Last week I started teaching an 8-week bible study for entrepreneurs and business leaders through Kingdom Business University with the theme "Kings, Priests, and Profits." The purpose of this Bible study is to equip Christian marketplace leaders with the spiritual and practical tools to execute God's plan for their business profitably and sustainably. Our focus over the first few weeks is God initial interactions with Solomon. In 2 Chronicles 1 God sets forth a pattern with Solomon that Christian business leaders can glean from in terms of how we are to incorporate God into our work lives: 1) Worship (2 Chronicles 1:1-10), 2) Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:11-13), and 3) Wealth (2 Chronicles 1:14-17). Worship is critical to this process because it’s an opportunity for Him through His Spirit to send thoughts to human minds that must turn invisible ideas into visible manifestations. For Christian entrepreneurs this is an opportunity to create streams of revenues through a business that honors God and creates value in the earth. Incorporating worship into your business as a best practice allows at least 4 key benefits...
I included my teaching notes from week 2 to give you an idea of what we'll be covering during this series. Just download and enjoy!
What are you thoughts on worship as a business best practice? Please provide your comments below...
Last year after the Trayvon Martin tragedy occurred I wrote a blog post talking about what I'll call the "forgotten Trayvons," referring to all the young people over the past few years (and even further back) who have been killed violently and senselessly by guns and other means. Whether it's white-on-black or black-on-black crime, we have a national crisis on our hands that's impacting one community disproportionately more than it's impacting others. READ: It's a Sin Thing, Not a Skin Thing... Thoughts on Trayvon Martin This is not a just black problem. This is an American problem. And until we're honest with ourselves - across all ethnicities - about the root causes and very real consequences, we'll waste more time blaming one another rather than collectively and collaboratively creating solutions. In the mean time another Trayvon situation is waiting to happen right around the corner. It's time to wake up and step up. I look forward to your respectful comments below. God bless. LISTEN: Racism. Sexism. Classism. From Paula Dean to the Trayvon Martin Case ********************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...
Have you have ever felt like, "God I know you sent me out here to start this business (or ministry), but now it seems like everything is against me… Why can’t you just make me successful?... Where is the prosperity your Word promised me?" I know I have. I'm sure Moses felt the same way too.
Sometimes it appears that God-designed dams seem to block the flow of our blessings. Could it be that He keeps us from succeeding in the very thing that He called us to do? Would He cause your business to fail if He gave you the idea to start it? What’s that all about?! I'll tell you in my Kingdom Business column in the latest edition of Brotha Magazine. Also, as with each article we have posted an accompanying video. Click the image below to enjoy this powerful teaching... I have received multiple questions about the "Business Pastor" title that I use on my web site and social media profiles. People are intrigued by this interesting combination of terms that on the surface may not seem like they fit together. However, if we dig a little deeper we will find these two terms should actually be used together more often. Before I delve into exactly what a business pastor does, let's look at a few of the Biblical roles of a "church pastor", who is called by God to lead a group of people according to His will:
There are definitely other roles that we can associate with the traditional pastoral role, but these particular functions are key to being a business pastor. Now this term business pastor has a Biblical foundation if you consider that Peter called us a "royal priesthood" in 2 Peter 1:9. So in reality we are both kings and priests, which represents both a secular and sacred calling. Hence, a business pastor isn't very strange after all (I go further in this teaching two of my other articles, Marketplace of Healing and Kings & Priests in Business). The model of a religious leader providing spiritual support to a secular organization is nothing new (I really don't believe in the concept of the separation of sacred and secular, but I will use these terms for the sake of this discussion. That will be another post later :). Corporations, the U.S. military, and even the U.S. Senate have chaplains who serve them in various ways, including some of what I listed above. Unfortunately, what isn't common are those who operate in a chaplain role for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Entrepreneurs face unique marketplace challenges, and it's often hard for them to find people and places where their personal issues and professional difficulties are understood and addressed relevant to their situation. If a person isn't an entrepreneur, it's typically hard for them to put themselves into the mindset of one. This is where I come into the picture (and many others who may not yet know it). I am passionate about caring, praying, discipling, teaching, encouraging, and advising entrepreneurs to maximize their talents, pursue their calling, and find fulfillment so they can build extraordinary businesses. In addition to spiritual support, I also provide strategic consulting solutions built on Biblical principles to address the necessary practical activities needed to grow a profitable business. So in short I assist entrepreneurs professionally, spiritually, and operationally. I don't have a church building, but I'm being the church by providing spiritual and professional support to entrepreneurs and business people who need to be pastored in the marketplace. Entrepreneurs need love and care too! And God has called me to do that for them. Do you need a business pastor? Are in a corporate job and would like a business pastor / chaplain for your company or department? I can do that for you. Let's talk. Many churches are still struggling to regain their financial footing in this economic recovery. This is largely due to the domino effect of many families still being challenged financially due to the unemployment and underemployment situation. Research from Barna Group revealed that the church is falling short in in terms of providing proactive support to the economic crisis for their members or communities. Some of this is due to the financial pain churches are feeling. Some of it is that pastors and church leaders may not be aware of many of the practical things they can do – apart from just giving money – to those who are hurting financially. Here are a few ideas your church can use to provide assistance and direction to your congregation and communities who are experiencing major financial challenge difficulties…
For many people entrepreneurship is the path to fulfilling their purpose and reaching their financial promise land. More importantly, we are teaching people how to do business God's way. Also, we would love to come to your church to facilitate one of these boot camps for your congregation and community. Just contact us to today to get more details. Free Resources for EntrepreneursGet a preview copy of Inc. My Dream where you will learn how to plan, launch, and grow a profitable and sustainable business that has a social impact in your community by utilizing Kingdom business principles. As an added bonus you will receive one of Paul Wilson's teachings 7 Fundamentals of Christian Business Success (mp3). Download your free copy now!
