Man in the Mirror
Bible Study

Message Three: "An Act of Productivity"

1 Corinthians 3:1-15

Questions

October 19, 2001

 

1. To be productive means "having the power of producing, especially in abundance" and "to be effective in bringing about." Have you been productive in your work? Explain your answer.

2. Read the following verses…

  • Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8).
  • Jesus said, "But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown" (Matthew 13:23).
  • Jesus said, "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (Matthew 25:23).
  • "The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
  • "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work" (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).
  • In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

    What common threads run through these verses?
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3. True or false: "God cares about how much we produce." Explain your answer. What more can you do to work productively, wholeheartedly for the Lord-without becoming a workaholic or a guilt-riddled legalist?