
 much more

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.039
 difficult for

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.500
 us to

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:33.980
 think about

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.420
 what we're

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.599
 going to

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.279
 do tomorrow

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.559
 as worship.

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.700
 And if

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.200
 you agree

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.720
 with that

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.220
 statement,

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:41.720
 yes it

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.079
 is more

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.639
 difficult,

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.359
 then it's

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.019
 quite possible

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.379
 that you

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:45.759
 have the

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.079
 secular

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.480
 sacred

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.039
 divide.

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:47.619
 You've

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:47.740
 been

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.119
 operating

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.500
 from that

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.900
 position.

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.700
 It's

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.079
 easy to

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.639
 see this

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.379
 as spiritual

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.799
 and what

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.079
 you're going

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.339
 to do

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:54.799
 tomorrow

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.319
 as

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.240
 unspiritual

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.500
 something

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:58.879
 that you

00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.339
 must do

00:26:59.339 --> 00:26:59.660
 in order

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.379
 to live.

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:01.779
 You see

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.480
 without a

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.259
 real sense

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.359
 of calling

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:06.000
 our motivation

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.599
 to get

00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.419
 out of bed

00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:07.899
 tomorrow

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.639
 morning and

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.099
 go to

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.099
 work will

00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.659
 be little

00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.419
 more than

00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:12.740
 I owe,

00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:13.319
 I owe,

00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:14.000
 so off to

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.399
 work I

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:14.699
 go.

00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.079
 You see

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.579
 faith in the

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.099
 Lord Jesus

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.679
 helps us to

00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.000
 see the

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.679
 dignity of

00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:21.079
 work.

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:21.959
 Work has

00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:22.379
 dignity

00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.899
 because it

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.419
 is something

00:27:24.419 --> 00:27:25.059
 that God

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.219
 does and

00:27:26.219 --> 00:27:26.759
 it's something

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.219
 that he

00:27:27.219 --> 00:27:28.339
 calls us

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.899
 to in his

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.439
 place as

00:27:29.439 --> 00:27:29.619
 his

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.199
 representatives.

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.219
 The plants

00:27:31.219 --> 00:27:31.459
 and the

00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:32.359
 animals were

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.179
 simply called

00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:33.919
 to reproduce.

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.800
 But people

00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:38.019
 are explicitly

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.820
 given a job

00:27:38.820 --> 00:27:39.320
 in Genesis

00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:39.860
 2.

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.620
 They are

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.039
 called to

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.340
 subdue and

00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.620
 have dominion

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.920
 or to

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.420
 rule over

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.080
 the created

00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:49.080
 order for

00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.640
 control,

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.200
 order,

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:51.460
 beauty,

00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.080
 creation of

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.380
 beauty,

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.960
 other things

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.460
 like that.

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.120
 So not

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:56.740
 only does

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.279
 work have

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:59.039
 dignity but

00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.220
 all kinds

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.080
 of work

00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:02.180
 have dignity.

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.299
 unity.

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.039
 This is

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.299
 where the

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.560
 great

00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:04.140
 reformer

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.440
 Martin

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.180
 Luther and

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.799
 John Calvin

00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.160
 was the

00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.440
 same,

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.600
 very helpful

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:07.960
 at this

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.259
 point.

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.640
 For instance,

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.400
 Luther noticed

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:10.960
 there's a bunch

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.500
 of places in

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.860
 the Bible

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.420
 where God

00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.960
 says that he

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.480
 will feed

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:13.980
 all of his

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.680
 living creatures

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.920
 and Luther

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.140
 sees that as

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.640
 a promise

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.220
 that God

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.000
 himself will

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.539
 fulfill.

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.200
 God does

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.480
 that.

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.840
 But he

00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.180
 says how

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.600
 does he do

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:23.799
 that?

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:24.060
 How does

00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.440
 God fulfill

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:24.920
 his promises?

00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.000
 He says he

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.960
 feeds you

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.400
 and I'm

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.660
 going to

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.299
 paraphrase him

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.799
 and modernize

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.140
 him a little

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.360
 bit.

