Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles

YOUR WORK MATTERS TO GOD

• God’s Work; Our Work. Amy Sherman writes “In the midst of the tedium that inevitably accompanies any job (in varying degrees), it can be easy to wonder at times whether our work really matters. One way of battling the temptation to believe the lie that our work doesn’t matter is to see the connections between what we do each day and what God is doing from day to day.”
• Tent-Making Is Not Second-Class. Tom Nelson writes “A closer look at 1 Thessalonians reveals that one connecting thread flowing from Paul’s inspired pen is a robust understanding and affirmation of Christian vocation. Indeed, vocational diligence is one of the letter’s main literary themes.”
• Vocation is Integral. Steven Garber was the speaker at my Covenant Seminary graduation. “Many people today see their job as nothing more than a paycheck. But is one’s calling more than that? Steven Garber says yes. He says there is an intimate connection between one’s faith, vocation, and culture. “Vocation is integral,” he says, “not incidental to the missio Dei.” Steven explains how most of what God is doing in the world happens in and through the vocations of his people.”
• On Calling, Ambition and Surrender. “Many of us struggle to discern our role in God’s bigger plan for the world; some of us even struggle to see God’s plan at all. We’re unsure of our purpose, or uncertain of how we can use that purpose to bring renewal to our communities. Pete Richardson helps executive, church, and cultural leaders hone in on their life purpose and perspective. He reveals some of the questions we need to ask ourselves, and the results we can expect when we respond to God’s very personal assignment for each of us.”
• Working for God’s Glory. I’m looking forward to Michael Horton’s session on the doctrine of vocation at the 2017 Ligonier National Conference. Here’s a description of the session “Reformation extends to all matters of life, including theology, church, home, and society. This session will outline the doctrine of vocation and explain how it relates to other doctrines such as the priesthood of all believers, with a view toward encouraging greater faithfulness, innovation, and productivity in the workplace and beyond. It will consider why glorifying God in our callings is vital to the kingdom of God for future centuries.”
• Why Do People Work? Anne Bradley writes “You are created uniquely and have something to offer to the world.  You have a real contribution to make through your work and that contribution can have lasting significance for the Kingdom of Christ, even if you are flipping burgers.”
• Connecting to a Higher Purpose – Especially at Work. Hugh Whelchel writes “Understanding our calling is not just about finding purpose in our work but finding purpose in everything we do – understanding that we are on a mission for God.”
• The Fruit of the Spirit and Your Work. Matt Perman writes “And, this also helps us see why our work matters. For when we are doing our work, we aren’t just doing work. We are engaging in an opportunity to display the fruit of the Spirit and manifest the character of God all day long, right here in the concrete realities of everyday life.”
• Your Work Matters. Watch this sermon from John MacArthur from 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15.
• Five Aims in Vocation. Amy Sherman writes “while it’s difficult to say with precision what career a particular Christian should take up, it is possible to suggest some overarching vocational aims to pursue. Here are five—each with a story to illustrate.”
• Discovering the Reformation View of Work. Hugh Whelchel writes “It was initially through Martin Luther’s efforts that the 16th century Reformers began to recover the biblical doctrine of work. They began to recognize that all of life, including daily work, can be understood as a calling from God.”
• The Historical Influences of the Sacred-Secular Divide. Hugh Welchel writes “Finding significance in our work requires that we once again overcome the sacred-secular divide and embrace a biblical view of work.”

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES:

• 24 Quotes on Faith and Leadership from Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. Brian Dodd writes “But the most important thing you need to know about Clayton Kershaw is he is a Christian.  Kershaw is a man of great faith who deeply loves Jesus Christ.”
• Are You a Light at Work? Shelly Simpson, EVP; CMO; president, ICS & Truck, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., shares how she thinks about her opportunity to be a light on a day-to-day basis.
• What I’ve Learned on the PGA Tour. Bethany Jenkins talks to Sean Martin, the events editor for PGATOUR.com about how he integrates his faith and work.
• Good Leaders Have People to Serve. Bethany Jenkins interviews Lisa Schmitz, the mentor coach for EDGE Mentoring, a national mentoring organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, about how she integrates her faith and work.
• They Are More than Their ‘Rehab Potential’. Kelly Mott writes about how she integrates her faith and work as a pediatric occupational therapist. This article is also included in the new NIV Faith and Work Bible.
• Being a Nurse in a Broken World. Timoteo Sazo interviews Anna Haynes, a neonatal intensive care nurse, on how she integrates her faith and work.

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