1 Corinthians 9:6-8

The apostle Paul is legendary for his work as a minister of the gospel. But we often forget that throughout his ministry, Paul also worked as a culture-creating tentmaker. As Scriptures in this plan make clear, Paul had the option to work as a “donor-supported missionary” but chose not to. Why? That’s the question we’ll answer in this plan, and in so doing, glean insights relevant to our own work.

The Scriptures give a number of reasons for people to work—all of them profound in their own way—because what we do for a living matters to God. Work has value in and of itself, it is intrinsically a good thing, and when work is done with excellence, it reflects God. The Bible tells us that our work accomplishes God’s work and purpose in the Kingdom through His grace.

The light and love of Jesus meet the world’s deep need—and we can participate in bringing his light to our communities and relationships. In these devotionals, pastor and former NFL player Derwin Gray encourages us to become everyday missionaries, offering good news to those around us.

Drawing on James Spencer's book titled Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody, this Bible Plan examines eight characteristics evident in the Scriptures and in the life of 19th century evangelist Dwight Moody (e.g., surrendered, prayerful, humbled, undistracted, and studious). A free guide including these reflections along with activities and additional devotional content is also available for download from D. L. Moody Center.