Work and Vocation

Entering In / Group Examen

How are you entering into this space? What emotions are you experiencing in your body/heart/mind?

What word/phrase would you use to describe your (work) week?

When did you experience God’s presence in your week?

When did you experience the absence of God’s presence in your week?

Discussion

What did you find challenging or convicting about Sunday’s space? What was your biggest takeaway from the conversation?

Group activity: Listen to a 7 minute clip and discuss

Watch the Dave Evans’ video. Dave Evans is an entrepreneur, Stanford design lecturer, author of ‘Design Your Life’, and frequent teacher of ‘faith & work’.

In this lecture, Dave presents three dimensions of ‘ministry and work’.

The first, “ministry at work”, is concerned with caring and loving people in your work space. Some might refer to this as “evangelizing to your co-workers” or simply “being God’s presence of love to people.” Examples in scripture include Luke 5, Jeremiah 4.

The second, “ministry of work”, is concerned with viewing work as a way we can express God’s image in the world (e.g., creativity, beauty, order, healing). This is the idea that “work is a good thing” in and of itself. Examples in scripture include Genesis 1-2, Jesus’ work as a carpenter.

The third, “ministry to work”, is concerned with how our work can be a means by which we address brokenness and evils within our world and its systems. In other words, how can our work be a way we help redeem broken systems? Examples of scripture include Romans 12:1-12.

Discuss

What about this way of thinking about faith&work resonates with you? What seems different or challenging?

What questions do you still have about faith&work after listening to Dave’s talk?

In your specific work context, how might you live out these dimensions of “ministry at, of, and to work”?

Closing

How can this group pray for you this week?