Stand Firm in the Workplace

When work feels like a battle—employees doing the bare minimum, managers pushing too hard—we are missing the bigger picture. What if we remembered that the true boss isn't in the corner office, but the heavenly one? Seeing our work as service to the Lord will transform how we lead and follow.

Sermon Outline:

I. Service that Pleases God

II. Management that Pleases God

III. A Heart to Please God

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In Ephesians 6:5-8, Paul encourages bondservants to serve their earthly masters “as to the Lord.” How does viewing your work as service to Christ impact your attitude and actions in your workplace or other areas of responsibility?

2. Both employees and managers can fall into ethical traps such as “faking work” or making unreasonable demands. What are some specific challenges you face in your work environment, and how can the biblical principles from this passage guide your response?

3. Paul reminds us that the ultimate reward for good work comes from God (Eph. 6:8). How can this perspective change the way you approach tasks that may feel mundane or go unnoticed by others? Share an example where this shift in thinking could make a difference in your daily work whether you are employed, retired, or working in the home.

4. The message highlighted the tension between managers who abuse power and employees who avoid responsibility. If you are in a position of authority, how can you ensure that you lead in a way that honors God? If you are under authority, how can you work with integrity even when the leadership may be difficult?

5. How will knowing Christ transform your work this week?