Week 1 - Finding God's Calling and Purpose at Work
Small Group Questions: Joy@Work Week 1
Opening Questions:
1. What was the best/favorite job you ever had? What made it so enjoyable?
2. Have you ever felt "stuck" in your job, like Mitch Robbens (Billy Crystal), the character from City Slickers? When and why?
3. What was/is the worst part of your current job?
4. What's the best part of your job?
5. When have you experienced a sense of calling/purpose in what you do?
Discussion Questions:
6. Read Genesis 2:4-5 and 15. What do these passages communicate about God's view of work? Have you ever thought about it like this? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about being created for work? Why do you think God started things like this?
8. What is it about work that reflects who God is?
9. In Mark 6:3, it says that Jesus was a carpenter. How does it encourage you to know that Jesus worked at an "ordinary" job for 20 years?
10. How do you think Jesus was as a carpenter? As an employee? In what real ways does this inform your work life?
11. Read Revelation 22:3-5. How do you feel about there being work in heaven? What makes that an exciting proposition? What makes that unappealing?
12. In our culture, we equate the perfect life with an absence of work and constant leisure. How is this backward from God's perspective? Why do you suppose this is so?
13. Read Genesis 3:17-19. What are the challenges brought on by this curse? Which have you experienced in your job?
14. Jay mentioned 3 areas that can provide purpose and meaning in our work:
Feeling a sense of accomplishment
Finding community / working with people
Being stewards of creation
Which of these three do you find the most satisfaction or joy in currently? Why? In which one do you want to grow in during this week? Why?
15. Read Matthew 11:28-30. What is the promise of this verse? What is one practical way you can "take Jesus to work with you" this week?
16. In coming up with a purpose statement for your work, what are the three parts: the product - what do you make? The people - who is it for? The Provider - what's the God part? Can you come up with a first-draft?
Prayer Application:
17. What specific work relationship(s) can you commit to praying for this week?
18. What is one area of your work life we can give thanks to God for bringing you joy in?
19. What's one area of your work life that is "burdensome" or is making you "weary" that we can pray for this week?
20. How can we pray specifically that Jesus would lighten your load?
Joy@Work Week 2 - Utilizing Your Gifts and Talents
Opening Questions:
1. Write out a job timeline...where have you worked and what did you do?
2. Have you ever quit a job? When and why?
3. What part of your current job would you say you enjoy the most? What talent or gift do you use the most in this work?
4. Have you ever had a job where you were like a duck out of water...so obviously operating outside your talents and gifts? When and what was it?
Bible Questions:
1. Read Psalm 139:13-16.
It has been said that "God doesn't make junk." What does this verse communicate about God as a creator?
Is it easy or hard for you to see yourself as God's artwork? Why?
Verse 15b says that God weaves together our gifts and talents. What are 3 gifts/talents that your work requires that are part of who God created you to be?
Which five of the following words best describes who God created you to be? Pick two of those and share how they fit into your work.
task-oriented relational caring/compassionate
creative organized achiever
driven authoritative sensitive
laid back articulate people-oriented
practical dventurous/bold resourceful
big-ideas responsible/reliable efficient
administrative persuasive fair
2. Read Ephesians 2:10.
What does this verse communicate about our gifts and talents and how we are supposed to use them? Have you ever applied this verse to what you do, 9 to 5? Why or why not?
What do you think is the difference between spiritual gifts and natural talents?
If your job were perfect, what would you spend the majority of your time doing?
If God made us in a specific way, how should that influence how we go about our work?
3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-18.
If we are a "new creation," how should this truth impact the way we conduct ourselves in our work lives?
What is the most significant difference your faith has made/is making in your daily work life?
4. What are some ways that you use your gifts and talents to impact people for good at work?
5. What about your job give you energy and life?
What about your job seems to benefit others?
What about your job helps you feel God's pleasure?
6. What's the biggest problem you see at your work:
- Company doesn't ask about or use gifts
- People don't know what their gifted at doing
- People use their gifts selfishly
7. What would you say that you do better than most people?
Prayer Questions:
1. Where is there a great alignment between your gifts and your job that we can thank God for?
2. Is there a situation at work that we could be praying for? Maybe a relationship or an area of your work that is difficult?