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.480
 He feeds

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.940
 you through

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.160
 the farmers

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.559
 who grow

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.120
 the wheat,

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.059
 the truck

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.620
 driver who

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.539
 delivers it

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.799
 to the

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.120
 silo,

00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.599
 the trader

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.099
 who sells

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.460
 it to the

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:37.700
 baker,

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.059
 the baker

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.400
 who makes

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:38.839
 the bread,

00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.440
 the supermarket

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:40.900
 who sells

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.380
 it to you

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:43.000
 and he

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.480
 says the

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:43.980
 people who

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.380
 do the

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.180
 simplest of

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.440
 work are

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.039
 the fingers

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.900
 of God

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:50.339
 to bless

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:50.599
 you.

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:53.900
 When I

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.220
 go to the

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.079
 restaurant,

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.620
 the waitress

00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.079
 who brings

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.539
 me my

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:56.740
 food,

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.140
 the chef

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.339
 who's

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:57.920
 prepared in

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.299
 the back,

00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.799
 the delivery

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.180
 diver,

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.019
 the wholesalers,

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.799
 the workers

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.119
 in the

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.759
 food processing

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.139
 factory,

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.660
 the family

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.019
 and everyone

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.400
 else in

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.359
 the economic

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.440
 food chain

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.839
 are used

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.339
 by God

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.839
 to give

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.279
 me this

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.720
 day my

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.359
 daily bread.

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.559
 It's God

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.059
 at work

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.779
 using people

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.299
 in their

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:15.980
 vocation

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.059
 to serve

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.740
 me and

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.139
 others.

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.700
 God is

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.139
 loving me

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.460
 through the

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:20.740
 work of

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.319
 other people.

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.519
 All work

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.099
 is God's

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.400
 way of

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.779
 caring for

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.359
 his creation.

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.039
 This is

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.539
 important for

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:25.819
 us to come

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.180
 to terms

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.440
 with.

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.079
 There is

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.740
 no,

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.480
 no biblical

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.200
 foundation

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.819
 to elevate

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.360
 the work

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.039
 of doctors

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.680
 over the

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.360
 work of

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:33.900
 plumbers.

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.220
 None

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.680
 whatsoever.

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:36.839
 In fact,

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.500
 the foundation

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.120
 in that

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.740
 is pagan

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.019
 Greek

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.539
 philosophy

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.799
 where the

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.299
 thinkers

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.319
 were regarded

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.740
 in higher

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.120
 order

00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.920
 than the

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.380
 doers.

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.180
 Greek

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.400
 philosophy

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:47.599
 is not

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.900
 biblical.

00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.400
 As I

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:50.700
 mentioned,

00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.160
 1 Corinthians

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.559
 7,

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.259
 God calls

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.779
 people to

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.059
 different

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:53.700
 positions and

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.079
 roles in

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.759
 life and

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.160
 whatever the

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.019
 position is,

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.380
 it's

00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:57.259
 dignifying because

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.859
 God is

00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.220
 the one

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.660
 who does

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.140
 the calling

00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.740
 and assigning.

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.440
 And so

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.140
 be careful

00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:03.960
 of participating

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.799
 in the sneering

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.759
 attitude our

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.299
 culture has

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:06.920
 towards people

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.240
 who do

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.019
 simple jobs.

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.660
 Whenever

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.799
 Luther talked

00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:16.059
 about vocation,

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.740
 he deliberately

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.460
 used the

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.099
 simple and

00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.619
 the mundane

00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:21.160
 in order to

00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.220
 elevate the

00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.160
 significance of

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:23.319
 it.

00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.019
 He referred to

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.599
 the father

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.159
 washing

00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.759
 nappies,

00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:27.899
 the maid

00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:28.519
 sweeping the

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:28.899
 floor,

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:29.919
 the brewer

00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.679
 making good

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.059
 beer.

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.219
 By doing

00:30:34.219 --> 00:30:34.839
 our appointed

00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.319
 work in

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.699
 society,

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.219
 we become

00:30:36.219 --> 00:30:36.959
 the means

00:30:36.959 --> 00:30:37.379
 or the

00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.059
 agents of

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.699
 grace through

00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:39.639
 which God

00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:41.000
 serves others.

