1) The document discusses the relationship between terms like work, vocation, calling, career, and spirituality. 2) It examines biblical passages about work and calling from Isaiah and encourages readers to reflect on their gifts, passions, experiences and opportunities to discern their calling. 3) The document poses questions to help readers think through issues like what to do in an unfulfilling job, dealing with unethical behavior at work, and finding purpose even when work is soul-deadening.

1. Cultural callings 5
Work, vocation and calling

2. Isaiah 28
23 Listen and hear my voice;
pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer ploughs for planting, does he plough continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil?
25 When he has levelled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cummin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it,
his horses do not grind it.
29 All this also comes from the LORD Almighty,
wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

3. Identifying your calling
What has God said?
What have others said?
What are your:
Gifts and talents
Passions
Interests
Burdens
Experiences
Opportunities
Sometimes God equips the called, rather than call the equipped

4. For discussion: how do these terms relate?
Job
Employment
Career
Toil Work
Calling
Vocation
Spirituality

5. Look at these statements. Do you think each one is always true,
Work, vocation and callings sometimes true, false or not sure?
Only clergy have a calling Some callings are more important than others
Some occupations are more spiritual than others Work is a calling
A calling is for life Work is a necessary evil
A non-Christian can have a calling God works
Unemployment is a curse There will be work on the new heaven and earth
Our calling can change Some jobs are more worthwhile than others
The need doesn’t constitute a call Retirement is a blessing
A calling is something we don’t want to do All of life is spiritual
Not all Christians have a calling Everyone has a calling
Work is the result of the fall

6. What to do in a soul-deadening job?

7. What to do in a soul-deadening job?

8. What to do in a soul-deadening job?
Passion

9. What to do in a soul-deadening job?
Passion
Purpose

10. What to do in a soul-deadening job?
Passion
Purpose
“Profit”

11. What if I don’t fit in at work?

12. What if I don’t fit in at work?

13. What do I do when I see unethical behaviour at work ?