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Podchaser

In this engaging and thought-provoking episode of the HeavenEarth Church Podcast, Ross Stackhouse invites listeners into a conversation about the true meaning of work, identity, and purpose. Framed by humor, vulnerability, and deep reflection, Ross Stackhouse explores the spiritual and everyday dimensions of work—whether that means flipping burgers, cleaning offices, or showing up fully in roles like parent, friend, or neighbor.

The episode kicks off with honest stories about first jobs from both Ross Stackhouse and the audience, setting an accessible, community-driven tone. From fast food to farming, listeners are reminded that meaningful work isn’t reserved for only prestigious or visible roles.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Your Identity Is Not Your Work
2. One of the central themes of this episode is the distinction between what we do and who we are. Ross Stackhouse revisits his own professional history and wrestles with whether past roles were meaningful. He challenges the common misconception that our identity is built on what we achieve, instead asserting, “Our identity cannot be increased nor diminished, only realized.”
3. Drawing from biblical stories, he reminds us that even Jesus spent far more time as a stonemason and a son than as a public minister. Our inherent worth as “image bearers” is unchanged by our successes or failures at work. It’s a liberating call to stop basing self-worth on job titles or productivity.
4. Expanding the Definition of Work
5. Throughout the episode, Ross Stackhouse pushes listeners to rethink what counts as “work.” It’s not just what we do for a paycheck, but any activity that brings light, goodness, blessing, and fruit to ourselves and others. Whether you’re a coffee shop barista, a warehouse handler, a grandparent, or a friend, your acts of kindness and service are valuable work.
6. The podcast also touches on how the most important “roles” many of us serve in—such as being a parent, spouse, or neighbor—often fall outside the boundaries of paid employment, but are perhaps the most formative and essential work we’ll ever do.
7. A Relationship with Work (and God) Built on Love, Not Scarcity
8. Through the story of Cain and Abel, Ross Stackhouse explores how work can turn from blessing to curse when we live out of insecurity, envy, or the belief that there isn’t enough to go around. Cain’s curse is shown as a result of confusion between role, identity, and place.
9. Instead, Ross Stackhouse advocates for generosity, gratitude, and collaboration—with both God and one another. He encourages practicing authenticity, wrestling with tough questions, and showing up fully to the roles in our lives. Quoting Colossians 3:23, he urges listeners: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people.”

Final Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt invitation to examine the source of meaning in daily life. Ross Stackhouse leaves listeners with practical encouragement: remember who you are, recognize your inherent worth, and put your heart into each role you serve—inside or outside the workplace. If you’re seeking renewed purpose or a richer understanding of vocation beyond job titles, this is an episode you’ll want to revisit.

Remember: Your work matters—not because it defines you, but because you are already defined by something deeper and greater.

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