Northland Church
Making Sense Out of Work
A message from Senior Pastor Josh Laxton
Locations & Times
Northland Church
522 Dog Track Rd, Longwood, FL 32750, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Welcome to Northland!
Northland Church exists to glorify God as we participate in His mission of redeeming a people from all peoples by engaging neighbors and nations to be fully alive in King Jesus through the power of the Spirit.
NorthlandChurch.net
Northland Church exists to glorify God as we participate in His mission of redeeming a people from all peoples by engaging neighbors and nations to be fully alive in King Jesus through the power of the Spirit.
NorthlandChurch.net
What's Current
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
EASTER SERVICE TIMES
Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 20 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
FAIR TRADE MARKET
April 26-27 before and after service
NEW TO NORTHLAND EXPERIENCE
Sunday, April 27, from 5-7 p.m.
SUMMER CAMPS
- Live It Out: Kids Summer Camp
(incoming 1st-5th graders)
- Middle School Generate Summer Camp
(incoming 6th-8th graders)
- High School Fuge Summer Camp, SLU 101, and SLU 201
Incoming 9th-12 graders (and current seniors)
Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
EASTER SERVICE TIMES
Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 20 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
FAIR TRADE MARKET
April 26-27 before and after service
NEW TO NORTHLAND EXPERIENCE
Sunday, April 27, from 5-7 p.m.
SUMMER CAMPS
- Live It Out: Kids Summer Camp
(incoming 1st-5th graders)
- Middle School Generate Summer Camp
(incoming 6th-8th graders)
- High School Fuge Summer Camp, SLU 101, and SLU 201
Incoming 9th-12 graders (and current seniors)
Give Now
Giving fuels the life change we see every day at Northland!
https://pushpay.com/g/northlandchurch
“What do Americans say about work? How do they feel about work? Do they love their work?”
Work as a Means of Survival:
For many, work is primarily seen as a necessity. It’s something that pays the bills and provides financial stability.
Work as a Source of Identity:
In some cases, particularly in more career-driven or professional fields, work is seen as a core part of an individual's identity—who they are.
Passion for Work:
Studies show that only a minority of Americans report feeling passionate about their jobs.
Work-Life Balance:
Many Americans report feeling overworked, particularly in high-demand sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare. The struggle to find work life balance is a common complaint, as long hours, stress, and burnout become significant concerns. Some workers desire better support for mental health and personal well-being.
Job Satisfaction:
Overall job satisfaction in the U.S. can be mixed. According to surveys, many Americans are disengaged at work, with some feeling a lack of recognition or fulfillment.
However, there are also large portions of the workforce who express contentment—if they have good relationships with colleagues or supervisors or work in a company with a strong culture.
For many, work is primarily seen as a necessity. It’s something that pays the bills and provides financial stability.
Work as a Source of Identity:
In some cases, particularly in more career-driven or professional fields, work is seen as a core part of an individual's identity—who they are.
Passion for Work:
Studies show that only a minority of Americans report feeling passionate about their jobs.
Work-Life Balance:
Many Americans report feeling overworked, particularly in high-demand sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare. The struggle to find work life balance is a common complaint, as long hours, stress, and burnout become significant concerns. Some workers desire better support for mental health and personal well-being.
Job Satisfaction:
Overall job satisfaction in the U.S. can be mixed. According to surveys, many Americans are disengaged at work, with some feeling a lack of recognition or fulfillment.
However, there are also large portions of the workforce who express contentment—if they have good relationships with colleagues or supervisors or work in a company with a strong culture.
Work is a secondary purpose that is a natural blessing—not a necessary burden—given to image-bearers to reflect God’s glory and build and expand His Kingdom on earth.
WORK is a means by which we WORSHIP our King.
WORK is a means by which we WORSHIP our King.
1. Why do we work?
Definition of Work:
Work is developing the untapped potential of raw materials and resources and/or stewarding the tapped potential and resources for God’s glory and the flourishing of the world.
