7/7 Discipleship Being a Christian in our working lives Session 6

Church and world Work and Faith

God says ‘yes’ to me I asked God if it was Okay to be melodramatic – and she said ‘yes’ I asked her if it was Okay to be short – and she said ‘it sure is’ I asked her if I could wear nail polish – and she said ‘honey’ (she calls me that sometimes) She says ‘you can do exactly what you want to’ ‘thanks God’ I said ‘and is it even Okay if I don’t paragraph …. my letters’ ‘Sweetcakes’ God said (who knows where she picked that up) ‘what I’m telling you is’ Yes, Yes, Yes! ’

Conversing with God Just as God walked with Adam in the garden of Eden, so he walks with us in the streets of the city and the town and the village, chatting about the events of the day and the images we see. Martin Wallace: City Prayers (Canterbury Press 1994)

With your neighbour, briefly share a conversation you have had or would like to have had with God this week about your work or daily life.

My Faith Where do you take your faith? Home? School? Shopping?

My Faith Where do you take your faith? Home? School? Work? Football club? Band practice? Church? Shopping? ???

My Faith Where do you take your faith? Home? School? Work? Football club? Band practice? Church? Shopping? ??? How?

Seeing God in our daily work …… are we joining in?

God’s kingdom at work?

Seeing God in our daily work …… are we joining in? God’s kingdom at work? The face of Jesus in our work?

Seeing God in our daily work …… are we joining in? God’s kingdom at work? The face of Jesus in our daily lives? The Holy Spirit at work?

Witness in the workplace In pairs, study the handout ‘witnessing in the workplace’ Which ways do you identify with? Does this vary depending on where you are? Which ones are ‘within your comfort zone’ and which are not? Why? Are there any ways in which you would like to become more confident?

Connecting in the other direction Bringing our work into church How is the world of work and our daily lives represented in the worship in your church?

Church worship is like ………………

An oasis.. it is a welcome relief and haven from the pressures and stress of work. A petrol station.. it enables me to get recharged and refuelled for work on Monday morning A microscope.. it gives me a way of looking closely at and reflecting on my work so that I can understand what it is really all about. A shower … it gets me clean, putting me right with God after the temptations of the workplace. A Takeaway.. I get a good meal that I can take into the workplace and be nourished there. I might even share my meal with others at work. Perfume.. it lingers around me when I go to work. My workmates recognise it as ‘part of me’. A View-point.. it’s where I can see the distant horizon and, in so doing, I can get my work into perspective and focus. ??? ………….. (add your own?)

Worship and liturgy: ‘The work of the people’

Liturgy – joining us to God and his purposes Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: Through your goodness we have this bread to set before you, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

Liturgy – joining us to God and his purposes Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: Through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.

In how many ways is the world of our daily and working lives represented in the worship in your church? Make a list ………..

Could we do it better? In groups or pairs, use the church action diagram (on handout) to discuss and note down ways in which the worship, study, prayer and fellowship life of your church could be developed in order to support the daily living and working discipleship of the members.

What next? Truro Diocese offers a range of courses on Christian Discipleship, suitable for a wide range of levels and Christians at many stages of their faith journey If you have enjoyed this course, you might like to engage with another one in the future Ask your course leader for details of what is available, look on the Diocese of Truro website or contact Diocesan House for more details.

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Closing worship ….