Did you know that a survey conducted a few years ago by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association revealed that 90% of Christians have never heard a sermon relating Biblical principles to their work life? If this is true, this fact is absurd considering approximately 97% of Christians work outside of a church organization. We can infer from this data that most Christians are not being equipped to have the impact that God wants them to have in the place where they spend a considerable amount of time and have some of the greatest opportunities for influence. I'm a huge proponent of churches providing more practical teaching to help Believers understand and embrace the importance of their calling and work in the marketplace. In a recent blog by 9 Marks, 7 Things Pastors Should Teach Those in the Marketplace, they provide some great tips to help pastors equip their parishioners for greater impact in their work life. Here are the highlights...
RELATED: Kingdom Business University Entrepreneurship Certificate Program The one that jumps out to me the most on this list is #6. Unfortunately many Christians who have a career outside the church believe their calling is inferior to their pastor's. My prayer is that the Body of Christ would wake up to this untruth and embrace the reality those who are called to business are just as important and powerful as pastors. One reason is because businesspeople have more time to influence and disciple the people they see every day versus just on Sundays. If you're a pastor, how often do you present messages that are relevant to the marketplace? If you're a church attender, how often do you hear messages that relate directly to your workplace? Leave your comments below. Enjoy the entire article... www.9marks.org/blog/7-things-pastors-should-teach-those-marketplace (MORE: Learn more about Passion @ Work Training Workshops) ********************Christian Entrepreneurship ResourcesMy guest on Passion in Action TV this Thursday, February 28th is Sedrik R. Newbern, President and founder of Newbern Consulting Group. He is an author and motivational speaker specializing in purpose-driven personal/professional coaching. Sedrik recently authored a book entitled Unconditional Forgiveness, Lessons on Letting Go To Build Better Relationships, his perspective on the impact growing up without his father had on his life. He also explores the evolution of the relationship with his father and how they moved beyond past pains to develop an unbreakable bond. Full of practical advice to those previously hurt in relationships, the book shares one man’s healing and how you too can develop healthy relationships. Sedrik has a deep passion and commitment to growing the community and serving others. He strongly believes that when you know better, you do better, so he empowers customers and other entrepreneurs through education and the development of sustainable action plans. He serves on several non-profit boards and committees including roles as President for the University of IL Lake County Extension Foundation and Treasurer for Boys & Girls Club Lake County. A native of Nashville, TN, Sedrik holds a BS in Marketing from Western Kentucky University and an MBA with a concentration in Economics from Tennessee State University. His ultimate support and motivation come from his wife Denise and their son Matthew. Watch the live stream at 7 pm est only on www.passioninaction.tv. My special guest on Passion In Action TV this Thursday February 7th is "Passion Coach" Joseph B. Washington. Here's his bio... If you’re tired of living an ordinary life and want to shed the predictable day-to-day routine, then let Joseph B. Washington, author, speaker, successful mentor, help make your dreams a reality by turning an average life into an awesome life. With the creation of his new dynamic seven step process called Breaking the Spirit of Average, Joseph is teaching America the formula of getting from the bottom to the top in life. He has created a company specializing in training and empowering corporate America , non-profit organizations, colleges, network marketing groups, and many others to maintain a high performance and excellence. Joseph Washington has a style of his own which has moved his audience to laugh at times or even to shed a few tears. One thing is for certain, people are definitely moved to take action after hearing him speak. With his unique and passionate delivery mixed with solid content and practical principles, you are sure to see life as you have never seen it before. GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE! Watch Passion In Action this Thursday, February 7th at 7 pm ET only on www.passioninaction.tv "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." ~ John 14:26 It's interesting how Christians sometimes leave God out of the practical aspects of their business. The truth is God is just as concerned about your business as He is about all the other aspects of your life. One reason is because He can use your business as a platform for ministry, discipleship, and evangelism. Therefore, He wants to give you unique strategies to attract customers with great products and services, so that as your light shines brightly through business transactions, networking, and other transactions, they will see your great work and glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
Those strategies will often come straight from the Word of God. This is one of the things that's so incredible about the Bible. It's the VERY BEST resource for Christian entrepreneurs (and the Holy Spirit is your strategic competitive advantage in the marketplace). This ancient book of generationally transcendent wisdom is very applicable for 21st century business owners. Even when we evaluate what would be considered business best practices, I guarantee you that the core principle can be found in the Word of God. His wisdom is without boundaries! We have come through the Middle Ages, Industrial Age, Technology Age, Information Age, and now I believe we are in the Entrepreneurial Age. Fortunately, the Bible is applicable across all ages, cultures, and business industries. And the Bible provides insights and principles to all the core essentials of successful businesses, including strategic planning, human resource management, communications, financial management, customer service, leadership development, marketing, innovation, and more. So don't leave the Bible out of your business. Acknowledge God in all your ways, including all your business decisions, and He will guide you on profitable paths (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 48:17). In fact if you are struggling with how to apply Biblical principles within your business operations we have an incredible opportunity for you coming next week, January 18-19. Dual Domination Business Boot Camp will provide you with spiritual and practical tools to building a thriving business and advance the Kingdom of God. You can attend live in San Diego or online by pay per view. Click the image below to learn more. How do you currently use the Bible to operate your business? Comments below...
