Sermon Audio http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=1110131743513

Sermon Text

• Genesis 1
• Genesis 2
• Genesis 4:17-24

Sermon summary

God is by nature a worker. He created man in his own image and placed man over the creation to work it and keep it. All of this took place before the fall of man. Therefore, work is as essential to our humanity as all the other aspects of paradise: food, friends, sex, worship, etc. We were designed to work!

Yet we must admit that, at times, our work seems purposeless, unproductive, and toilsome. This is because Adam did not fulfill what he was called to do. He did not work and keep the garden. He multiplied but was not fruitful. He did not keep the garden or subdue the creation. Rather, he fell captive to the enemy of God and Man, Satan. So, God cursed the ground. Now, man and women must work and produce “by the sweat of their brow.” Work has become less productive, toilsome, and laborious.

But, we must not forget that though the productivity of work was cursed, work itself is good and god-like. We are designed to work and by doing so we image our Creator…even if we aren’t as productive as we would like.

In the end, we must look to Jesus, the second-Adam who came to fulfill where Adam failed. Jesus lived the perfect life that we should live. He died the death we deserve, suffering for our sins. And, he defeated death in the Resurrection. But that wasn’t all. He said he was going to build a place for us: a beautiful garden, city which would house the very presence of God himself. This city with streets of gold is called the New Jerusalem. Jesus is building it for us now. He is one day going to return with it. (Rev. 21) At that time the curse on the productivity of the earth will be lifted. Man will once again be able to work and reap a full harvest. Man will be able to tap all the unlocked potential of our beautiful creation. To the degree we look forward to this future city, our present day work can be redeemed.

Reflection Questions

1. As you reflect on last weekend’s sermon,what one principle or insight stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful, or difficult to grasp?
2. What’s one thing from the sermon that you want to talk more about?
3. Was there any one thing that you most agreed with or disagreed with from the sermon? What was it and why?
4. Re-read Genesis 1, what are some of the various fields of work that God engages in?
5. What is some work you do that goes unnoticed by others? Does knowing that it matters to God help you to do it with excellence?
6. Have you ever thought of work as a necessary nuisance? Have you thought leisure was the solution?
7. Have you ever felt guilty for not going into “full time Christian service”? In light of God’s creative work, should you feel guilty?
8. How does the truth that we are designed to work affect the American understanding of retirement?
9. Pastor Brandon said, “Longing to be free from work is like a dolphin longing to be free from the sea.” What does this mean? What does this say about the reality of Christian or human freedom?
10. Does the fact that we are designed towork mean that it is possible to have too much leisure?
11. What should we take from the fact that God worked and rested at a ratio of 6 to 1?
12. Considering the truth that man was designed as a worker, what would be the ideal way to help the poor and powerless? What about the helpless, the disabled, the elderly?
13. Seeing that man worked in Paradise, it is a safe assumption that we will work in heaven. What type of work would you like to do?

Topics and Verses for Further Study or Discussion

· The Doctrine of vocation:

http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Vocation--Work/

· Cultural mandate

· The New Jerusalem vs. the Tower of Babel

· Work to Leisure Ratio (6 to 1)

· Genesis 2:1-3; 15

· Exodus 20:8-11

· Psalm 104:10-22