(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better — and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Conversation Starter:
How should I represent dutiful work?
Intro:
Today and tomorrow we’re in the section of Luke that speaks to identity — what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus and even what it takes to become one.
Hey Hopeful, welcome to another chance to sit together at Jesus feet and listen. And one bit of housekeeping — what do you think about calling the Focus Question a ‘Conversation Starter?’ It just struck me today, because the objective isn’t (can’t be) a full theological exploration of the topic or even exegesis of the text…it’s just something that bubbles up in our reading that gives us something to think about. I’d love your feedback — hello@forthehope.com.
NEW TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
As we turn to our NT segment today, our conversation starter is the question, “How should you represent dutiful work?” And maybe, as we’ll get to in our Bottom Line segment, how might we talk about it?
Passage: Luke 17
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 37
Words: ~791
ORIGINAL TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
In our OT segment today we are, quite frankly, going to hear lists of names. And as we do here, we read it all (albeit some of it pretty quickly). That said, maybe today it’d be useful for us to remember that God has a purpose for including it given the text was written to us, but was preserved for us. And if we look at the Bible as a whole, it’s so we understand who God is, who we are in relationship, and the need for a Savior that bubbles up as a result. And these couple chapters of 1 Chronicles are part of a section which could be described as “God’s redemptive plan for worship.”(1)
Passage: 1 Chronicles 25-26
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 63
Words: ~1269
Wisdom SEGMENT:
Passage: Proverbs 13:1-9
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 9
Words: ~143
THE BOTTOM LINE:
How should I represent dutiful work? Let’s answer that by way of putting that in context of yesterday.
Beyond mission is discipleship. Discipleship expresses itself in service to others, so the disciple is generous with resources (16:1–31). He is not like the rich man, who ignored Lazarus (16:19–31). Though false teaching is a threat, it is overcome with forgiveness of the brother, deep faith, and service (17:1–10). Disciples are to see themselves as slaves who do their duty (17:7–10), something Paul also knew (Rom 1:1).(2)
I hope as we were reading today that that stood out as one of the more obvious answers to our focus question or conversation starter. And maybe that conversation is one you simply have with yourself — Do I reaaaally see my day job as working for Jesus?
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 274.
(2) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 273.