In Session 5 of Identity & Purpose, your teens will explore the blessing and privilege of work.
Your students are beginning to figure out how to use their talents and skills in the service of God. Would they be surprised to learn that the least common job in America is a prosthodontist—or even know what that is? Or how much a typical nurse earns?
Click here to find out the most common jobs in America. Share them with your students to kick off the session.
In this study, your students will learn that God’s work in Genesis 1 was purposeful, creative, and good. This provides us with a model for human work.
Jesus was also a worker. He was a carpenter until the age of 30 (Mark 6:3). For three years his work was public ministry in Palestine—proclaiming good news to the poor and liberty to the captives, giving sight to the blind, and setting at liberty those who were oppressed (Luke 4:18).
Since people are made in God’s image, what do we learn about human work? Because God works, we also work. Obviously we do not work in the same capacity as God does; nevertheless, what we do has dignity and worth as a service to God and provides purpose in life. In our calling to “subdue and rule,” our work is a place to reflect God’s image and go about the business of redeeming creation, which Jesus started.
What are some of the professions your students are interested in?