00:30:43.699 --> 00:30:44.279
 So

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.819
 traditionally,

00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:45.779
 we have

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.219
 used the

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:46.679
 language of

00:30:46.679 --> 00:30:47.379
 Christian work

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:47.859
 to refer

00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:49.119
 exclusively to

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.599
 what I'm

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.459
 doing now,

00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:50.919
 what I do

00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.480
 in my work,

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.439
 ministry and

00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:53.099
 missionary work

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.679
 and parachurch

00:30:53.679 --> 00:30:54.240
 callings.

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.380
 this distorted

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.420
 understanding

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.200
 exposes an

00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.400
 inadequate grasp

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:00.940
 of the

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.259
 biblical

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.039
 understanding

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.859
 of vocation

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.660
 and if

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.059
 you're a

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.480
 Christian,

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.980
 you are

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.579
 about to

00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.539
 embark on

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.319
 a week of

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.539
 Christian work

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.980
 in the same

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.460
 way that I'm

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:11.859
 about to

00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.400
 embark on a

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.700
 week of

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.400
 Christian work

00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.140
 when you

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.620
 leave this

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.019
 building.

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.019
 What will

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.220
 that look

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.120
 like for

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.440
 you?

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:23.320
 depending on

00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:24.000
 your theological

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.720
 position and

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.460
 your vocation,

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.000
 you might

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.259
 say the

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.620
 way to

00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.100
 serve God

00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:28.620
 at work

00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.580
 is to

00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.019
 work with

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.559
 a grateful,

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.360
 joyful,

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.019
 gospel-changed

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.720
 heart through

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.500
 all the ups

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.180
 and downs.

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.420
 Or the

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:37.700
 way to

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.100
 serve God

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:38.420
 at work

00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:38.700
 is to

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.039
 do whatever

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.660
 gives you

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.059
 the greatest

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.480
 joy and

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.880
 passion.

00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.940
 Or the

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.279
 way to

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.840
 serve God

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.240
 at work

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.519
 is to

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.799
 make as

00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.180
 much money

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.400
 as you

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.840
 can so

00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:44.980
 you can

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.200
 be as

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.460
 generous

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:45.820
 as you

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.120
 can.

00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:47.319
 Or the

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:47.619
 way to

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.000
 serve God

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.379
 at work

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.879
 is to

00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.159
 further

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.599
 social

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:49.979
 justice

00:31:49.979 --> 00:31:50.299
 in the

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.579
 world.

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.139
 Or the

00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:51.439
 way to

00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:51.839
 serve God

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.259
 at work

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.039
 is to

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.199
 be

00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:53.679
 personally

00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:54.119
 honest,

00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:55.039
 to evangelize

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.619
 my colleagues

00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.079
 and set up

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.799
 Bible studies.

00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:57.739
 Or the

00:31:57.739 --> 00:31:58.079
 way to

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.739
 serve God

00:31:58.739 --> 00:31:59.159
 at work

00:31:59.159 --> 00:31:59.459
 is to

00:31:59.459 --> 00:31:59.599
 do

00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.139
 skillful,

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.579
 excellent

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.000
 work.

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.799
 Or the

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.099
 way to

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.479
 serve God

00:32:02.479 --> 00:32:02.799
 at work

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.079
 is to

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.339
 create

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.719
 beauty.

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.039
 Or the

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.339
 way to

00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:04.759
 serve God

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.199
 at work

00:32:05.199 --> 00:32:05.939
 is to

00:32:05.939 --> 00:32:06.479
 work from

00:32:06.479 --> 00:32:06.979
 a Christian

00:32:06.979 --> 00:32:07.579
 motivation

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.259
 to glorify

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.659
 God,

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.139
 seeking to

00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.699
 engage and

00:32:09.699 --> 00:32:10.239
 influence the

00:32:10.239 --> 00:32:11.299
 culture to

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.159
 that end.

00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.339
 It will

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:14.819
 depend on

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.339
 your theological

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:15.819
 position,

00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.279
 depend on

00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.599
 the work

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.000
 you do.

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.379
 But I

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.119
 would say

00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:21.379
 that Christian

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.480
 work is

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:24.759
 generally

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.399
 speaking a

00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:25.799
 mixture of

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.059
 all of

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.679
 those things.

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.119
 Not every

00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:30.919
 vocation is

00:32:30.919 --> 00:32:31.359
 going to do

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:31.899
 all of those

00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.319
 things.

