Faithfully Working

On this episode of Faithfully Working we take a peak at the new book Work That Makes a Difference by Daniel Doriani. There is much to be excited about and to praise with this recently released book and host Addison Hawkins lifts up some of the high lights while previewing some of how our Faithfully Working ministry will use this content.

In his book Dr. Doriani addresses how you can best serve God and your neighbor faithfully in your work. Originally developed as a study for those looking to make a difference in their work place, this book provides welcome encouragement and guidance. Together we can discover what makes your work both good and strategically valuable, endeavoring faithfully where God has placed.

In the second half of this episode we preview Work That Makes a Difference ahead of Dr. Doriani's visit to Christ Church on September 11th and 12th in 2021. Addison lays out more information as well as the intended goals for that time and the discussions. You can sign up to participate below.

Sign-ups and Resources

https://christchurchgr.breezechms.com/form/Doriani (Faithfully Working Discussions) - You can sign up to read Work That Makes a Difference with us. You can purchase a copy of the book through the sign up.

https://christchurchgr.breezechms.com/form/fwlunch (Faithfully Working Lunch) - August 27th at Christ Church we will discuss Work 2.0 and how we find value and meaning in our work and encourage the flourishing of our community around us? As we enter into a new era of work we gather a panel across industries to talk about work, its meaning, the value of human connectivity, and the flourishing of those around us.

https://www.faithandworkstl.org (Center for Faith and Work, St. Louis) - Check out some of what is going on at the Center for Faith and Work, St. Louis. It's a great place to gain more resources and see what other like minded people are doing.

For more information you can check out our website http://christchurchgr.org/resources/faithfully-working/ (here). We have more resources, links to upcoming events, and more.

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This week on the Faithfully Working podcast Christ Church member and regular conversation partner Dan Churchwell discusses “calling" in its meaning and purpose. This episode was recorded from a lecture at Christ Church in our Adult Institute back in 2019. The audio quality is an issue, we are sorry for the inconvenience.

Dan sets the stage with foundational definitions and core concepts regarding how faith in Jesus Christ coincides with calling. You will find references to additional resources cited below. I hope you enjoy.

Resources

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Finding-Fulfilling-Central-Purpose/dp/0849912911/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1andkeywords=os+Guinness+the+callandqid=1625755425ands=booksandsr=1-3 (The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life )- Os Guinness

https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Faithfulness-Christian-Gilbert-Meilaender/dp/B01B98UYRK (Faith and Faithfulness) - Gilbert Meilaender

https://www.amazon.com/God-Mundane-Reflections-Ordinary-People/dp/1949253279/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1andkeywords=the+god+of+the+mundaneandqid=1625755503ands=booksandsr=1-1 (The God of the Mundane) - Matthew Redmond

https://www.amazon.com/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/0830848630/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1XOHTWP21BWQDanddchild=1andkeywords=long+obedience+in+the+same+direction+eugene+petersonandqid=1625755462ands=booksandsprefix=Long+obedience%2Cstripbooks%2C184andsr=1-1-sponsandpsc=1andspLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySTRVUUJSVE1PMEdMJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDAzMTkzMTRRMzdUTFJGSTRFMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTQzMDU5MlRMRFNUR0haS0pDTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= (Long Obedience in the Same Direction) - Eugene Peterson

Theology of Work Project - https://www.theologyofwork.org/ (website)

Quote

"To be sure god guides our individual lives, he can open any door he wants, but the danger I think is that our hearts are divided and our motivations tainted. We are prone to seek the imprimatur of the lord in efforts that are really a good deal less spiritual and elevated than we pretend. While god is infallible we are not. The genuine faithfulness often involves Humility rather than certainty. And We must be ever alert to how prone we are high jacking gods will, in order to satisfy our own longings and desires." - Timothy Dalrymple (Original article https://www.patheos.com/blogs/philosophicalfragments/2013/10/08/mistaking-gods-will-for-our-own/ (here))For more information you can check out our website http://christchurchgr.org/resources/faithfully-working/ (here). There you will find additional resources, links to upcoming events, and more.

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[UPDATE - we had a minor production error, thanks for your patience. Also note that when we reference Episode 1 (2:32), we meant episode 2 which is coming next week. We changed the order of episodes, we hope you will enjoy]

In the Bible, the Hebrew word tsaddiqim is often translated as “the righteous ones” or “the ones who are just". They are the people who follow God’s heart and God’s way. They see everything they have as gifts from God to be stewarded for His purposes. The tsaddiqim view their prosperity not as a means of self-enrichment or self-aggrandizement, but rather as a vehicle to bless others. As the tsaddiqim prosper, they steward everything—their assets, networks, resources, opportunities, education, vocational expertise, and societal position—for the common good. Their stewardship advances God’s justice and shalom in the world. When the righteous prosper, their prosperity makes life better for all.

At Christ Church we want to explore what it means to be Faithfully Working. God has given each of us passions, gifts, skills and opportunities to serve and love those around us. We are excited to endeavor in this together. May we grow in our understanding of God's good design and the roles we play as image-bearers.

In this episode we chat with Christ Church member and regular conversation partner, Dan Churchwell. We consider the implications of this current moment and it's impact on our callings. At the heart of this discussion are the ideas of control and rest—how they are in tension and how they play out together. We hope you enjoy.

Scripture References

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4: 13-17

Resources

Can We Measure the Quality of Life? - Hartmut Rosa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAyC_o3QJ7s (Youtube video) | Keynote by Prof. Dr. Hartmut Rosa at the ISTP conference at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University in Copenhagen 19-23 August 2019: Measured Lives: Theoretical Psychology in an Era of Acceleration.

Work and Worship - Matthew Kaemingk and Cory Wilson - https://www.amazon.com/Work-Worship-Reconnecting-Labor-Liturgy/dp/1540961982/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1andkeywords=work+and+worshipandqid=1624394653andsr=8-1 (Book) | Arguing that our Sunday worship and our Monday work desperately need to inform and impact each other, this book shows how Christian leaders can help people connect work and worship.

For more information you can check out our website http://christchurchgr.org/resources/faithfully-working/ (here). We have more resources, links to upcoming events, and more.

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Welcome to the Faithfully Working podcast from Christ Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This podcast is designed to help God's people walk in God's world faithfully.

We believe that work matters. Our labor—day in and day out—is all a part of God's plan. Yet at the same time we believe that work is broken. It's fraught with disorder, disfunction, distraction and difficulty that entices our hearts to idolatry.

We use the word work often. What do we mean by that? The book of Genesis says that we are image-bearers, created to "be fruitful and multiply, and to fill the earth and subdue it and dominion over [it]" (Gen. 1:28). Therefore, work as defined by the creation account is the God-ordained movement that takes a subject from one state to another, for the flourishing of all. Work makes order out of chaos—a lot like what God did in the creation narrative.This means "work" is broad. It is not only the jobs we are employed at. Tending to relationships with family, friends, neighbors, etc., tilling the ground, involvement in politics, raising children, being a spouse, so on and so forth—these are all a part our work.

Over the course of the next 18-months we will explore God’s design for work and how He calls us to attend to it faithfully. Welcome to the journey, we are glad you joined us. Stay tuned for our first episode, and many more to come.

For more information you can check out http://www.christchurchgr.org/ (www.christchurchgr.org). We will have more resources, links to upcoming events, and more available.