Most entrepreneurs want to build a big business, but they are often focused on temporal measures of success that won't stand the tests of time. However, a “B.I.G.” (Bold, Innovative, God-Inspired) business is one that focuses on building significance, i.e. the ultimate legacy that you want to create based on how you and your business impacts people and communities. Significance happens by helping others achieve success. If you focus your efforts on building a significant business, you will definitely reap success along the way. Here are 13 B.I.G. ideas to propel you to have a significant championship year personally and professionally in 2013:
What are some of your B.I.G. ideas for 2013? Leave your comments below... ********************************* Start your new year off right with Inc. My Dream! Business Planning System. Click below to learn more...
"... Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (Message) ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖ It’s often easy to assess our level of physical health. There’s plenty of tests we can take to provide us with information that will give us a good picture of our overall wellness. Likewise, we can analyze our bank accounts, cash flow, and debt levels to determine if we are financially fit.
However, when it comes to our professional pursuits, it’s a little harder to determine if our business aspirations are healthy. Here’s a quick “F.I.T.ness“ test that may reveal if the opportunities you are pursuing from a career or entrepreneur standpoint are worth your time and investment: F – Future focus: Does you business align with your life purpose? Is it getting you closer to accomplishing your short and long-term goals? Does this business allow your vision to grow? I – Intense interests: Will your business fully integrate and leverage your passions? Are you able to impact the people and communities that you care about? T – Top talents: Is your business going to leverage what you do the best? Are these pursuits going to help you strengthen your strengths and become the best in your industry at what you do? Sometimes it’s easy to chase opportunities that seem great, because they have worked out for other people. However, that doesn’t automatically mean those paths are the right F.I.T. for you. Just because something is right for someone else, doesn’t make it right for you. Your optimal entrepreneurial path will F.I.T. you specifically. Everything that looks good isn’t good for you. Make sure that every business venture into which you invest your time, talents, and treasures is purpose-driven, passion-pointed, and profitable! How do you know a business opportunity is a good fit for you? Leave your comments below... “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” ~ Colossians 3:23 This blog is a follow up to one I wrote a few weeks ago, "Your W.O.R.K. is Worship", that got a lot of hits. I truly believe God wants us to demonstrate worship to Him through the work we do everyday as entrepreneurs. We must realize, though, that true worship is based on our lifestyles and work-styles. More than just singing slow songs in church, how we work is a key indicator of the authenticity of our worship. Here are four key essential business practices to turn your W.O.R.K. into real worship: 1) Seize Your Assignment Biblical examples: Peter, James, John (left fishing business to follow Jesus) “…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men. So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” ~ Luke 5:10-11 "Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!" ~ 1 Corinthians 9:16 God wants to use those who are enthusiastic about being used by Him for His purposes. As Kingdom entrepreneurs we must realize that we are supposed to be following God's agenda and not our own. Our businesses and our lives belong to Him so we are at His beck and call to use our businesses as ministry platforms as the Holy Spirit directs us. Apostle Paul teaches us that the ministry of reconciliation belongs to every Christian. Therefore, your purpose/calling/mission in the marketplace is tied to the ministry of reconciliation. Take ownership of your calling and take action. When you actively and intentionally seek the Kingdom through your business, you can expect that great rewards are waiting for you. (MORE: Passion @ Work Career Development Programs) 2) Submit to Authority Biblical example: David (continually submitted to a king who wanted to kill him) “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ.” ~ Ephesians 6:5 “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” ~ Romans 13:1-2 Humility is the number one characteristic needed for a godly leader. Even as entrepreneurs we must submit to those in authority, i.e. laws, government, board of directors, business partners, and other stakeholders. A meek attitude is required for God to promote you in the Kingdom and in the marketplace. God wants to use you through your business in a great way, but you must have your heart and mind in the right place as it relates to how you deal with authority. Also, how you deal with conflict and persecution is a great indicator of your level of humility. 3) Serve with Excellence Biblical example: Daniel (strategic advisor to four kings) “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” ~ Proverbs 22:29 “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 5:14-30 Excellence is not something you do, it's who you are. Identify and maximize your talents, abilities, gifts, and skills in your business. Find your lane and flourish. Become the expert in your niche. Get better when nobody's watching. Become the best in the world at your craft. Be the go to expertise when people need your type of resource. When you have this kind of approach to your business, you are demonstrating deep appreciation to God for the talents and opportunities He gave to you to succeed in business. This is truly worship in action. (MORE: Passion @ Work Leadership Development Programs) 4) Solve Problems Biblical example: Joseph (promoted to second in command in Egypt because of his God-idea to thrive in a famine) “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” ~ Proverbs 8:12 “A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” ~ Proverbs 18:16 Your Kingdom assignment