Sermons from St. Andrew's ~ Mt. Pleasant

BIBLE STUDY Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Romans 1:16-17 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201%3A16-17&version=ESV] SERMON OUTLINE * The Gospel is not outdated. * The Gospel does not mirror the culture. * The Gospel does not faint. QUESTIONS? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Steve Wood (SWood@StAndrews.Church [SWood@StAndrews.Church]).

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Sermon Outline Sermon Questions 1. What is mercy, biblically? 2. Read Psalm 73, from the perspective of Lazarus. How does this psalm illustrate a merciful heart? 3. Where are you superabounding materially? What needs are you aware of in our community that you could help to address? 4. What needs in our community are you unaware of, because your daily routines/rhythms/whereabouts insulate you from them? Resources Consulted * Dig Deeper: NT Wright, The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is (IVP, 2015) * Reach Higher: Richard Bauckham, “The Rich Man and Lazarus: The Parable and the Parallels,” New Testament Studies 37 (1991), 225–46; Reuben Bredenhof, “Looking for Lazarus: Assigning Meaning to the Poor Man in Luke 16.19–31,” New Testament Studies 2020 (66), 51–67; John T. Carroll, Luke: A Commentary (Westminster John Knox, 2012); Søren Kierkegaard, Works of Love, trans. George Pattison (Harper Perennial, 2009); Martin Luther King, Jr. “Remaining Awake through a Great Revolution,” in A Testament of Hope (Harper, 1994), 268–78 Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker ( ).

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Mark 12:28-34, Col 3:23-25, Rom 12:1, 1 Pet 2:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012%3A28-34%2C%20Col%203%3A23-25%2C%20Rom%2012%3A1%2C%201%20Pet%202%3A9&version=ESV] . Sermon Notes I. Introduction: Restoring What’s Broken * Illustration: Restoring furniture — sometimes better than new. * Recap of the series: * Week 1 – Creation: Work is good. (Listen here [https://standrews.church/blog/faith-and-work-gods-original-design/]) * Week 2 – Fall: Work is broken by sin. (Listen here [https://standrews.church/blog/faith-and-work-the-dirty-side-of-work-and-how-to-avoid-it/]) * Week 3 – Redemption: Jesus is making all things new — including our work. II. Big Biblical Truth – Revelation 21:5 “Behold, I am making all things new.” * Not “all new things” — but “all things new.” * Present tense: Jesus is doing this now. * Redemption includes more than souls — it includes work. III. Three Ways to Integrate Faith and Work 1. Do Good Work * Christian work should be excellent, honest, dependable. * Colossians 3:23–24 — Work for the Lord, not just for people. * Keep growing in skill, creativity, and integrity. * Guardrail: Excellence ≠ perfectionism or workaholism. 2. Serve Others Through Your Work * Work connects us to others; we meet real needs. * Luther: God provides through everyday vocations (farmers, bakers…). * Purpose matters: Chick-fil-A example — work as a positive influence. * You can serve others through your work, even if your workplace doesn’t. 3. Worship Through Your Work * We are a priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9). * Romans 12:1 — Offer your bodies (and work) as a living sacrifice. * Visual: Imagine lifting your work up to God each day in worship. * “Lord, I offer my work to You…” Sermon Application Discussion Questions: * Do you feel "called" to your job? Why or why not? What makes a job a calling? * What's the difference between Jesus making all new things vs. all things new? Why is that distinction important for work? * What makes for good work in a Christian perspective? * Describe a time when you were the most satisfied in your work.  What contributed to this satisfaction? * If your work is not perfect, can you still lift it up to the Lord as an act of worship? Questions? Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ).

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Sermon Notes I. The Fall and the Corruption of Work (Genesis 3) * Sin enters through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. * Consequences: shame, hiding from God, broken partnership. * Work is cursed: * Pain in childbirth and relational struggle. * Toil and frustration in labor (thorns, thistles, broken systems). * Humanity tried to do life apart from God — the result is broken work. II. Three Pitfalls That Distort Work 1. Individualism – Caring Too Much About Ourselves in Work * Luke 12: The rich fool stores wealth and speaks only to himself. * God is absent from his plans and gratitude. * Diagnostic questions: * Is God your reference point? * Do you use work to serve others? 2. Idleness – Caring Too Little About the Work Itself * 2 Thessalonians 3: warning against laziness and not working. * Broader definition of work: includes unpaid, volunteer, home-based. * Matthew 25: Parable of the talents — don’t bury your gifts. * Idleness can stem from fear, not just laziness. 3. Idolatry – Caring Too Much About Work * Work becomes identity or self-worth. * Examples: over-identifying with parenting, business success, or ministry. * Signs of idolatry: * Can’t stop working. * Refusal to rest or Sabbath. * Reminder of 6+1 rhythm of work and rest from creation. III. The Way Forward: The Cross and the Spirit * The Cross: Where we bring our sin and receive forgiveness. * The Spirit: Empowerment for change and restored partnership with God. * Through the Spirit, we can: * Reject the lies of individualism, idleness, and idolatry. * Embrace a God-centered, Spirit-empowered vision for work. Sermon Application Discussion Questions: * What is one way you experience the distortion of work on a regular basis? * To which of the pitfalls of work are you most susceptible? * If you don't like your job, can you still honor God in it? How? * If someone's work is raising kids, what might sabbath look like? Additional Resources The Gospel at Work by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert Questions? Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ).

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Sermon Notes “How can anyone remain interested in a religion which seems to have no concern with nine-tenths of his life?” — Dorothy Sayers 1. God Is a Worker – And We Are Made in His Image * * * * The Bible opens with God working—creating the world (Genesis 1:1–2:2). * As God's image bearers, we too are designed for creative, fruitful work. * Work is not an afterthought or consequence of sin—it’s part of our identity. 2. God Made a World That Needs Work * * * * God created a good, but unfinished world—full of potential. * Humans are commissioned to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). * We are called to develop culture, build communities, and steward creation. 3. Work Has Inherent Dignity * * * * Work existed before the fall—it is not a curse but a gift. * All kinds of work (paid, unpaid, creative, routine) matter to God. * Meaningful work is vital to human flourishing and reflects God’s character. Sermon Application Discussion Questions: 1. 2. Describe your attitude towards your work (whether paid or unpaid, inside or outside the home).  Are you positive? Negative? Motivated? Bored? Delighted? Frustrated? Can a hobby be considered work according to Genesis 1-2? Why or why not? Is it easy for you to connect your faith to your work? In what ways might knowing God's original design for work from Gen 1-2 help strengthen that connection? * Why is work important for human dignity? Additional Resources by Timothy Keller by Vern Poythress Questions? Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ). Audio & Video You can listen to the sermon by using the player below or via the St Andrew's Sermon Podcast on  and .