Reprinted from the Theology of Work Project. Note to the Leader This study is intended to engage Christians who work in a discussion about ambition. It brings together the practical reality of life at work and the spiritual guidance of the Bible. The study begins with an optional, provocative video. It is not intended as a statement of what’s right,…
By Chris Armstrong, reprinted from Humanism as a Way of Life. Part three of a series. At the root of all these cults (and many others no doubt), there is one underlying cultural narrative. This narrative stands in the way of the kind of vocational life that the Onion article is pointing toward through its satire – a vocational life that is…
By Jules Gadsby; reprinted from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. …so that he might come to have first place in everything. Colossians 1:18, NRSVue Since NASA first began releasing them in 2022, the pictures coming back from the James Webb space telescope have been breathtaking, showing the sheer scale and beauty of our universe. To be useful, though, the images have…
By Charlie Self, reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. The Economic Wisdom Project is best known for our Economic Wisdom Project Talks, which are short, accessible, engaging and rich presentations suitable for use in classrooms and group discussions. But the EWP also features print resources, including our vision paper and our twelve elements of economic wisdom. Economic Wisdom for Churches, our…
Reprinted from the Chalmers Center; part six of a series. Building God’s kingdom community means working to replace destructive formative practices with those that lead to true flourishing. The Ministry Design Principles we’re highlighting this week focus heavily on the relational aspect of poverty alleviation. After all, we are each innately relational beings with minds, affections, wills, and bodies, and we…
By Brandon Beck, reprinted from Living God’s Mission. In 1924, British author AA Milne published a collection of poetry – When We Were Very Young – animal tales for his son Christopher Robin. His friend EH Shepard illustrated them. Number 38, “Teddy Bear,” was about a stuffed animal Milne had bought at Harrod’s as a gift for Christopher Robin after he and…
By David Gill, reprinted from the Bay Area Center for Faith, Work & Tech. This question comes up all the time: what kind of work should I do, especially if I want to honor God and be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ? Yes, we should pray for guidance and listen to the counsel of our brothers and sisters. We…
By David Williamson, part six of a series. Genesis 5 begins by repeating the assertion that Adam, humankind, is made in God’s likeness, bears the “imago Dei,” both male and female. Here that honor, that identity, is transmitted from the first man to all successive generations. A similar expression is used in the birth of Adam’s son, Seth, who is “in…
Reprinted from the Theology of Work Project, lead contributor Wayne Kirkland. God intends for everyone to thrive economically. He wants us to find provision (basic needs) for our daily life. He also desires for us to enjoy the wealth (abundance) of his generosity. Furthermore, God’s world has ample resources to provide all we need. However, in the fallen world we…
By Chris Armstrong, reprinted from Humanism as a Way of Life. Part two of a series. I believe there are at least three idols today that get in the way of a higher understanding of ordinary work. Each of these idols has its own cult – that is, in the older sense of that word, its own way of being worshiped…
