071512 christians in the marketplace jory leong

Good morning!

1. Marketplace Misunderstood

2. Marketplace and the Bible

3. Marketplace Christian

1. Marketplace Misunderstood

2. Marketplace Misunderstood

Work is part of the curse

after the Fall

Work is a gift from God

Work is a gift from God – Eccl

3:13; 5:18-19

God Himself is a Worker – Gen

2:2

God commends & commands

work long after the Fall – Gen 9:1-

7; Col 3:23; 1 Thess 4:11

Work is a gift from God

“Work is a

consequence of

creation; not the

fall; the fall has

aggravated the

problems without

destroying its joys” John Stott

Work is a gift from God

2. Marketplace Misunderstood

Only Christian work has

any real spiritual value

All legitimate work has

essential value to God

Gnosticism & Greek’s dualism

view

All of life is to lived under Christ’s

lordship – Colossians 3:17

What matters is our intention /

motivation

“Sacred” vs “Secular” Work

1. Marketplace Misunderstood

2. Marketplace and the Bible

• Jesus made 132 public appearances in New Testament - 122 were in the marketplace

• Jesus told 52 parables - 45 had a marketplace context

• The book of Acts recorded 40 divine interventions - 39 were in the marketplace

• Jesus’ first 12 disciples were marketplace individuals, not clergymen

1. Marketplace Misunderstood

2. Marketplace and the Bible

3. Marketplace Christian

Excellence

Ethical

Edifying

3. Marketplace Christian

3. Marketplace Christian

Excellence

Colossians 3:23

“Whatever you do,

work at it with all

your heart, as

working for the Lord,

not for human

masters”

Ephesians 6:7

“Serve

wholeheartedly,

as if you were

serving the Lord,

not men”

NOT 100% Commitment …

3. Marketplace Christian

Ethical

Colossians 3:22 “Slaves, obey your

earthly masters in everything; and do it,

not only when their eye is on you and to

curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart

and reverence for the Lord ”

Colossians 4:1 “Masters, be just and fair

to your slaves. Remember that you also

have a Master - in heaven”

Indira Gandhi

“My grandfather once

told me there are two

kinds of people,

those who do the

work and those who

take the credit.

Try to be in the first

group - there is less

competition.”

3. Marketplace Christian

Edify

1 Cor 10:23

“All things are lawful for me, but not all

things are helpful; all things are lawful

for me, but not all things edify.”

Are you a workaholic?

Proverbs 23:4

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

have the wisdom to show restraint.”

Are you a workaholic?

Rick Warren

“How to keep your

profession from

being an

obsession”

Are you a workaholic?

1. Are you always in a hurry?

2. Does your “To Do” list have more in it than you can accomplish in a single day?

3. Does doing nothing drive you up a wall?

4. Do you find it difficult to say “No” to opportunities?

5. Do you feel guilty when you relax?

Are you a workaholic?

6. Do you frequently find it difficult to turn your mind off at night when you go to bed?

7. Do people around you tell you, you ought to slow down?

8. Do you procrastinate about taking vacations?

9. Do you have to get sick to slow down?

10. Do you ever take business related reading material into the bathroom?

Excellence

Ethical

Edifying

3. Marketplace Christian

1. Marketplace Misunderstood

2. Marketplace and the Bible

3. Marketplace Christian

Bill Bright Loren

Cunningham

Francis

Schaeffer