in the marketplace goes beyond what’s on your job description. One reason you were called to the marketplace is to solve problems with witty inventions that make God look good. The more problems you solve the brighter light for God you become. Problem solvers create value, are always in demand, and never go out of style. Profitable entrepreneurs are problem solvers. Wealth creating entrepreneurs are those who are able to keep solving problems. God wants your business to bring Him glory. So make sure you worship while you work! What do you do to turn your W.O.R.K. into worship? Leave your comments below... (MORE: Passion @ Work Career Development Programs) Get Your Free Gift & Newsletter!Save Money On Essential Business Services You Use Every Day“Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 4:11 In the dictionary, worship means “to show reverence and adoration“. A true understanding of the worship of God is that it’s more than just showing reverence and adoration in a religious ceremony, but it’s a lifestyle of acknowledgement, adoration, and alignment with His plans and expectations. That lifestyle includes the work you do on a daily basis. So as you go to work everyday as an employee or entrepreneur, the best way to view your work is that it should be…Worship Of the Real King! (MORE: Passion @ Work Career Planning Resources) Here’s some practical examples of what this looks like…
(MORE: Passion @ Work Leadership Development Programs) Today is a marvelous day for you to be transformed in the way you think about your work. Honor God in your work and you will experience Him in a whole new way! What are your thoughts about your work being worship? Leave your comments below... ********************Get Your Free Ebook & Newsletter!"Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit." ~ Proverbs 23:4 There's a big difference between working hard and working right. As we pass through the Labor Day season and many people celebrated a day off from their intense work lives, a thought came to me about how hard Christians work in their businesses. I wonder if we're working TOO hard as entrepreneurs... Now that's a strange idea for typical entrepreneurs to embrace, because most of us have been drilled with ethic of hard work all our lives. We have been taught that without hard work we won't accomplish our goals. We also have been taught to "work smart versus working hard." However, we haven't always been taught as Christian entrepreneurs that the smartest way to work is to engage God more intentionally in our work. The truth is if God is not intimately involved in working smarter, you really aren't working all that smartly and you won't achieve the results that you desire. Grace works by faith, not by works. We are not just saved by grace, we are supposed to work with grace. After salvation grace empowers us to do what God has called us to do in the way that He wants us to do it. God doesn't want you to work hard just for the sake of working hard, especially if it involves stress, anxiety, health issues and anything else that steals the joy from the work for which God purposed you to do. He wants you to work right. And the right way to work in the Kingdom is through faithfulness, diligence, and trusting Him to direct your business activities and decisions. You don't have to waste a lot of time, energy, and effort toiling to get things done, when He can open doors in moments versus the years it took you to get them open by yourself. That's called favor. I don't recall Jesus sweating to get much of anything done. As a matter of fact we never hear of anything related to him running, rushing, or anything else related to many of the behaviors we experience as we operate our businesses. Jesus wasn't just speaking figuratively in Matthew 11:30 when he said, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." The reason Jesus could be so calm in his business was because he spent so much time in prayer that the "work" he did was made much easier. The less you pray the harder your work will be. The more you pray the easier your work will be because God will give you revelation, insight, and wisdom to work more efficiently and effectively. In 1898 pastor Andrew Murray said it like this... "Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work it's worth and its success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God's messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us." Unfortunately, many Christian entrepreneurs don't trust this principle and spend a lot of time in a nose-to-the-grind, trial-and-error, blood-sweat-and-tears mode, mainly because we don't know any better. The ways of the world are not the ways of God. The less you allow God to direct your decisions, the harder you will have to work. The less you depend on God, the more you will have to depend on your own talent, resume, network, money, resources, etc. Now God can use all those things if He desires, but He will show how to use them so that your results are so much greater than you could have done on your own. Working without God is toil. Working with God is worship. I'm not saying that following God's instructions will always result in "easy" work, but what I am saying is that following God's instructions will keep you from unnecessary mistakes, detours, and u-turns. Many of these delays - that cost you time and money - could be avoided by acknowledging God in all your ways. Don't you think that if God gave you the business idea, He wants to see you succeed and will tell you everything you need to know to make that happen? I'm just sayin'... Many scriptures speak to how success is accomplished in God's eyes. Very few of them relate to working hard in the natural. Most of them relate to "work" that happens in the Spirit.
God wants to be your board chairman, CEO, CFO, partner, operations manager, advisor, coach, angel investor, virtual assistant, and so much more. He gives your business the best competitive advantage that you could have in the marketplace. If you trust Him and the work He wants to do through you, He will be all that you need to succeed.
What are your thoughts about how hard Christian entrepreneurs work? How do you engage God in your business? |
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