Theology of Work: Free Small Group Resources

Courtesy of our friends at the Theology of Work project, here are some of the internet’s best small group resources on topics around work and calling. If you’re looking for a place to start with your small group, here’s a great place to begin. For more information, visit the  Theology of Work website.

These 1-hour topical studies are free to use with any group. Each comes with scripture, commentary, and thought-provoking questions.

• Ambition

• Conflict at Work

• Bad Boss?

• Leading Up

• Giving and Receiving Feedback

• Work-Life Balance

• Sabbath and Work

These targeted small group curriculums have been written for specific populations. Use them in similar groups, or adapt them for different groups.

• for lawyers - 9 case studies with discussion questions and biblical reflections
• for prisoners - 7 Bible studies for men leaving prison or addition, 7 Bible studies for women leaving prison, addiction, or prostitution
• for children - 12 lessons for children, each with large group presentation, small group activity, and parent take-home-sheet

In the Jesus and Your Job video teaching series, New Testament scholar Sean McDonough explains the link between modern occupations and Jesus' ministry. Each week he is joined by a panel of Christian professionals who answer the question: Where is Jesus in your job?

1. Good News about Work (Psalm 104)
2. Bad News about Work (Genesis 3-4, Psalm 90, Ecclesiastes)
3. Engineering (Hebrews)
4. Crafts and the Trades (Mark 6:106)
5. Art (Luke 12:27)
6. Management (Luke 16:1-13)
7. Finance (Matthew 25:14-30)
8. Education (Luke 24:13-32)

These short reflections on Bible characters can be read and discussed in a half-hour meeting.

Abraham / Isaac / Jacob / Joseph / 

Shiphra and Puah / Moses / Deborah / Ruth / 

Boaz / Rahab / David / Solomon / 

Abigail / Elisha / Huldah / Nehemiah / 

Esther / Job / Jonah / 

Mary and Elizabeth / Paul / Lydia /  Priscilla /

Find more ideas about the work of Bible characters in the book Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture. Each chapter is a the story of a different person and his or her work.

You could also structure a multi-week study around one Bible character. See for example the book The Accidental Executive: Lessons on Business, Faith, and Calling from the Life of Joseph.

Choose a TOW Bible Study and buy copies for your group.

The Bible and Your Work Study Series: Biblical Book Studies 

Genesis 1-11 Study / Genesis 12-33 Study / Genesis 34-50 Study /

Exodus Study / Ruth Study / Proverbs Study / Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs Study /

Matthew Study / Luke Study / Acts Study /

1 Corinthians Study / 2 Corinthians Study / Philippians Study / James Study / Revelation Study / 

The Bible and Your Work Study Series: Topical Studies 

Ethics at Work / Rest and Work / Calling and Work /

Economics and Society / Truth and Deception / Provision and Wealth /

Women and Work in the Old Testament / Women and Work in the New Testament

Read and discuss the TOW Bible Commentary on any book of the Bible, one passage at a time.

Old Testament 

Genesis / Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy / Joshua / Judges / Ruth / 1 Samuel / 2 Samuel / 1 Kings / 2 Kings / 1 Chronicles / 2 Chronicles / Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther / Job / Psalms / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes / Song of Songs / Isaiah / Jeremiah / Lamentations / Ezekiel / Daniel / Hosea / Joel / Amos / Obadiah / Jonah / Micah / Nahum / Habakkuk / Zephaniah / Haggai / Zechariah / Malachi

New Testament 

Matthew / Mark / Luke / John / Acts / Romans / 1 Corinthians / 2 Corinthians / Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / 1 Thessalonians / 2 Thessalonians / 1 Timothy / 2 Timothy / Titus / Philemon / Hebrews / James / 1 Peter / 2 Peter / 1 John / 2 John / 3 John / Jude / Revelation

Here are some ideas on introducing your group to the basic principles of faith-work-integration.

Discuss a book on faith and work:

• Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Work by Tim Keller and Katherine Leary Alsdorf
• Where's God on Monday? by Alistair Mackenzie and Wayne Kirkland
• Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work by Tom Nelson

Watch an introductory video series about work:

• Transforming Work from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
• Redeeming Work from Christianity Today
• For the Life of the World - film series on faith and culture
• Reframe - 10 week video course on following Christ in the modern era

Both children and adults need to work, whether that work is paid (like a paper route) or unpaid (like folding the laundry). But for many adults and children, work has become a dirty word. Work means things that we don't want to do. We may even think God doesn't care about our work, only about praying or reading the Bible. But a look at the Bible reveals the opposite. God Himself is a worker. He has designed us for work. And God values our work deeply. Work is a good thing! When children and their parents learn about God's plan for work, their daily activities take on a new meaning and holiness.

This 12 lesson curriculum is a free resource designed to teach children to see work through God's perspective.

For each lesson the curriculum includes

• Large group lesson
• Small group activities
• Parents take-home sheet to work through the lesson together during the week 

Feel free to use this material in your Sunday school program, in your church youth group, or in your own home.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1: GOD IS A WORKER

• Kids Lesson 1: God Is a Worker
• Kids Lesson 1: God Is a Worker (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 1: God Is a Worker (Parent's Sheet)

2: A PARTNER, NOT A ROBOT

• Kids Lesson 2: A Partner, Not a Robot
• Kids Lesson 2: A Partner, Not a Robot (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 2: A Partner, Not a Robot (Parent's Sheet)

3: WHAT WORK IS GOD UP TO?

• Kids Lesson 3: What Work is God up to?
• Kids Lesson 3: What Work is God up to? (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 3: What Work is God up to? (Parent's Sheet)

4: MASTERPIECES ARE NOT FOR THE CLOSET

• Kids Lesson 4: Masterpieces Are Not for the Closet
• Kids Lesson 4: Masterpieces Are Not for the Closet (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 4: Masterpieces Are Not for the Closet (Parent's Sheet)

5: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

• Kids Lesson 5: For Such a Time as This
• Kids Lesson 5: For Such a Time as This (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 5: For Such a Time as This (Parent's Sheet)

6: I'VE GOD WORK TO DO

• Kids Lesson 6: I've Got Work to Do!
• Kids Lesson 6: I've Got Work to Do! (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 6: I've Got Work to Do! (Parent's Sheet)

7: 3 INGREDIENTS FOR WORKING WITH GOD

• Kids Lesson 7: 3 Ingredients for Working with God
• Kids Lesson 7: 3 Ingredients for Working with God (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 7: 3 Ingredients for Working with God (Parent's Sheet)

8: WORK THAT MATTERS

• Kids Lesson 8: Work That Matters
• Kids Lesson 8: Work That Matters (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 8: Work that Matters (Parent's Sheet)

9: GOD IN OUR MONDAY TO SUNDAY

• Kids Lesson 9: God in Our Monday to Sunday
• Kids Lesson 9: God in Our Monday to Sunday (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 9: God in Our Monday to Sunday (Parent's Sheet)

10: SALT AND LIGHT

• Kids Lesson 10: Salt and Light
• Kids Lesson 10: Salt and Light (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 10: Salt and Light (Parent's Sheet)

11: TURNING UP THE WATTAGE

• Kids Lesson 11: Turning Up the Wattage
• Kids Lesson 11: Turning Up the Wattage (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 11: Turning Up the Wattage (Parent's Sheet)

12: WORK REWARDS

• Kids Lesson 12: Work Rewards
• Kids Lesson 12: Work Rewards (Small Group Activity)
• Kids Lesson 12: Work Rewards (Parent's Sheet)

For more information and resources, visit the  Theology of Work website.