SOAR DISCUSSION GUIDE

The workplace today in the western world provides us one of the greatest missional opportunities.

We live in an Urban / City context where people feel disengaged.  Workplace provides the opportunity to connect with lost people.  The workplace is the new village square.  Most people spend the largest part of their time in the workplace.  And now more than ever both parents are in paid work.  Our challenges, hopes, conversations and stories revolve around work and what it provides.

Our Last Obedience Steps
One of the key values in discipleship is hearing and obeying the Word. Therefore, it is important to have accountability to one another for our step of obedience from studying the Word. Spend the first part of your discussion asking – how did your step of obedience go from last time we met?

Read:

• Genesis 1:26 – 28
• Genesis 2:18 – 25
• Genesis 3:1 – 24

• What do these passages tell us about God?
• What do these passages tell us about you and your life?
• What did you like about this passage?
• What did you not like about this passage?

The fall changed our relationship with God, people and creation.  As consequence it impacted our identity, our purpose and the nature of work.  Christ’s work on the cross has made way back for us to recapture our original identity, purpose and the very nature of work.

As disciples who represent Jesus, we have a new identity from a restored relationship with God and his invitation to join God in His mission to restore everything that was lost in the fall.

There were four challenges to representing Jesus and to the mission in the workplace.

Challenge 1: [Gen 3:1, 15] Working for God’s purposes will result in Spiritual opposition
As disciples, we need to be sensitive to the spiritual dimension of work and act out of the spiritual authority Christ has given us.  It is part of our call to rule.

Challenge 2: [Gen 3:1-3] We need to make decisions based on what God says and his original purpose not by others or circumstances or temptations of work.

Challenge 3: [Gen 1:26, 2:25 & 3:7] We need to overcome Fear and Shame through Christ not our work or its fruit.
At the fall mankind felt fear and shame for the very first time.  Shame because we exchanged the image of God we were created to represent for our own.  Fear because of judgement.  We wanted to be God.  Adam and Eve tried unsuccessfully to cover their shame from the fruit of their work.  Today many still do the same.  Most people do not realise that the fear and shame they feel today came from the fall, the result of broken relationship with God.  Fear and shame are also used by people and cultures to manipulate and control.  But, when we base our identity on Christ we are freed from Shame and fear. Only then are we free to obey God and love others.  Even to love our enemies.

Challenge 4: [Gen 2:20-25 & 3:16-19] To rebuild God’s Original Pattern of Relationship
To work in the image of God is to Work in relationship with God and others.  Because we were made in the image of the triune God our relationships are to reflect the dynamic qualities that exist between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the trinity (John 17:20-25).  To relate in love not through hierarchical power and control.

Discuss the following questions
1. Which of these four challenges do you struggle with in your workplace?
2. How you might overcome this challenge in the future? And how can the group help?

1. Is there a truth that God wants you to obey?
2. What will you do to obey this? I will…