Connecting Our Faith and Work

Episode 8 ~ The Gospel and Work Part 2: A New Compass & Power for Work

In this final class Justin concludes the exercise from the previous weeks on connecting our faith and work by locating it within a Christian worldview, and he finishes the class by examining how the Christian faith provides a unique ethic for work (love as seen in the gospel) and also how the gospel empowers us to work in such a way that we neither overwork nor underwork, establishing an appropriate relationship between work and rest.

Episode 7 ~ The Gospel and Work Part 1: A New Story for Work & A New Conception of Work

This week Justin begins to look at how the gospel mitigates the effects of sin on our work. This week in particular he examines how the story of the Christian faith enables Christians to work with distinctiveness in their field and be a corrective in every field of work. The Christian faith also equips the Christian to work collaboratively with people of other faiths because of the nature of common grace.

Episode 6 ~ Problems with Work Part 3: Work Becomes Selfish & Reveals Our Idols

This week Justin looks at Genesis 11 and points out that, in light of man's fall into sin, we are prone to approach our work 'in order to make a name for ourselves.' Instead, he suggests that we ought to learn from the story of Esther who leveraged her resources and influence, not in order to preserve her own power and security, but in order to serve and protect others. Ultimately the gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest example of giving up oneself for another, and it provides the proper motivation and unending strength when it comes to our own work.

Episode 5 ~ Problems with Work Part 2: Work Becomes Futile & Pointless

This week Justin looks at the book of Ecclesiastes and examines why our work often feels meaningless. There is, as the Preacher of Ecclesiastes says, "nothing new under the sun." When we have appropriate expectations for our work, we can avoid both idealism and cynicism when it comes to our callings.

Episode 4 ~ Problems with Work Part 1: Work Becomes Fruitless & Frustrating

This week Justin begins to look at why work doesn't seem to go as it should. He examines Genesis 3 and the curse of sin upon work, specifically in how it makes work fruitless and frustrating. There is a tension that we face in work between God's dignified call to work and the fallen reality of the fruitlessness of our work. This tension, rightly held, helps us to avoid both cynicism and idealism when it comes to our work.