“More Than a Job”
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
When we choose a career, there’s more to consider than merely money. How can we also contribute to God’s cause through it?
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
OVERVIEW
What does it mean to be a dedicated follower of Jesus? Do you get paid? Do you have a comfortable place to sleep? Do you have enough food? Early workers for the church often had little financial support. People were generous, but they often didn’t have very much for themselves, and after sharing what they did have there wasn’t much left over. Early church missionaries often needed to work to supplement the help they received. It wasn’t considered a hardship, but a fact of doing ministry. However, because they felt the calling in their lives, they were eager to follow God’s leading.
OPENING ACTIVITY:
MAP MAKING
This is a deep dive activity. Be careful as you ask questions to make sure that you don’t pressure any of your students to share or allow other students to make light of anyone else.
Supplies: Paper and writing utensil for each person
1. Give each student a piece of paper and writing utensil.
2. Ask them to list in order the major events in their lives since birth.
3. Have them circle the top three most impactful events.
QUESTIONS
1. What did you learn from mapping out your life?
2. Were you surprised by what ended up on your list?
3. If you could go back in time and add an event or two, what would you add?
4. If you could go back in time what event would you delete?
5. In what ways do you see God leading in the pattern of your life?
TRANSITION
In today’s lesson we will explore what characteristics and habits are helpful as one proclaims the Gospel. Some things might be intuitive, and others might surprise you. This will be a great time to examine your calling to live for God.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:8-12.
8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring 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 offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. 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 food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
QUESTIONS
Read 2 Corinthians 11:1-4.
I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
QUESTIONS
Read 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
QUESTIONS
Read 1 Timothy 6:10-19
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
QUESTIONS
Read Titus 2:6-8.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
QUESTIONS
APPLICATION
Being a disciple of Christ wasn’t easy in the early days of the church, nor is it now. Followers of Christ have always had difficult decisions to make about how they live. How does this affect your decision to be a follower of Christ? Jesus has always promised to be with His children and to never leave nor forsake them. The important part isn’t how much money one makes or how many cars or boats are in the driveway, but it is about being willing to go when and where Jesus calls.
FOLLOW UP
Read Matthew 10:5-15.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
1 Timothy 4:7-16
1 Timothy 6:6-19
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
Last week’s lesson was on 1 & 2 Corinthians. Next week’s lesson is on Romans and Galatians. For this week, the lesson focuses on a topic in several of Paul’s letters—a person’s work or job. The Cornerstone Connections lesson draws on verses from six of Paul’s letters. For this RBS (Relational Bible Study), we’ll limit ourselves to some verses in 1 Timothy—specifically 1 Timothy 4:7-16 and 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
The first passage includes Paul’s message to the young pastor Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. . . .” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). Most young people have experienced times when people, in one way or another, gave the message, “You’re too young!” Paul’s message to Timothy can be helpful for us when we face the same kind of statements today.
The second passage, also well-known to many, includes, “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). People often misquote this as, “Money is the root of all evil” instead of “The love of money is the root of all evil.” That’s an important distinction. If money is the root of all evil, then everyone who has money would be evil. But people who misquote this usually think in terms of people who have more money than they have—those are the ones who are evil. That sounds as if those with less money are simply jealous.
On the other hand, the message in Scripture is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” You don’t have to have much money to love it. This message actually applies to more people. We need to apply this message first of all to ourselves. And Paul didn’t leave Timothy with just that one verse. He included instruction on how to use money so it doesn’t take the place of God in our lives.
Good Work, Good Worker
What makes a person a good worker?
Read 1 Timothy 4:7-16.
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1. Prioritize (1-9) what you are working on (training) at this time in your life:
____ A. Physical health (nutrition, exercise, sleep, etc.)
____ B. Education.
____ C. Making and keeping friends.
____ D. Commitment to Christ.
____ E. Family loyalty.
____ F. Life experience.
____ G. Spiritual growth.
____ H. Financial stability.
____ I. Other.
2. When you start working full time, what will motivate you?
3. How do you relate to people who look down on you for being too young?
4. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6 NIV). What is contentment?
5. How can the love of money lead to evil?
6. What message would you give to a wealthy person?
7. Paul urged young Timothy to be an example (1 Timothy 4:12). Name three things for which you are a good example. Name three things you could improve in order to become a good example.
8. How do your resources (money, time, talents) affect your relationship with God? How does your relationship with God affect your resources?
SUMMARY
Are you a good worker? Do you provide good work? That might depend on the work you do as well as the person who evaluates your work. As a young person, you are already doing “work.” That might be school work, school activities outside of the classroom, a job, and the work you do at home. Why talk about this at church? God set up work for us at creation, starting in the Garden of Eden. The majority of your life you will work. Are you working for yourself, for others, for God, or for someone or something else? Our passage this week spelled out some keys for being a good worker and for doing good work. This is true whether your work is official work or not, and whether or not you might be paid for it. Your profession could easily change over time, but your work for God can continue for the rest of your life. Choose one or more of the application ideas or come up with your own. Put these into practice this coming week and beyond, and do good work, because you’re a good worker.
APPLICATION
Right now you might, or might not, have a job that pays money. But you’re “working”! For many youth, schoolwork is their main work. Some have a part-time job. You might have chores to do around the house. Some people put a lot of work into relationships. Do you do good work or do you do poor work or do you just get by? Consider these application ideas for you to put into practice this week.
In 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV), Paul told Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
Do you put the accent on the first syllable (noun) or the second syllable (verb) of the word “project”? Here’s a PROJ-ect or task for you to pro-JECT into your future.
Download the handout called “PROJECT.”
How do you decide what work you will do? Many young people choose their work based on their talents or interests, or maybe the lifestyle or socio-economic status they associate with a particular profession. Often money serves as the primary motivation, and Paul’s letter to Timothy warned against that.
