The Theology of WORK

REACHING PEOPLE IN THE MARKET PLACE

MISSION OBJECTIVES:

• To share the gospel to the working people within it’s working

place.
• To develop Christians that can influence in the market place,
industry & to the business people.
• To create holistic approach to share the gospel in the community
by engaging to their work.
• To help the community in providing opportunity.
Definition of terms:

• THEOLOGY – THE STUDY ABOUT GOD / THEO – GOD & LOGO –

WORDS.
• WORK – EFFORT EXIST WHETHER MANUAL OR MENTAL

• THEOLOGY OF WORK MEANS , THE STUDY OF WORK IN GOD’S

WORD OR THRU GOD’S TEACHING.
Two types of perspective in the ministry.

• PETER TYPE APPROACH ( PETRINE) – willing to give up everything (fisherman

business) just to follow Christ. (majority of the religious people accepted this
type of view).
• He concentrated on the ministry.

• PAUL TYPE OF APPROACH (PAULINE) –He was a tent maker (contractor) and he was
with the people in the market/professionals/business and even with the
government officials. Example Lydia who sells purple linen textiles
(garments);Acts 16:14-15 ; 2 Thessalonians 6:6-13 ; Parable of the Talents ; Acts
18:3 - - (some called it liberals or secularized ministries)
• He work with his own hand and still do the ministry.
Do you think it is wrong to work?

• Do you think it is wrong to a church

minister to work in a secular?
• Is this view biblical?

Lets find out more.

What is WORK? … why do we work?

• Some say work means money!

• Live legacy
• Finding identity
• To support
• To get rich
• To accomplish

• Some says work is a CURSE ; PUNISHMENT ;

BURDEN ; RESPONSIBLITY
GOD IS AT WORK! The Theology of Work!

• In the beginning God CREATED the heavens and the earth.

• God rested on the 7th day.
• After the fall of mankind (Gen 3), God continue to work on how to
save mankind from the eternal punishment.
• He who does not work, does not eat
• Make it your ambition to lead a quite life, to mind your own business
and to work with your own hands…
• He who does not provide the needs of his family is worse than an
unbeliever.
 2 Thessalonians 6:6-13

• Mga kapatid iniuutos naming sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesu

Cristo na layuan ninyo ang sinumang kapatid na tamad at ayaw
sumunod sa mga turo na ibinigay naming sa inyo. 7. alam naman
ninyo na dapat ninyong tularan ang aming ginawa. Hindi kami
nagging tamad ng kaming nasa inyo. 8. Hindi kami nakikain kanino
man nang walang bayad. Nagtrabaho kami araw-gabi upang hindi
makabigat kaninuman sa inyo. 9. Ginawa naming ito hindi dahil sa
wala kaming karapatan sa inyong tulong, kundi upang kayo’y
bigyang halimbawang dapat ninyong tularan. 10. Nang kami ay
kasama pa ninyo ito ang aming itinuturo naming sa inyo. “ang
ayaw magtrabaho ay hindi dapat kumain.”
1 Thesalonica 4:11-12

• Pagsikapan ninyong mamuhay nang tahimik, pag

ukulan ninyo ng pansin ang sariling gawain at
hindi ang sa iba. Maghanapbuhay kayo tulad ng
itinuturo naming sa inyo. Dahil dito igagalang
kayo ng hindi mananampalataya at hindi na ninyo
kailangang umasa sa iba.
What is work?

• Work is an effort whether mental or manual that will bring glory to

God and edify ones neighbor.

• In other words anything you do , whether in word or in deed do it

in the name of the Lord.

• You work because you serve God and to provide oneself & family
and to serve your neighbor.
What is work?

“Work should bring glory to God and edify one’s neighbor”.

• To serve God
• To express gifts and talents
• To provide for ones self & ones family
• To serve our neighbor
• Our work should not focus on us. (ego centric)
• Work is a part of your ministry
• Work is worship!
The problem: DUALISM PRINCIPLE

• THE IDEA OF SACRED (SAINT) & SECULAR (SINNER) – these ideas derive from
monastessism.
• MONASTERY- they separate themselves to keep pure and live holy according to
their beliefs that this body is sinner and this world is sinful.
• Puritans/sacred - those who work in the church are holy and spirituals
• Secular – those who work in the world are cursed and sinful.
• These principles are not found in the bible and not a practice of the early church.
• Example of miss applied interpretation - MARTHA & MARY STORY ( Luke 10:38-42).
It explained only the limited time of Jesus for them.

• NOTE: WE CAN’T SEPARATE SACRED & SECULAR WHILE WE ARE ON EARTH WHAT WE
CAN SEPARATE IS THE GOOD AND EVIL DOINGS.
WHAT IS YOUR VOCATION?

• VOCATION derives from the word vocale – which means voice or calling.
• You are called to a certain purpose.
• If your vocation is a teacher then be a Christian teacher.
• If your vocation is a businessman then be a Christian businessman
• If your vocation is a soldier then be a Christian soldier
• If your vocation is a preacher, then preach the Word of God
• You vocation defines your purpose in life.
• Your vocation is the extension of God’s kingdom.
• Know your vocation, you are called to do the will of God.
• NO VOCATION IS GREATER THAN THE OTHER!
MINISTRY IN A WORKPLACE, IS IT POSIBLE?

• What if we have ministry in your workplace, in your office.

• Sharing the goodness of God with your co-workers.
• Bringing the gospel to your workplace instead of bring your friend
to the church.
• Sharing your influence/faith/love of God with your co-workers

• “ Go ye therefore into all the WORLD…..”

• “ Let your light shine before men…..”
Why in the workplace?

• All of us spend the half of our life in our workplace. We spend 8

hours in a day.
• Most of the people in the community are in the
marketplace/offices/business/workplace.
• Sharing the gospel is not only limited to every houses, during
prayer meetings, devotionals, midweek services or during sundays
only. Sharing the gospel should be on a day to day basis where
there are people waiting to be saved.
WHO ARE THE TRANSFORMER OF THE
SOCIETY?

• MEDIA
• POLITICIANS/ POLITICS
• CELEBRITY
• BUSINESSES
• HOW ABOUT THE CHURCH?

• QUESTION: HOW CAN WE TRANSFORM A SOCIETY?

CONCLUSION:

• The business sector are the most influential transformer of the nation.
They are the one who mold our young, and create some paths to our
society. They are the trend setter.
• Most of the businessman are also used by God to see visions. Visions to
develop and transform a rural area into urban cities.
• Thus work/job are being generated. Work is not a curse but our
solution to provide our needs and to help others.
• Half of our lifetime is spend at work. So let us spend it also in creating
ministry at our work place by rejecting the idea of dualism (sacred &
secular) monastesism and accept the idea that work is a blessing from
God and it is part of my worship.
 CONCLUSION:
• Although God wants us to fix our mind on things above, he is also concern
to our body, soul, and spirit to kept blameless until He comes.
• God doesn’t separate secular and saint work. All work must be toward to
God and be beneficial to mankind.
• The principle of monastesism by puritans was passed down from centuries
from the monasteries to the seminaries down to the bible schools. But if
you will trace from acts, there were no distinction between so called
secular & saints.
• OUR WORK IS PART OF OUR MINISTRY. It is a blessing from God that allows
you to do your ministry.
• Anyone who understand the theology of work it is the redirection of your
Sunday towards Monday empowering the whole people of God for their
service and ministry in the world.
QUESTIONS?