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Sermon Notes

Godliness In The Workplace // Blueprints For Building The Church

1 Timothy 6:1-2 “Godliness and The Workplace”

1 Timothy 6:1-2

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. ² Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

Galatians 3:26-29

²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Search for the perfect job… (Genesis 3:17-19)

• Probably doesn’t exist
• It’s Adam’s fault

If Your Boss Is A Jerk …respect and obey anyway because…

1 Timothy 6:1

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

• It makes God (Christianity) look good

-God’s reputation is more important than our rights

Titus 2:9-10

⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

-People decide what they think of Christ based on what they think of us

• It can save you a lot of grief

Proverbs 16:14

A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    but the wise will appease it.

• It can help you get ahead

Proverbs 27:18

The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.

• It’s what God says to do

1 Peter 2:18-21

¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

If you boss is a believer… never take advantage of the relationship

1 Timothy 6:2

 ² Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

When Work Isn’t Working Out 

• Am I being asked to do anything unethical?

YES: Obey God not man – accept the consequences

NO: Obey the boss

• Can I quit?

1 Corinthians 7:17

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

YES: Move on.     

NO: Make the most of it                                                                                                      

Weekly Discussion Questions:

*1 Timothy 6:1-2*

START THINKING. Ask these questions to get your LifeGroup thinking.

• Describe one of your earliest paying jobs. How did it go and how did you get involved in it?
• What is the worst job you’ve ever had?  What made it so difficult?

START TALKING. Ask these questions to get your LifeGroup talking.

• Looking back over your sermon notes, which particular point or passage of Scripture most challenged, confused or caught your attention regarding “Christians in the Workplace”?

*Read Ephesians 6:5-8*
This biblical passage also deals with principles that can be related to an employee/employer relationship.

• What do these verses say about the attitude and actions of that relationship?
• Which of these attitudes and actions do you find hardest to exhibit?
• What challenges do you face in consistently exhibiting them?

START SHARING. Ask these questions to get your LifeGroup talking.

Pastor Matt covered two questions to ask when work isn’t working out. 
Two Key Questions:

• Am I being asked to do anything unethical?  
             If Yes: Obey God, not man – accept the consequences.
             If No: Obey the boss.
             (Reference Daniel 1 & 6 and 2 Timothy 3:12)
• Can I quit?
          If Yes: Move on.
          If No: Make the most of it.
          (Reference 1 Corinthians 7:17 & 21-24; Psalm 15:1-4 and Philippians 4:11-13)
• Is there a time in your job history when you have had to ask one or both of those questions? If so, what was the result of how you answered the question? 

START PRAYING.
Pray for each other’s jobs and for the strength and ability to honor God in our workplace.