Though the bad news is that sin entered the world, the Good News is that Jesus Christ also entered the world. This message was given on July 17, 2016 at New City Church in Calgary by Pastor John Ferguson. For more info, please visit: www.newcitychurch.ca

1. The Problem
with Work
[ Genesis 3:1-19 ]

2. “Take This Job
& Shove It”
~ Johnny Paycheck

3. You better not try
to stand in my way,
‘cause I’m walking
out the door.
Take this job
and shove it.
I ain’t working
here no more.

4. Work Matters
How the Gospel Connects
Faith & Work
Summer Series at New City Church

5. The Problem
with Work
[ Genesis 3:1-19 ]

6. “The Four-Chapter Gospel”
Creation The Fall Redemption Restoration
1 2 3 4
Our calling to work was built-in
from the beginning—before the Fall.

7. “The Four-Chapter Gospel”
Creation The Fall Restoration
1 2 3 4
And then it all went wrong.
Redemption

8. 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19
any other beast of the field that the Lord
God had made. He said to the woman,
of any tree in the garden?’” 2 And the
woman said to the serpent, “We may
eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat

9. 3 “…but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the
fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the
garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you
surely die. 5 For God knows that when
you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God knowing good
die.’” 4 But the serpent said, “You will not
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

10. “…and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food, and that
it was a delight to the eyes, and that the
took of its fruit and ate, and she also
gave some to her husband who was with
her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both
tree was desired to make one wise, she
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

11. …were opened, and they knew that they
were naked. And they sewed fig leaves
together and made themselves loincloths.
God walking in the garden in the cool of
the day, and the man and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the Lord
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

12. …God among the trees of the garden. 9
But the Lord God called to the man and
said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he
den, and I was afraid because I was na-
ked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who
told you that you were naked? Have you
said, “I heard the sound of you in the gar-
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

13. …eaten from the tree of which I com-
manded you not to eat?” 12 Then the
man said, “The woman whom you gave
tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God
said to the woman, “What is this you have
done? The woman said, “The serpent
to be with me, she gave me fruit of the
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

14. …deceived me, and I ate….”
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you
listened to the voice of your wife and
have eaten from the tree of which I com-
cursed is the ground because of you; in
pain you shall eat of it all the days of your
manded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’

15. forth for you; and you shall eat the plants
of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread, till you return to the
you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
ground, for out of it you were taken; for
Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19
life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring

16. 1The problem with work
is the curse on work.

18. shalom

20. “Ultimately, the only
human beings we know
are people who have
been created to please
God and build shalom but
who, to a greater or lesser
degree, mysteriously live
against the purpose of
their existence.”

21. shalom
curse

22. Life this side of
the Fall is cursed.
Nothing is the way its
supposed to be.

23. Because of the nature of
God’s creation, we need
work for our happiness.
And because of God’s
intentions for our work—
to contribute to the
flourishing of the world—
we have glimpses of what
we could accomplish.

24. But because of the fall
of the human race, our
work is profoundly
frustrating, never as
fruitful as we want, and
often a complete failure.

25. 2The problem with work
is the futility of work.

27. “Then I considered all
that my hands had done
and the toil I had
expended in doing it,
and behold, all was
vanity and a striving
after the wind, and there
was nothing to be
gained under the sun.”
~ Ecclesiastes 2:11

28. “What has a man from
all the toil and striving
of heart with which he
toils beneath the sun?
For all his days are full of
sorrow, and his work is a
vexation. Even in the
night his heart does not
rest. This also is vanity.”
~ Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

29. ~ The Apostle Paul in
Romans 8
“For the creation was
subjected to futility…
[in] bondage to decay…
the whole creation has
been groaning.”

32. “The universe is
indifferent…so we create a
fake world for ourselves,
and we exist in that fake
world…a world that, in fact,
means nothing at all, when
you step back. It’s meaning-
less. But it’s important that
we create some sense of
meaning, because no
perceptible meaning exists
for anybody.” ~ Woody Allen

33. There really is no good news
about our work without the
good news of the Gospel.
~ Tom Nelson
Work Matters
“

34. Though the bad news is that
sin entered the world,
the good news is that Jesus Christ
also entered the world.

35. Implication #1
Because of the Gospel,
the curse does not have
the final word.

36. For I consider that the
sufferings of this present
time are not worth
comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed to
us. For the creation
waits with eager longing
of the revealing of the
sons of God. ~ The Apostle Paul in
Romans 8

37. For the creation was
subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of
him who subjected it, in
hope that the creation itself
will be set free from its
bondage to decay and
obtain the freedom of the
glory of the children of God. ~ The Apostle Paul in
Romans 8

38. ~ The Apostle Paul in
Romans 8
And not only the creation,
but we ourselves…groan
inwardly as we wait
eagerly for adoption as
sons, the redemption of
our bodies. For in this
hope we are saved.

39. “I perceived that there is nothing better
for them than to be joyful and to do good
as long as they live; also that everyone
should eat and drink and take pleasure
in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

40. Implication #2
Because of the Gospel,
futility does not have
the final word.

41. “Therefore, my
beloved brothers, be
steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in
the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the
Lord your labor is not
in vain.”
~ The Apostle Paul in
1 Corinthians 15:58

42. Well done, good and faithful
servant. You have been faithful over
a little; I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your master.
~ Jesus of Nazareth
in Matthew 25:21
“

43. May you know the joy
of your Master in your
work, knowing that
your work offered to the
Lord is never in vain.