take care of business

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, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on

anybody.1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

1. Take care of business.

Literally “Be ambitious to be being quiet.”

“Duty makes us do things well; but love makes us do them

beautifully.” Phillips Brooks

2. Remember that respect takes time.

History always trumps immediacy when it comes to

credibility.

The best first thing you can do for God is work, not talk.

In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to

everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But

do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good

behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.1 Peter 3:15-16

Being prepared means two things:

Being willing.

Being prepared means two things:

Being willing.Being able.

Learn to engage in three stories:YoursMine

His (Jesus’ story)

1. My life before I came to faith in Jesus

2. How I came to faith in Jesus3. One way my life is better

now that I believe in Jesus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have

eternal life.”John 3:16

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the

reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that

those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be

ashamed of their slander.1 Peter 3:15-16

“Reasoned discourse is increasingly giving way to in-your-face sound bites….Hardball is the dominant metaphor for American

public life…Volume and intransigence…are the new civic

virtues.”Ronald J. Kernaghan

Make sure the only offense, if there is one, is Jesus.

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your

Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a

clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones

who need a bath.1 Peter 3:15-16, The Message paraphrase

"What are the five things you want from co-workers who claim to be Christians?"1. I wish my Christian co-work workers knew more

about their faith—what they believe and why.


about their faith—what they believe and why.2. I wish my Christian co-workers had more hope in

hard times.



hard times.3. I wish my Christian co-workers were more curious

about the hard questions of life, so that when asked those questions, they would already have answers.





4. I wish my Christian co-workers behaved more honorably.





4. I wish my Christian co-workers behaved more honorably.

5. I wish my Christian co-workers were more compassionate.

I’ve been watching you you’ve been running away down a path you

should not follow. But I’ll never leave you if you come to Me I can take

away your sorrow. Come close to me, come close to me…and live.

You’re wearing a disguise, but I can see through all your lies. It’s not too late to change. Come close to Me,

come close to Me, and live. You say you’ll be with Me one day, but you keep pushing away. Telling yourself

you can make it by with just one more high.

Come close to me, come close to me and live. You’re wearing a disguise, but I can see through all your lies. It’s not too late to change. If you

come close to Me, come close to Me, and live.