The Lord's Work, The Lord's Way

Francis Schaeffer's The Lord's Work Done the Lord's Way, originally a sermon from his 1974 collection No Little People, confronts the central crisis within the modern church: the pervasive tendency to pursue God's mission through human ingenuity, manipulation, and self-reliance rather than through humble dependence on the Holy Spirit. Drawing from biblical examples like the Israelites' failure to wait on the ark's guidance and the early church's prayerful anticipation of Pentecost, Schaeffer argues that true spiritual power emerges only when believers prioritize quiet submission to God's leading over worldly tactics such as publicity stunts or forced activism. This approach, he warns, is not passive quietism but a deliberate rejection of ego-driven efforts that ultimately insult the Lord while masquerading as service; instead, it invites divine empowerment, ensuring that ministry—whether in grand pulpits or obscure corners—aligns with God's sovereign will and bears lasting fruit.

Schaeffer extends this principle to affirm the dignity of all service, emphasizing that doing the Lord's work in His way amplifies effectiveness without the scars of fleshly striving, though it may invite earthly opposition. Far from guaranteeing ease or acclaim, this Spirit-led path demands ongoing humility, confession of sin, and constant prayer, transforming potential despair into dynamic obedience. In a culture obsessed with visible success, Schaeffer's message liberates Christians from the pressure to "do more" in their own strength, reminding them that God's pleasure rests in faithful, unseen acts rather than human applause. Ultimately, this way of working not only prevents wasted lives but equips believers to confront a resistant world with tongues of fire—bold, unquenchable witness born of divine, not personal, power.