Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles
- Voices From the Workplace: Why Making Things Still Matters with Ben Dunn. On this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, Ben Dunn, CEO of Blueprint Advanced Manufacturing, shares his unique journey from healthcare to leading a manufacturing company.
- A Leader Worth Following. My new book A Leader Work Following: 40 Key Leadership Attributes and Applications to Masteris available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. Read a sample of the book (found under the book cover in the above link).
- Tim Keller’s Advice for Choosing (or Sticking with) a Career. Matt Smethurst writes “God deploys people into all kinds of jobs for the good of the world. Whether you’re thriving or struggling in a vocation—or trying to choose one—know that God is infinitely sovereign and wise.”
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More links to interesting articles
- The Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the Week
- Faith and Work Book Review ~ The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders by Dave Harvey
- Quotes from the book Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Workby Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels
- Called to Lead. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace is available in both a paperback and Kindle edition. Read a free sample (Introduction through Chapter 2).
- You’re Only Human: A Conversation with Theologian and Author Kelly Kapic. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan talks with theologian Dr. Kelly Kapic about his book Christian Life, a rich theology of how God the Father, Son, and Spirit shape our daily lives. Instead of a “how-to” guide for prayer and Bible reading, Kapic invites us to see the Christian life as a response to God’s love and grace.
- Love (and Work Well with) Your Gen Z Employees. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra interviews Erica Roth about how Gen Z is different, how she helps them adjust, and what tips she has for both Gen Z workers and their colleagues.
- Voices From the Workplace: Why Making Things Still Matters with Ben On this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, Ben Dunn, CEO of Blueprint Advanced Manufacturing, shares his unique journey from healthcare to leading a manufacturing company. Ben discusses how his faith guides his leadership and the importance of stewardship in his industry. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of manufacturing, emphasizing the value of hard work and the impact of creating tangible products. The conversation explores how faith can be integrated into daily work, offering listeners insights into finding purpose and fulfillment in their careers.
- Voices From the Workplace: Around the Shop Floor with Chris Horst. Discover how Chris Horst transitioned from leading a global nonprofit to running a Colorado-based manufacturing company, and how faith influences every aspect of his work. This episode of the Faith and Work podcast explores the importance of craftsmanship, love for neighbor, and purpose-driven leadership in everyday business. Chris emphasizes that meaningful work reflects God’s craftsmanship, and every task offers an opportunity to love neighbor and uphold human dignity. Whether in manufacturing or other trades, pursuing excellence and integrity shapes us to be more like Christ while serving others.
- Christianity and Competitive Tennis: A Conversation with Gus Martin, Tennis Coach. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, athlete and Christian school leader Gus Martin joins Dan to trace his journey from world‑ranked tennis pro and high-end coach to long-time head of Christian schools.
- The Sabbath as Delight, Resistance and Self-Denial. Abraham Cho writes “The word “sabbath” simply means “to cease.” In our always-on world, it feels more to me like a warm invitation than a stern command. We are invited to cease our anxious doing. To cease our frenzied striving. It is an invitation to lay our desires to rest, not because they need to be repressed, but because in the Sabbath we anticipate the day when they will be filled to overflowing—not as wages owed but as gift undeserved.”
- “Severance”, The Most Theologically Accurate Diagnosis of the American Workplace. Brandon Cobb writes “We cannot sever our work from the person who gave it to us. Quite the opposite, if work is the gift of God, then we need a posture of humility that recognizes that our work is not simply ours to maneuver however we prefer. Instead, work comes from God, and we must relate to it the way he envisions.”
- Work Will Always Matter. Chris Griswold writes “Of the many philosophical questions the age of artificial intelligence has foisted onto our attention, perhaps none is more urgent for policymakers than the nature and meaning of work.”
Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the Week
- Nothing in life is as rewarding as fulfilling your calling—nothing. Wealth, fame, achievement, recognition: all of them fall short. John Maxwell
- If you can show people you truly have their best interests at heart, they’ll follow you. John MacArthur
- If you make any work the purpose of your life—even if that work is church ministry—you create an idol that rivals God. Tim Keller
- We have a stewardship responsibility to maximize our God-given talents. We can only do that as we continuously learn and grow. Ken Blanchard, Mark Miller
- Every failure is a learning opportunity. The more you fail, the more you have the potential to learn. John Maxwell
- For your team to be strong, you must boast appropriately about your weaknesses and avoid parading your strengths. Dave Harvey
- Most of the time the most ordinary work is the most important work. Steven Garber
- Work of all kinds, whether with the hands or the mind, evidences our dignity as human beings—because it reflects the image of God the Creator in us. Tim Keller
- Work undertaken as God designed it is a form of worship. Tom Nelson
FAITH AND WORK BOOK REVIEW:
The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders by Dave Harvey. New Growth Press. 194 pages. 2025
***
Pastor Dave Harvey writes that leadership was never about exalting our strengths. God’s plan was always to deliver his strength through our weaknesses. He calls this the clay pot conspiracy. It’s a simple equation: Our Weakness + God’s Power = Resilient Ministry. This book is about exploring the details and delights of God’s clay pot conspiracy, based on 2 Corinthians 12:9:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The author writes that whether it is good or bad times, weakness or strength, prosperity or adversity, God wants our lives to chime for his glory. It’s why he calls us to lead. The journey toward ministry maturity and fruitfulness fixes us on a course toward weakness.
In our culture at best, weakness is pitied. At worst, it’s despised. But the Apostle Paul discovered a secret: his weakness was an opportunity for God’s power. He learned that when weakness meets God’s grace, strength abounds, or what the author calls the clay pot conspiracy.
The book is about how God instills strength, boldness, power, and resilience in those he has called to be leaders. The clay pot is a metaphor for weakness—our weakness.
The book covers a number of subjects including vulnerability, which the author tells us is an invitation to walk in integrity before God, regardless of the response from others. The author discusses HEALTHY practices: Honor others, Encourage more than you want to be encouraged, Acknowledge weaknesses more than parading strength, Look to the interests of others, Talk less, and listen more. Help the weak, and Yearn for Christ.
The section on ending well was particularly helpful. The author tells us that ending well means dying well. He uses as an example Christian’s crossing a deep river, the final obstacle to the Celestial City, with the help of Hopeful in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
Throughout, the author shares illustrations from his own life and ministry. At the end of each chapter the author includes helpful “Questions for Reflection”.
Here are a ten helpful quotes from the book:
- God’s grace is more magnificent than our weakness.
- The perfection of Christ is greater than the cracks in your pot.
- Weak leaders make for stronger, more resilient ministries. These ministries learn to rely on the power of Christ, not human strength.
- The biggest threat to leadership resilience is our unrelenting battle against indwelling sin.
- Leadership is a call to come under assault.
- The clay pot conspiracy reminds us that our weakness is the staging ground for God’s power.
- Few blows are more lethal to the leader’s confidence than betrayal.
- We are never more vulnerable to the enemy or to our own desire for vindication than when we have been seriously sinned against.
- An eldership, or any ministry team, flourishes as they understand and embody God’s clay pot conspiracy.
- For your team to be strong, you must boast appropriately about your weaknesses and avoid parading your strengths.
Faith and Work Book Club – Won’t you read along with us?
Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels
Please join us in reading this book on faith and work.
From the Amazon description:
“In a world where workplaces are becoming increasingly diverse, Working for Better by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels offers a timely guide for Christians navigating the modern faith-at-work landscape. Drawing from over twenty years of research and personal insights, Working for Better presents a groundbreaking exploration of how to express Christian faith in professional settings without compromising beliefs or alienating others.
Through detailed studies involving focus groups, surveys of more than 15,000 workers, and interviews with over 300 individuals, Ecklund and Daniels identify five key tensions in the faith-at-work movement. With compelling stories and practical applications, Working for Better addresses the need for Christian workers and leaders to adapt to cultural shifts, offering guidance for a more redemptive presence at work. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking questions for individual reflection or group discussion, making this book an essential resource for anyone seeking to integrate faith with their professional life. Whether you’re a Christian worker, workplace leader, or pastor guiding others, Working for Better invites you to consider how to flourish in a rapidly changing world.
As workplaces continue to evolve, the ability to maintain one’s spiritual values while contributing positively to the organizational culture becomes ever more crucial. Working for Better not only equips readers with the wisdom and tools needed to face such challenges but also inspires them to become agents of change, promoting a more inclusive and harmonious work environment.”
This week, we look at Chapter 4: Protecting Ourselves. Here are two helpful quotes from the chapter:
- Our studies show that a large number of Christians feel a sense of mistreatment at work due to their faith.
- Where a Christian works can significantly shape whether or how they experience religious discrimination or marginalization.