Series: Reset
Sermon: Reset Your Talents
Passage: Colossians 3:17, 23-24

Main Idea: Using our talents for God doesn’t just mean serving in a church. Any place where we contribute to God’s good purposes for His world, we are serving Him. How can you connect what God is calling you to do to a greater purpose in 2020?

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Describe a time when you had a “God moment” – an experience when you were surprised to realize that God was using you to work for His good purposes, in a place where you least expected Him to do it.

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

As a group, read Colossians 3:17, 23-24 together.

2. What do we learn from this passage about the attitude, perspective or motivation that we are called to have as we live our everyday lives “in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

3. Why is it so easy to separate life into “sacred” (church experiences, Bible reading, life groups, where we readily see that God is at work) vs. “secular” (work, gym, school/studying, neighborhood, or any activities not directly connected to a church context)?

4. Discuss this quote: “God is at work in every job related to food production and service to accomplish his task of feeding people. Similarly, God is at work in the garment factory to accomplish his task of clothing people. God is at work in construction-related jobs to accomplish his task of housing people. God is also at work in government to accomplish his purpose of maintaining order and justice in the world (Rom. 13:1-7). In our work we cooperate and participate with God so that, in his providence, he accomplishes his work in the world. God calls people to business because it has great value in accomplishing his work in the world.” How is the Holy Spirit increasing your awareness of how your talents and contributions in your daily work could further God’s greater purposes in the world?

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

5. Think about the things you do on a daily basis – work, studying, parenting, volunteering, connecting with friends, chores around the house, etc. What are some small changes you could make on a daily basis to help you recognize that it is “the Lord Jesus Christ that you are serving”
(Col 3:23)? What could you start doing? What, if anything, might you need to stop doing?

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s for direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

As your group enters into a time of listening to God, possibly journaling your thoughts or expressing your hearts in worship, reflect on these two questions: a) What impression do people have of Christ whenever they interact with you? b) How is the Holy Spirit leading you to more intentionally live for His good purposes? What are some steps you could take? Share with each other what you sense God laying on your heart.

As you close, pray over one another that God would help you recognize His presence wherever you are, and that it would affect what you say, do, and think in bringing honor to Him.

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Describe a time when you had a “God moment” – an experience when you were surprised to realize that God was using you to work for His good purposes, in a place where you least expected Him to do it.

This question is designed to introduce the focus of this week’s Discovery Questions: God wants to use us and our talents to make an eternal difference wherever we live, work or play. God wants us to understand that all of life is “sacred” – that we can live for Him wherever we are, whatever we’re doing. That reality can change how we live as we seek to serve His purposes in all of life.

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

As a group, read Colossians 3:17, 23-24 together.

2. What do we learn from this passage about the attitude, perspective or motivation that we are called to have as we live our everyday lives “in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

Key observations for conversation:
Colossians 3:17:

• Whatever we do (words and actions) can be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” as His representative
• Avoid the tendency to divide life into “sacred” (church, devotions, etc.) and “secular” (work, gym, school, etc.). All of life can have spiritual meaning and significance. We can do everything for Jesus and His purposes.
• “In the name of the Lord Jesus” means bringing honor to Him in every aspect/activity of our lives
• Jesus is “Lord” – “the totality of our existence must now be lived out with Him constantly in mind”
• Actively give thanks to God, having a heart of gratitude in all things
  Colossians 3:23-24:
• Whatever work you do, “work at it with all your heart”
• Ultimately we are “working for (serving) the Lord,” not people
• Not only can we work “for” the Lord, but we can work “with” Him as an outflow or expression of our relationship with Him.
• Our focus and motivation for work can be aligned with the purposes of God in the world
• We can connect our daily lives (what we do) to His purposes – a key to finding fulfillment in life
• If we work whole-heartedly and fulfill His purposes, we “will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward”
• God calls people to serve Him in a variety of work environments, not just in church settings. God wants you where you are, doing what you’re doing.

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

3. Why is it so easy to separate life into “sacred” (church experiences, Bible reading, life groups, where we readily see that God is at work) vs. “secular” (work, gym, school/studying, neighborhood, or any activities not directly connected to church environment)?

NOTES: We can struggle to see God’s influence and power in “secular” settings that feel so antithetical to His Kingdom purposes. We wonder whether we can make any eternal difference in the places where we live, work and play. But too often as we hurry through life, we lose sight of the impact we can have by simply living a life that reflects Jesus’ values and love for others. As the Apostle Paul points out, whatever we do or say can set us apart as Christ’s representatives in bringing honor to Him. Even our diligence and commitment to excellence at work can make a statement about our desire to serve Him as the Lord of our lives.

4. Discuss this quote: “God is at work in every job related to food production and service to accomplish his task of feeding people. Similarly, God is at work in the garment factory to accomplish his task of clothing people. God is at work in construction-related jobs to accomplish his task of housing people. God is also at work in government to accomplish his purpose of maintaining order and justice in the world (Rom. 13:1-7). In our work we cooperate and participate with God so that, in his providence, he accomplishes his work in the world. God calls people to business because it has great value in accomplishing his work in the world.” (Kenman L. Wong, Business for the Common Good – Christian Worldview Integration Series, p. 50. InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition).

How is the Holy Spirit increasing your awareness of how your talents and contributions in your daily work could further God’s greater purposes in the world?

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

5. Think about the things you do on a daily basis – work, studying, parenting, volunteering, connecting with friends, chores around the house, etc. What are some small changes you could make on a daily basis to help you recognize that it is “the Lord Jesus Christ that you are serving” (Col 3:23)? What could you start doing? What, if anything, might you need to stop doing?

Notes:

• Print out Colossians 3:17, 23-24 as a reminder to do everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus”
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you sense His leading in how you could align/connect what you do with His greater Kingdom purposes
• Realize that in serving and loving people well, you might be an answer to their prayers
• Ask God to help you see opportunities to love and serve – respond to His leading, asking Him for wisdom and strength to love and serve well

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

6. As your group enters into a time of listening to God, possibly journaling your thoughts or expressing your hearts in worship, reflect on these two questions: a) What impression do people have of Christ whenever they interact with you? b) How is the Holy Spirit leading you to more intentionally live for His good purposes? What are some steps you could take?

7. As you close, pray over one another that God would help you recognize His presence wherever you are, and that it would affect what you say, do, and think in bringing honor to Him.