I have been active in attending a men’s faith sharing group online on Thursday evenings with parishioners at the Church of the Nativity, Timonium, MD (churchnativity.com/groups) since February 2021. One thing that each of the several-hundred small groups from this church does is listen to the weekend message series along with the pastor’s sermon on a given weekend, and then discuss the message and questions related to it. Last year, I participated in the message series “Made for Monday” with my small group.
Here is what I learned from this message series:
- Work is good.
- The Bible begins with God at work.
- God did pause to look back and to see that His work was good.
- God the Father gave us Jesus Christ – a person who took delight in His work for others.
- Work is a gift from God.
- It is a way to participate in God’s work.
- Let’s enjoy work while we are at work. We need to find ways.
- Any work can have value.
- Work is a blessing; we are doing work for God.
- We need work.
- We need to get paid to make a means to an end.
- You cannot have a meaningful life (purpose, satisfaction, success) without work.
- God gives meaningful work to each of us.
- Work is one of the key ways to serve others and contribute to their well-being.
- Work helps us to know who we are.
- Work helps us to know who God is.
- Show faith in the workplace.
- Work well; it builds dialogue, trust, and confidence.
- Do good deeds and listen to others.
- Show signs that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Be ready to be a witness to Jesus Christ to tell His story if the topic arises.
- Offer to share prayer.
How is this list for a message series? This message series gets tied into the sermon by the priest in the homily that takes place during the Mass. I take no credit for the list of items mentioned above. I give full credit to Father Nicholas Amato (Staff Discipleship Team of Church of the Nativity). To watch Father Nicholas’ sermons on the message series “Made for Monday,” please visit www.churchnativity.com/watch/messages. Thank you, Father Nicholas for your sermons and helping me to learn and understand that one’s place of work can be a place of faith for myself and others. Amen!