3. What part of your job is necessary, but clearly outside of your gifts and talents? How can we pray for you to overcome this to find joy?
Joy@Work Week 3 - Developing Character and Values that Promote Satisfaction
Opening Questions:
1. Who would you say are two of the greatest Americans? Why?
2. Which one of the following quotes has been most true to your life and work experiences:
- "Character is who you are in the dark, when no one is looking."
- "Character is built one day at a time."
- "Pressure and stress reveal your true character."
3. What is your biggest pet-peeve at work? What does it communicate about the values and/or character of those responsible (not judging the person, just the behavior)?
4. On a scale of 1-10, how energized/passionate are you about the work you do?
5. Who in your workplace exemplifies a person of character and values? Why?
6. Have you ever been in a situation where you were encouraged to compromise your character for "business?"
Discussion Questions:
1. Read Matthew 5:1-9.
In reading these beatitudes, there is a value associated with each one. Have the group describe the values associated with each beatitude, in their own words.
In Jim Lucas' message, he outlined or made the following associations for each of the beatitudes:
- § Meek: power under control; discipline your strengths.
- § Poor in Spirit: have humility not arrogance
- § Those who mourn: admit/learn from mistakes
- § Hunger for righteousness: it's never wrong to do the right thing
- § Merciful: make a safe place for human frailty
- § Pure in heart: Be utterly sincere
- § Peacemakers: eliminate divisions and silos
- § Persecuted: willing to suffer for the right.
Have you ever thought about these principles from Jesus' teaching could be applied to your work? Why or why not?
Which one of these do you find the most difficult to live out in your work environment? Why?
Which one do you find the most natural - as almost a part of who you are? Give examples if you can.
Which, if it were practiced consistently in your work life, would have the greatest impact in what you do and on the culture around you? Why?
2. Read Matthew 6:25, 31-34
What does it mean to "seek first His Kingdom?" How does this apply to your workplace?
The context of this passage is about worry or anxiety. What are the worries and anxieties that keep you from keeping Kingdom priorities?
How do those worries and the things that cause anxiety keep you from this?
Why is it so difficult to rearrange our lives around this principle?
3. Jim listed 5 ways to build character.
- live inside today
- practice everyday heroism
- exercise fulfilling self-denial
- clutch resilience
- be a majority of one
What does each one mean?
Which would people say you are presently good at?
Which one would you like most to grow in as part of your life@work?
What is one practical step you can take this week to begin working these values into your work life?
4. "Your sense of dignity grows as you grow in your ability to say ‘no' to yourself." Agree or disagree? Why?
5. How have you experienced the connection between strong character and values with deep satisfaction in what you do?
6. Jim talked about the Wizard of Oz model for growing in character: head, heart, and courage. If head is knowing what's right, heart is believing that it will make a difference, and courage is the willingness to live it out, which do you see as the most lacking in our culture? Is your work culture different?
Prayer questions:
1. Pick one of the beatitudes that you would like to work on this week. How can we pray that this will be fulfilled?
2. Is there a relationship at work that could benefit from putting some of these beatitudes into practice? How can we pray for that relationship?
3. Is there a particular work-related issue currently facing you that is challenging your character or tempting you to compromise? How can we pray for you to be a person of character in that situation?
Joy@Work Week 4 - Its Not About ME...Service as the Route to Joy
Opening Questions:
- What is your worst customer service experience? Why?
- What is your best customer service experience?
- What part of your job requires you to serve / do things for others?
Discussion Questions:
- Read Acts 20:33-35
What is the context of this passage? (See NIV text note)
What do you think this passage communicates (in particular, Jesus' instructions to us) about the heart of God?
Give an example of when you most experience the truth of Jesus' teaching that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
In general, it's pretty easy to agree with this teaching of Jesus. Why do you think it is so hard for us, especially at work, to practice this teaching of Jesus?
- Read John 13:12-17
What action did Jesus perform here? What is the footwashing part of your job? Is it hard for you? Why?
What do you think motivated Jesus to serve his disciples in this way?
What do you think made it possible for Jesus to do this? What did Jesus believe that made it possible for Him to do this? (read Jn 14:30-31)
What do you think this act by Jesus demonstrated about how we are to relate to people at work? How applicable is this model of "customer service" for you in your work?