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.480
 I do

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.000
 struggle to

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.379
 see how

00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:35.779
 accountants

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.399
 create beauty,

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.959
 frankly.

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.659
 If you're a

00:32:41.659 --> 00:32:41.939
 Christian

00:32:41.939 --> 00:32:42.919
 airline pilot,

00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:45.039
 it doesn't

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.420
 mean that

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:45.879
 you use

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.039
 the

00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.440
 plane's

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.960
 intercom

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.279
 to share

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.839
 the gospel

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.639
 with your

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:50.740
 passengers from

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.180
 point A to

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.740
 point B.

00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.159
 At the

00:32:53.159 --> 00:32:53.859
 very least,

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.240
 it means

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.659
 land the

00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:56.559
 plane and

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:56.899
 do it

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.279
 well,

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:57.879
 smoothly.

00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.180
 Doing your

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.819
 work well

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.619
 honors God.

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.500
 For

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.379
 mums,

00:33:06.659 --> 00:33:06.899
 you know,

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.639
 Billy Graham's

00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.420
 wife had a

00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.139
 plaque above

00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:09.700
 her kitchen

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.440
 sink which

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:10.920
 read,

00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:12.559
 divine services

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.440
 conducted here

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.220
 three times a

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.460
 day.

00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.559
 She understood

00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.399
 her vocation

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:19.759
 and that it

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.399
 honored God.

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:20.740
 It was

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.299
 worship.

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.659
 Lining your

00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:25.159
 kid's school

00:33:25.159 --> 00:33:25.559
 uniform,

00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.379
 changing a

00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:26.799
 nappy that

00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.599
 overfloweth,

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.679
 or, you

00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:28.799
 know,

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.460
 mowing your

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.379
 lawn are not

00:33:31.379 --> 00:33:32.700
 simply jobs

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.779
 when done

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.019
 for God.

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.240
 God is

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:36.859
 working through

00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.899
 you to create

00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:38.899
 order and care

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.280
 for his

00:33:39.280 --> 00:33:40.160
 creation and

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.720
 creatures,

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.800
 to redeem,

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.420
 to advance

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.140
 his purposes.

00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:46.900
 Is this not

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.200
 what the

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.860
 Bible teaches

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:48.240
 us in

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:48.680
 Colossians

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.500
 chapter 3?

00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:52.180
 Have this

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.380
 verse ringing

00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:53.960
 in your mind

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.660
 tomorrow morning,

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.960
 maybe go home

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.540
 and print it

00:33:56.540 --> 00:33:57.200
 out and stick

00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.519
 it in your

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.019
 pocket, put

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.280
 it in your

00:33:58.280 --> 00:33:59.019
 lunchbox or

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.480
 something like

00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.340
 that, whatever

00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:00.700
 it is that

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.140
 you do.

00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:04.900
 Whatever you

00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:06.580
 do, work

00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:07.000
 at it with

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.519
 all of your

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.300
 heart as

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.400
 working for

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.200
 the Lord,

00:34:10.660 --> 00:34:11.380
 not for

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.680
 men.

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.019
 Since you

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.880
 know that

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.519
 you receive

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.160
 an inheritance

00:34:15.160 --> 00:34:15.700
 from the

00:34:15.700 --> 00:34:16.519
 Lord as

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.480
 a reward,

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.900
 it is the

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.740
 Lord Christ

00:34:19.740 --> 00:34:20.760
 that you

00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.320
 are serving.

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:22.780
 Let's pray.

00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.160
 Gracious

00:34:25.160 --> 00:34:25.700
 Father, may

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.360
 your favour

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:27.420
 be upon us

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.760
 and give us

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.360
 hope and

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:29.940
 purpose and

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.620
 meaning and

00:34:30.620 --> 00:34:31.460
 joy in our

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.200
 weekly work.

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.700
 Pour out

00:34:33.700 --> 00:34:34.180
 your favour

00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:35.120
 on us and

00:34:35.120 --> 00:34:35.860
 establish the

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.440
 work of our

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.880
 hands for

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.700
 honour and

00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.360
 glory of

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.000
 your name

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.440
 and the

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:40.980
 joy of

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.559
 all people.

00:34:42.240 --> 00:34:42.680
 Amen.