Work is developing the untapped potential of raw materials and resources and/or stewarding the tapped potential and resources for God’s glory and the flourishing of the world.
- There is divinity and dignity in our work.
- Work is not our identity as humans but a major function of our humanity.
- You do not need to work at a church to serve and work for God.
- Work is not our identity as humans but a major function of our humanity.
- You do not need to work at a church to serve and work for God.
2. How should we work?
CORE VALUES are how we WORK to reflect God’s Glory.
Church Core Value:
- Gospel Centrality
Behavioral Core Values:
- Authentic
- Balanced
- Collaborative
- Driven
- Elevating
- Fun
- Generous
- Humble
Organizational Core Values:
- We clarify communication
- We crave creativity
- We desire diversity
- We embrace excellence
- We praise progress
- We relish rest
- We study scalability
- We seek shalom
- Gospel Centrality
Behavioral Core Values:
- Authentic
- Balanced
- Collaborative
- Driven
- Elevating
- Fun
- Generous
- Humble
Organizational Core Values:
- We clarify communication
- We crave creativity
- We desire diversity
- We embrace excellence
- We praise progress
- We relish rest
- We study scalability
- We seek shalom
3. What do we do for work? Where do we go for work? How do we know what to do for work?
“The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground…”
“The Lord God had planted a garden…”
“The Lord God had planted a garden…”
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (v15)
“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” (v19)
“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” (v19)
- Knowledge-Based Work
- Skilled-Physical Work
- Service Work
- Hybrid Work
- Retirement Work
- Skilled-Physical Work
- Service Work
- Hybrid Work
- Retirement Work
Vocation comes from the Latin word “Vocatio” Calling.
Ask yourself:
- What am I good at?
- What are skills and abilities that come natural to me?
- What do I love doing?
Ask others:
- What do you think I am good at?
- Knowing me, what do you think I would excel in?
- Do you see me light up doing certain things?
Questions that should not be primary:
- What will make me the most money?
- What do my parents want me to do?
- What will people think of me if I do this?
- What kind of job do I need to have this kind of lifestyle?
- What am I good at?
- What are skills and abilities that come natural to me?
- What do I love doing?
Ask others:
- What do you think I am good at?
- Knowing me, what do you think I would excel in?
- Do you see me light up doing certain things?
Questions that should not be primary:
- What will make me the most money?
- What do my parents want me to do?
- What will people think of me if I do this?
- What kind of job do I need to have this kind of lifestyle?
- No work should be beneath us, because no work was beneath God.
- We may have different skill sets but we all are of the same substance—HUMAN.
- The value of our work may have a price tag, but the value of our work in God’s eyes is PRICELESS.
- We may have different skill sets but we all are of the same substance—HUMAN.
- The value of our work may have a price tag, but the value of our work in God’s eyes is PRICELESS.
Leadership is the action of leading a person, group of people, or an organization from point A to point B in a manner that glorifies God, so that the untapped potential that is being developed or the tapped potential that is being stewarded can be used to bring blessing and flourishing to the world.
4. What is the aim of our work?
Shalom is God exercising His infinite wisdom to create a WHOLE WORLD.
“Seek the shalom of the city where I have sent you” (Jeremiah 29:7).
5. What do we do with the product from our work?
Tithe: means a “tenth” and refers to giving 10% of one’s income, livestock, crops, possessions to God. Also, the tithe would go to support the livelihood of the priesthood, the upkeep of the temple, and for helping the poor, widows, orphans, and strangers.
Offering: was a voluntary gift—above and beyond the tithe—given to God as an act of worship, gratitude, and thanksgiving.
Offering: was a voluntary gift—above and beyond the tithe—given to God as an act of worship, gratitude, and thanksgiving.
If you work and generate any kind of fruit, produce, product, profit, compensation—And if you understand that you live under the rule and reign of King Jesus—Then you ought to set aside a generous-sacrificial proportion of what you make through work and give it back to God through His Church to fund His ministry and mission in the world.