Read the last verse again. What is the promise? What "things" do you think Jesus is talking about? What is the blessing? (read John 14:12)
What 2 things can you do this week to move in this direction of service?
- Read 1 Peter 5:5-7
The NLT says "serve one another in humility." What does humility have to do with our ability to really serve others?
What part of your work creates anxiety in you? When have you experienced peace and joy that comes from "casting all your cares upon" God?
Jay talked a lot about how we have to care about people to really serve them. Are there people you interact with at work who are difficult to serve because you have a hard time caring about them? What do you do to get over that "hump?"
- Jay mentioned 3 things about excellent customer service from Jim Lucas' book:
- Be aware of the needs of others
- Determine to meet those needs
- Work hard to exceed expectations
In your work environment, which one of these is hardest for you to be motivated about? Which is hardest to do...and are those the same thing?
5. In the principle of caring for your customers, Jay mentioned 3 things to help us care:
a. Tell stories about your customer
b. Get to know your customers
c. Expose everyone in your company to the customer
Who's been one of your favorite customers?
Share one tangible way you can (or do) implement these as part of your strategy to experience joy at work.
Prayer Questions:
1. Is there a service-oriented part of your job that you don't like? How can we pray for you?
2. Is there someone at work that you want to have a heart for, but can't seem to get there?
3. What one practical mode of service can we pray that you would be able to grow in this week?
Joy@Work Week 5 – Becoming Stewards of the Resources Entrusted to You
Opening Questions:
1. Of the topics we've covered so far:
- Finding You Calling and God's Purpose at Work
- Utilizing Your Gifts and Talents
- Developing Character and Values that Promote Satisfaction
- Serving as the Route to Joy
- Becoming Stewards of the Resources Entrusted to You
Which on is the most encouraging? The most challenging? Why?
2. Think about the first few years out of college.
Describe the first house that you either owned or rented that was "yours."
How much was your grocery allowance?
Did you have a discretionary fund?
Describe those first few years, and then how things have changed.
3. If you had to guess, where do you think people in our culture spend most of their money, outside of the home? How and why is that different from 10, 15, or 20 years ago?
Discussion Questions:
1. Read Luke 12:42-48
If you had to state a "theme" for this passage, what would it be?
What does this verse communicate about God? About the stuff (money, resources, material possessions, etc) that we have?
Why do you think how we manage our resources is so important to God?
Read verse 44. What is the reward for being a wise manager? How is that different from what American culture would view as a "reward?" How is it the same?
How can being put in charge of more stuff be a blessing to us? To Jesus (the Master)?
Read verse 45. What are the problems that occur when we lose sight of the Master? Where have you seen this in your work life - in your own life or in the people around you?
How do you reconcile the harshness of this parable with the loving character of Jesus?
2. This verse clearly talks about responsibility and judgment. Why do you think this topic is so hard for us to talk/hear about? Why are finances such a touchy topic in our culture?
3. Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18. In what ways are you tempted to say "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me?"
How does this passage challenge you?
Why is it so easy to forget that God is the owner, and we are simply the managers, especially considering your work?
4. In church, we often talk about stewardship in terms of finances alone. While that is a primary area of concern (Jesus talked about money more than anything else), how does it change the way you view your work to consider all the resources (people, products, time, etc) that we have been entrusted with?
5. On Sunday, Jay mentioned that the local church is the "fuel" for workplace and community service/stewardship. How have you noticed this dynamic in your work? Have you ever thought about the church as the source for much if not all the effective philanthropy that goes on in our culture?
6. We talked about three areas of application that will help us be better stewards of the resources entrusted to us:
- Be good to everyone your work directly touches
- Choose to be managers instead of owners
- Give generously to the local church
Which of these three things do you do well? Which do you feel challenged to live into?
What one practical think can you do this week to begin to manage your resources more like Jesus?
Prayer Questions:
1. Is there a way that you can impact your company so that they may benefit the community? How can we pray for you?
2. Is there someone to whom you connect directly with at your work that is in need of blessing? How can we pray for that person, and how can we pray for you to be that blessing?
3. What one practical mode of service can we pray that you would be able to grow in this week?
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