The 500 Year Plan: Vocation Mark Hagen April 10, 2005 Mark Hagen April 10, 2005

Vocation The 500 Year Plan God has chosen to work through human beings, who, in their different capacities and according to their different talents, serve each other. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p.14 God has chosen to work through human beings, who, in their different capacities and according to their different talents, serve each other. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p.14

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 1. Do I have a divine calling? And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it … - Genesis 1:28 Subdue - kabas - to overcome, be brought under control - NIV concordance 1. Do I have a divine calling? And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it … - Genesis 1:28 Subdue - kabas - to overcome, be brought under control - NIV concordance

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 1. Do I have a divine calling? Gods work of creation is not over – and that He is still in the business of saying more-or- less frequently along the way, Let there be wealth! … It's our job to uncover the secrets of God's creation … to unleash the enormous productivity that has been built into everything around us. That is part of our human calling. - Joel Belz, Let there be wealth World, Feb. 19, 2005, p.4 1. Do I have a divine calling? Gods work of creation is not over – and that He is still in the business of saying more-or- less frequently along the way, Let there be wealth! … It's our job to uncover the secrets of God's creation … to unleash the enormous productivity that has been built into everything around us. That is part of our human calling. - Joel Belz, Let there be wealth World, Feb. 19, 2005, p.4

Vocation The 500 Year Plan George Washington Carver ( ) George Washington Carver ( )

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 2. Is work a curse? Then the L ORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. - Genesis 2:15 It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. - Lamentations 3:27 2. Is work a curse? Then the L ORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. - Genesis 2:15 It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. - Lamentations 3:27

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 2. Is work a curse? That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God. - Ecclesiastes 3:13 2. Is work a curse? That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God. - Ecclesiastes 3:13

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 2. Is work a curse? Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God. - Ecclesiastes 5:19 2. Is work a curse? Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God. - Ecclesiastes 5:19

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 3. Who is my supervisor? Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men … - Colossians 3:23 3. Who is my supervisor? Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men … - Colossians 3:23

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 3. Who is my supervisor? Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men- pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. - Ephesians 6: Who is my supervisor? Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men- pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. - Ephesians 6:5-8

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 3. Who is my supervisor? It [doctrine of vocation] transfigures ordinary, everyday life with the presence of God. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p Who is my supervisor? It [doctrine of vocation] transfigures ordinary, everyday life with the presence of God. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p.17

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 3. Who is my supervisor? Most people seek God in mystical experiences, spectacular miracles, and extraordinary acts they have to do. To find Him in vocation brings Him, literally, down to earth, makes us see how close He really is to us, and transfigures everyday life. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p Who is my supervisor? Most people seek God in mystical experiences, spectacular miracles, and extraordinary acts they have to do. To find Him in vocation brings Him, literally, down to earth, makes us see how close He really is to us, and transfigures everyday life. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p.24

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 3. Who is my supervisor? The priesthood of all believers did not turn everyone into church workers; rather, it turned every kind of work into a sacred calling. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p Who is my supervisor? The priesthood of all believers did not turn everyone into church workers; rather, it turned every kind of work into a sacred calling. - Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God At Work, p.19

Vocation The 500 Year Plan 4. How do I find the vocation that is right for me? There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1 4. How do I find the vocation that is right for me? There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1