Stewards of Work - Tony Nguyen

Passage: Ephesians 6:5-9 Sermon Notes: Intro: 1. Rhythm Series a. Based on the background belief that you know who your Savior is. 2. How are you sure of your salvation? Is it... a. Because you have tried your best to be a good Christian? b. Because you believe in God and tried to do His will? c. Because you believe in God with all of your heart? 3. Any of those answers reveals that Jesus is NOT your Savior. a. The only right answer to the question, “how are you sure of your salvation,” is “because I am sure of my Savior.” 4. What does this have to do with work? a. As a sign and seal of your salvation, the result is God is now working in you convicting and changing you in areas of your life, to conform you more into the image of His son. b. One of those areas is how you conduct your life with Work. I. Elephant in the Room (Slavery) vs 5 a. The bible condemns kidnapping and slave trading (1 Timothy 1:10; Deuteronomy 24) b. Slavery in the scripture is equivalent to Bankruptcy Laws i. Indentured Servants to pay back debt c. Slaves had rights d. Paul’s writing sets the stage for the eradication of chattel slavery i. Human life is made in the image of God II. Work wholeheartedly for the Lord vs 6-8 a. Without Christ, rhythm of work is for our personal identity or a personal means “...not only to win their favor when their eye is on you.” b. With Christ, rhythm of work is for God’s service “...but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart” i. You are to work wholeheartedly for the Lord because all kinds of work that are not evil is a way that God is healing, loving and serving others through you. ii. Ask yourself, “Am I approaching my work today with God’s mindset?” c. Work wholeheartedly for the Lord i. The tension you must deal with always in work is, “am I serving the LORD or am I serving myself.”