Derrion Albert. Martel Barlett. Luis Garcia. Cynthia Cole. Adolfo Guijardo-Soria. Salvador Sanchez. Aniya Crockett. These are just a few of the 74 young people who were murdered in Chicago in the 11 months between September 2009 and August 2010 (more than 78% by gunshot). [Source: www.truestaris.com] Also in Chicago, more than 530 people under the age of 21 have been killed since 2008 and many more have been shot or have otherwise suffered violence—often at the hands of their peers and particularly in the city’s African-American and Latino communities. Nearly 80 percent of youth homicides occurred in 22 black or Latino communities on the city’s South, Southwest and West sides—even though just one-third of the city’s population resided in those communities. [Source: The Chicago Reporter]. I wonder is God any more angry, hurt, or vengeful when violence against one of His children happens at the hands of someone who looks like them versus someone who doesn't. I wonder is He any more outraged when someone from the same culture or ethnicity murders an innocent teen versus someone from a different culture or ethnicity. It's interesting the things we as Christians have selective outrage about. I know a lot of local outrage was expressed in several cities where it seems like violence has gotten out of control over the past few years. But the national outrage was nowhere close to what it has been for Trayvon. I'm not saying it shouldn't be there for him, but what about all the other victims who preceded him. This may not be a popular stance I'm about to present, but the tragic death of Trayvon Martin and the hundreds of other senseless deaths of our youth (and adults) highlight a much deeper and widespread problem than racism or poverty or injustice. It really highlights the sin culture in this country as our core problem. Everything else are just symptoms of this central root. Our society drinks the blood of excessive violence, sex, and debauchery everyday through personal indulgences, movies, music, TV, and video games, but then we are surprised / shocked / outraged when we see reality perpetuating entertainment perpetuating reality. This sick cycle won't stop until we stop it! The root of racism is hatred, which is birthed from sin. Therefore, racism is really a sin thing, much more than it is a skin thing (satan will use any scheme to divide us: racism, sexism, classism, ageism, etc. Don't get tricked into participating with his schemes). It would then lead to the truth that Christians need to be focused on grace-based solutions, not just race-based solutions. Simply changing laws, rules, and regulations will only produce short-term, peripheral change. Laws may provide a deterrent before and punishment after the fact, but they can't prevent murder. The only thing that can prevent murder is the love of God, i.e. people who understand how much God loves them, which then compels them to love everyone else no matter what they look like. (oh, and every murder is a "hate crime" if we're using God's laws to judge the action versus just our own, but I digress...)
It's interesting that the Civil Rights movement was led by men and women of God who were looking to transform the soul of America, not just laws and bathroom signs. They understood the spiritual foundation had to precede social action, otherwise social action lacks sustainable change and lasting effectiveness. Jesus came to bring complete heart transformation, not just behavior modification or racial understanding (Galatians 3:26-28). The Bible clearly spells out for Christians how we can collectively transform the culture into one that is healthy and viable versus broken and hurting. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is speaking to Kingdom citizens, not unbelievers: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." You might read that Scripture and be thinking that we can't spend all our time praying without going and doing something against oppression or injustice. Well, the beautiful thing about seeking God's face through prayer is that He reveals His will and provides answers to our problems. He will tell us what we need to do to strategically and systematically change the systems of oppression and injustice. Without His input man-made ideas and solutions will have minimal impact. Many people are angry at Mr. Zimmerman and want justice served against him. He will have his day in court (before a judge or public opinion). However, God's judgment starts with the family of God (1 Peter 4:17). And part of His judgment against the church for the condition of this country and the world will be how much we prayed versus how much we protested (or did other things to distract us from the most important things). If you protest more than you pray, your efforts will be limited in the grand scheme of things. It's OK to protest, but you better pray in advance, during, and after, so that when the protests are over, people slip back into normalcy, and the media has all gone home (until the next news making event), you will have some divine answers that will transform hearts and minds, not just man-made solutions that have little long-term effect. I pray for Trayvon's family that God will bring healing, peace, and restoration. I pray for all the family's across this country that have needlessly and senselessly lost a young person. And I pray for God's church to wake up the responsibility we have to this country and the world to seek His face for His answers and stop making up our own as we go along. |
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