Role of Men in the Church

Session 4 Study Questions - Man as Worker

Genesis 1 - 3

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15

1. Many commentators have suggested that work today in our society is more stressful and less rewarding than in the past. Do you believe this to be true? If so, can you give some reasons for your belief?
2. Women are entering the workplace at an ever increasing rate. Yet commentators suggest that the negative feelings toward work are especially felt by men. Do you agree? If so, why might this be the case?
3. Do we find a parallel problem regarding the work of men in the church as we see in the workplace? Consider the question especially from the perspective of those men who are not identified leaders in the church?
4. Some have suggested that the works we emphasize in the church are "feminine". Do you believe this is a fair characterization? Why might some make this suggestion?
5. Consider a man who is a member but not an identified leader in the church. What are our actual expectations of this man? What opportunities do we provide for this man to work?
6. Read Genesis 1 - 3. Does work precede or follow sin? Does work change when the man sins?
7. From the beginning, worship and work were highly interconnected. Can you think of some examples of this connection in the Old Testament?
8. Can you think of some New Testament passages which emphasize hard work, work behind the scenes, etc.?
9. If our men are not working in the church, what are some ways we can "get them to work"? How do we solve the problem of "unemployment" in our congregation?