One observation I have made about Christian Men in the Marketplace is that we can feel guilty, marginalized, fearful, and discouraged about engaging the workplace with the Gospel. The church leadership can expand the focus on “spiritual discipleship” to also include “vocational discipleship.” These talks will hopefully acknowledge you, equip you, and encourage you as a follower of Jesus as you are engaging your workplace with the gospel. ~ Charles N. Hooper, Jr. Master Certified Coach
Engaging the Workplace
Charles N. Hooper, Jr., Master Certified Coach
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” In other words, “Whatever you do in your work, do your work for the glory of God.”
The basis of our understanding of engaging the workplace with the gospel is found in the five Acts of Redemption.
Act 1 - Creation = We reflect God's character through our work.
Act 2 - Fall = Sin has corrupted our work and nouns: people, places, and things.
Act 3 - Redemption = Jesus's perfect life and atoning death changes people, places, and things, including our work.
Act 4 - Renewal = Our work is where we can participate with God's partial restoration of people, places, and things.
Act 5 - Consummation = We will worship, work, rule, and reign with God and his people on a renewed heaven on earth.
Session Notes
Session 2 Engaging the Workplace with the Cultural Mandate (Act 1)
Session 3 Engaging the Workplace with the Unabridged Gospel (Act 4)
Recommended Books on Integrating Faith & Work
Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller
Theology of Work Bible Commentary by Will Messenger (Editor)
Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work by Tom Nelson
Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World by Tom Nelson
Business By The Book: Complete Guide of Biblical Principles for the Workplace by Larry Burkett
The Sacredness of Secular Work by Jordan Raynor
Five Mere Christians: Binge-Worthy Biographies that Show you How to Glorify God in Your Work by Jordan Raynor
Master of One: Find and Focus on the Work You Were Created to Do by Jordan Raynor
Called to Create by Jordan Raynor
God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene E Veith, Jr.
Devotional: The Work Before Work by Jordan Raynor
The Gospel-Centered Life at Work (Study Guide) by Robert W. Alexander
Vocational Discipleship by Tom Lutz
Discipleship with Monday in Mind: How churches across the county are helping their people connect faith and work. Skye Jethani & Luke Bobo
Recommended Books on Heaven on Renewed Earth
Heaven by Randy Alcorn [Intermediate] This is a good one to start with.
Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn [Easy] Great for family devotions!
All Things New by John Eldridge [Imaginative]
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright [Advanced]
Heaven is a Place on Earth by Michael E. Wittmer [Advanced]
Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer (esp chapters 12-13) [Easy]
The Bible and the Future by Anthony A. Hoekema [Advanced]
Not Home Yet: How the Renewal of the Earth Fits into God's Plan for the World by Ian K. Smith [Easy]
Heaven: It's not the end of the world by David Lawrence [Intermediate]
Eternal Perspectives (Collections of Essays by various authors) by editor Randy Alcorn [Easy]
Coming Home: Essays on the New Heaven and New Earth by D.A. Carson and Jeff Robinson [Advanced]
Are we living the last days? by Bryan Chapell (Chapter 13 Behold, I am making all things new) [Intermediate]
Providence by John Piper. (Chapter 45 "New Bodies, New World, Never-Ending Gladness in God") [Advanced]
Creation Regained by Albert Walters (recommended by Randy Alcorn) [Advanced]
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