• Occupation - from after breakfast until supper – what occupies your time?

• Vocation - to give voice to, a calling.

Your occupation is your vocation

Government

Family

Health

Education

Communication

Arts

Science / Tech

Business/Econ

Church

LeviticalPriesthood

Use your occupation to live out your Kingdom vocation

Acts 2:40-47 (NIV) 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with

them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand

were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread

and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers

were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every

day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere

hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1. Church is ‘Jesus to this world’

Luke: “Followers, continue to do what Jesus lived & taught.”

2. Your lifestyle in your workplace changes society

1. They practiced a healing and supernatural lifestyle. They were willing to pray for people in the society.

2. The early Christians loved each other and lived out their faith at 2 levels: corporately to celebrate & receive the apostles teaching and in homes

3. They practiced economic sharing & a generous lifestyle. “Live simply so that others simply live.”

“ … glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people”

3. Favour favours the courageous

How did the early Christians gain favour and respect of God and society?

1. Because of their commitment to each other in celebrations and in homes

2. Because of their healing and supernatural practices3. Because of their economic sharing and generosity

Acts 4:29-30 (NIV) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of

your holy servant Jesus."

4. Christ followers work hard

Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV) 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and

do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence

for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24

since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are

serving.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-15 (NIV) 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind

your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the

respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (NIV) 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command

you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you

received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when

we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked

night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not

because we do not have the right to such help, but in

order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We

hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn

the bread they eat.

“The Romans and the Greeks despised manual labour or any work with their hands because it was slave labour but the

followers of Christ are known not only for their willingness to do manual labour, but their diligence and thoroughness in

doing manual labour.”

1. Diligent faithful hard work. They impressed.

2. For their love. “… behold how they love one another” Pliny (AD79)

3. Known in world – ‘any person not able to be healed by the apothecary (doctors) of the day would be sent to ‘the people of the way’…. ‘Send them there – they will be healed.’

Use your occupation to live out your Kingdom vocation.

• Live out your faith in a sincere and committed way. Commit to celebrate together as a whole and meet in each other’s homes. You’ll are known for your love

• Take courage to pray for healing in the work place. People need an experience of God.

• How can you build your finances and lifestyles around economic sharing & a generous lifestyle?