🔊 Sneak Peek: The Vocational Calling Myth

Next week on the Christ Focused podcast, we’re taking on a quiet lie that’s shaped how many believers see their Monday-to-Friday lives: “Real ministry happens on Sunday. Everything else is just work.”

In this short preview, Jessica introduces our upcoming edition:“The Vocational Calling Myth: How Your Skill Serves the Kingdom.”

We’ll unpack why Scripture refuses to divide sacred from secular. From Bezalel’s Spirit-filled craftsmanship in Exodus 31, to Paul’s vocational faithfulness, to Colossians 3’s call to “work heartily, as for the Lord,” we’ll explore how your daily work is not only valid, it’s kingdom-critical.

Next week’s full episode will include:

✅ Created to Craft - Why the first person “filled with the Spirit” in Scripture was a blue-collar artisan (Ex 31:1-6).

✅ Assigned, Not Accidental - How Paul’s counsel “let each person lead the life… assigned by God” (1 Cor 7:17) frees us from career envy.

✅ Work as Worship - Practical habits to consecrate e-mails and meetings, not just quiet times.

✅ Burnout Antidotes - Sabbath rhythms and identity anchors that keep calling from curdling into idolatry.

Pre-Reading to Prime the Conversation

* Colossians 3:23-24: Link

Sets the cornerstone, your true Supervisor sits on heaven’s throne.

* Exodus 31:1-6: Link

Bezalel & Oholiab: proof that Spirit-anointed skill isn’t limited to pulpits.

* 1 Corinthians 7:17: Link

Paul roots vocation in divine assignment, not social prestige.

* Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor (ch. 3 “Work as Cultivation”): Link

Unpacks Genesis vocation and modern application.

* Dorothy Sayers, “Why Work?” (essay): Link

A bracing call to view work as co-creation, not mere pay-cheque.

* Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Letter 1): Link

Monastic wisdom for washing dishes to the glory of God.

* Jordan Raynor, Called to Create (intro): Link

Entrepreneurial perspective on faith-driven excellence.

* Podcast: “Vocation and Calling: Isaiah 60; 65:21-25; Revelation 21:1-5, 22-27” – John Terrill, Former Director, Center for Integrity in Business, Seattle Pacific University (16 min): Link

Big-picture eschatology: Why what we build now echoes into eternity.

* Song: “Backwards Kingdom” by Sam McCabe featuring Andy Squyres: Link

A musical meditation on upside-down kingdom values, perfect backdrop as you rethink ‘ordinary’ work.

Dip into one or two resources; bring a note on how they reframed your nine-to-five.

🎧 Subscribe now so you don’t miss the full release.And if you’re ready to see your job as part of God’s mission, not outside it, this is for you.

Until then, listen to the short preview, reflect, and prepare to rediscover purpose in the place you work.

🛠️ Your skill is not second-tier. It’s sacred.

👉 Modern Epistles Book | Modern Epistles Audiobook💌 [email protected]🌐 Subscribe on Substack

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com