Session 6 Work
Cultivating the Garden
Introduction
The Christian community is to be a “city on a hill” (Matt 5:14). The world must see in our
community what life can be in all its beauty under the kingship of Jesus Christ. It is
important to have gospel-speaking, neighbourhood-loving, community-transformed
congregations everywhere. Only the gospel enables us to build an alternate city.
Bible Study
Pray as you begin, asking God to be at work in your group.
Read Matthew 6:19-21 and then work through the questions below:
1. Why does Jesus tell us to store up “treasures in heaven” (v 20) rather than
“treasures on earth” (v 19)? What does Jesus mean when he says, “For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also”?
2. How do most people you know tend to spend their time, energy and money?
What do you spend money on most effortlessly and joyfully?
3. How might you, and your group, go about storing up “treasures in heaven”?
4. In an article called, ‘Bring back the Sabbath” we read:
There is ample evidence that our relationship to work is out of whack! Let me argue
on behalf of an institution that has kept workaholism in reasonable check for
thousands of years. Most people mistakenly believe that all you have to do to stop
working is not work. The inventors of the Sabbath understood that it was a much
more complicated undertaking. You cannot downshift casually and easily. This is
why the Jewish & Puritan Sabbaths were so exactingly intentional. The rules did not
exist to torture the faithful. Interrupting the ceaseless round of striving requires a
surprisingly strenuous act of will, one that has to be bolstered by habit as well as by
social sanction.
J Shulevitz, Bring Back the Sabbath (New York Times, March 2, 2003)
This quote suggests that scheduled rest will not work without a great deal of
intentionality and discipline. Brainstorm the kind of practical habits and practices
that can help us observe a Sabbath.
DVD:
Watch the DVD for this Session. You will be lead in discussion following it.
PRAY:
Ask God that you would be able, again within community, to learn better how
to bring the gospel into your work.
Home Study:
Read Luke 10:25-37
Session 6 Work
Cultivating the Garden
Introduction
The Christian community is to be a “city on a hill” (Matt 5:14). The world must see in our
community what life can be in all its beauty under the kingship of Jesus Christ. It is
important to have gospel-speaking, neighbourhood-loving, community-transformed
congregations everywhere. Only the gospel enables us to build an alternate city.
Bible Study
Pray as you begin, asking God to be at work in your group.
Read Matthew 6:19-21 and then work through the questions below:
1. Why does Jesus tell us to store up “treasures in heaven” (v 20) rather than
“treasures on earth” (v 19)? What does Jesus mean when he says, “For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also”?
2. How do most people you know tend to spend their time, energy and money?
What do you spend money on most effortlessly and joyfully?
3. How might you, and your group, go about storing up “treasures in heaven”?
4. In an article called, ‘Bring back the Sabbath” we read:
There is ample evidence that our relationship to work is out of whack! Let me argue
on behalf of an institution that has kept workaholism in reasonable check for
thousands of years. Most people mistakenly believe that all you have to do to stop
working is not work. The inventors of the Sabbath understood that it was a much
more complicated undertaking. You cannot downshift casually and easily. This is
why the Jewish & Puritan Sabbaths were so exactingly intentional. The rules did not
exist to torture the faithful. Interrupting the ceaseless round of striving requires a
surprisingly strenuous act of will, one that has to be bolstered by habit as well as by
social sanction.
J Shulevitz, Bring Back the Sabbath (New York Times, March 2, 2003)
This quote suggests that scheduled rest will not work without a great deal of
intentionality and discipline. Brainstorm the kind of practical habits and practices
that can help us observe a Sabbath.
DVD:
Watch the DVD for this Session. You will be lead in discussion following it.
PRAY:
Ask God that you would be able, again within community, to learn better how
to bring the gospel into your work.
Home Study:
Read Luke 10:25-37