Palm Sunday which commemorates Jesus’ humble entry into Jerusalem on his way to the cross. On this Sunday 2000 years ago, those who knew of Jesus’ miracles and teachings dropped what they were doing and made his entrance into Jerusalem their priority! In this final message in our BE WELL series, we’ll explore the topic of Vocational Wellness and ask: Who or what gets our best time, energy, and resources? We’ll be challenged to make God’s priorities, our priorities.

Groups Discussion Guide

To view a .docx version of this guide, click here.

Introduction 

Last week we talked about how we can have great relationships by following Jesus’s example of humility. The application questions from the sermon discussion guide asked, “How will you choose to humbly serve others in your relationships this week?” and “How will you allow yourself to be vulnerable and authentic in at least one relationship this week?”

Take a few minutes to share with one another what role the application questions played in your life this week. Were you able to serve others with humility? What steps did you take to follow Jesus’s example of humility in your relationships?

After your time of connecting, begin your meeting with prayer.

Key Verse for the Week  

*Read this verse, then encourage the practice of memorization through the week. 

Colossians 3:23

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

**When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. 

Connect   

• What do you want to be when you “grow up?”
• How do you feel about where you work and what you do?
• Where does your energy, time, and focus usually end up going throughout the week?
• Do you tend to separate your spiritual life from your work life?

Opening Thought  

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Jill described vocational wellness as finding satisfaction and fulfilment in your job, whether its paid work, volunteer work, or schoolwork. This is usually the primary way that you spend your time, energy, and effort. Sometimes we separate our work in the world from our spiritual life, but God doesn’t want us to see these as separate things, in fact, Jesus is the key to vocational wellness. He cares about our work and wants to partner with us for our own flourishing and for the flourishing of those with whom we work.

This leads us to our big idea for this week:  

Big idea for the week  
We can make Jesus’ mission our mission.

Unpack 

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses, then discuss the connected questions.

Read  

Colossians 3:23–24

Colossians 3:17

Psalm 37:4

Unpack

• When you consider vocational wellness, how does the way you spend most of your time, energy, and effort reflect that you work willingly for the Lord, rather than for people? Why does vocational wellness grounded in Jesus matter for us personally, and for those we interact with most often?
• Does Jesus have your attention at your job? How is this demonstrated in your work environment? In what ways could you give Jesus more of your attention in challenging work situations, whether that’s in your interactions with people or completing assigned tasks and projects?
• Do you find it difficult to “take delight in the LORD” within your current work situation? How could shifting your mindset to delighting in your work change how you view your work? If you do “take delight in the LORD” through your work, share with the group what that looks like.

Read  

1 Corinthians 3:4-11

Unpack 

In this passage, Paul is addressing divisions happening in the church because some people were finding their identity in prominent church leaders, instead of in Jesus. Paul is reminding the reader that their identity is found in being servants of Jesus and doing the work given to them by God.

• What do you think Paul means when he writes, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow…The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose?” How could you do more “planting” or “watering” in your current work situation? How could you invite the God and his Holy Spirit into this process with you?
• Have you ever considered that you are God’s co-laborer in helping people know about faith in Jesus and/or do you see your work as something given to you by God to complete his mission in the world? How would having this mindset change the way you work?
• What does this passage teach us about Jesus as it relates to our vocation?

Apply 

Based on the verses we just read, there are some things that we can do in response. Take a moment to discuss these questions as a group to decide what your personal action steps for the week can be: 

• What is one way that you can begin to delight in your work and work willingly with Jesus to accomplish his mission?
• Would you pray about inviting someone from your work to church this Easter Sunday? How do you feel about making this invitation based on our group discussion? You can do it!

Closing 

Read the first section with your group, then move to the Prayer and Verses section: 

When we invite Jesus into our work we can flourish and find vocational wellness. Jesus wants us to enjoy our work and see it as a good gift from God. He also wants us to walk alongside others in our workplace so they too can know the peace and wellness that comes from following Jesus. Let’s step boldly into whatever work environment we find ourselves in this week knowing that we are partnering with God to do his work in the world.

Prayer and Verses 

Ask for prayer requests and conclude your time with prayer then share the Key Verse for the Week and Daily Devotional Verses with the group. 

Daily Devotional Verses  

Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below. 

Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. 
Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? 
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? 
Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned. 

Day 1: Proverbs 16:3

Day 2: Psalm 37:4

Day 3: Psalm 37:5

Day 4: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Day 5: John 12:26

Day 6: Colossians 3:23

Key Verse for the Week  

Colossians 3:23 

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”