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Doing God’s Business

Phase 1
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Copyright Information

All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed,
sold or licensed without the express written consent of the Institute for Marketplace
Transformation.

Written by R. Paul Stevens

Produced by R. Paul Stevens

Graphic Design and Layout by Suejin Yim

Photographs by Pexels

Speaker photographs courtesy of Ken McAllister, LeaderImpact, MacKay CEO Forums, BLG,
JustWork, Ian Sheh , Tim Hardy

Regent College and ReFrame information in the Further Exploration section provided by
Regent College and ReFrame’s Participant and Leader Guide Copyright ©2014 REGENT
COLLEGE.

Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, TNIV®
Copyright © 2006.
 Table of Contents

O6 Introduction

12 Session 1
What is so good about working?

18 Session 2
Reframing Monday To Friday

24 Session 3
Why Work Is Sometimes So Hard

32 Session 4
Grappling With Pressures

42 Session 5
Why You Can Be Creative

48 Session 6
Dealing with a Changing World

56 Session 7
Doing Kingdom Work

66 Session 8
Business As Mission. Really?

72 Further Exploration

80 Leader’s Guide
INTRODUCTION
The Institute for Marketplace Transformation in
partnership with Regent College welcome you to Phase 1
of Doing God’s Business. We hope that this course gives
you a renewed perspective on the good work to which you
are called. Theologian, Frederick Buechner, says, “Your
vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world’s
greatest need.” We pray as you journey with us in the next
eight sessions, that you are filled with hope and joy to do
Kingdom Work as God calls you into the world as a minister
of shalom in every vocation.
8

INTRODUCTION

Who is this for?

This curriculum is for churches, businesses, non-profits, or individuals who long
to discover real meaning in their work and workplace. By developing and practicing a
marketplace theology of work and what righteous engagement in the marketplace looks
like, participants will be reenergized to engage in God’s transformative work as global and
local mission.

What are we trying to accomplish?

This series seeks to provide people and groups with a platform to engage in “doing theology
from below,” and integrating their faith and engagement with the world through Kingdom
work. The series aims to help people renew the way they think about their work and what
Kingdom work looks like in their area of work and ministry for the world.

When can it be used?

This interactive curriculum was designed to be used in groups or on an individual basis
in a variety of settings such as church small groups, leadership groups, business
groups (Christian or non-Christian), non-profit organizations, or as a self-study. The
curriculum is interactive in nature and its learnings are maximized in a group setting where
practical applications of the content can be discussed and shared on an ongoing basis.

This series can be further studied in a textbook by R.Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and
Motivation for the Marketplace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006).
Though it is not a requirement for the current series, engaging with the text book will offer a more
comprehensive and in-depth study of each session.

Who can lead the discussion?

The sessions can be easily led by anyone who has prior experience in engaging with the
marketplace or in any form of work, and has a basic knowledge of the Bible. The Leader’s
Guide for each session helps to further provide context and extra discussion points to lead
the session. Please refer to the Leader’s Guide for details on leading each session.
 9

FORMAT

How much time do you need?

All you need is 50-75 minutes for a session!

Each session is designed to be 50-75 minutes, and is composed of a video, discussion

questions, reflection over a text from the Bible, and optional activities that can be done
during the session or at another time. The format can be freely modified by the leader based
on the unique needs of the group or individual.

25 min 15 min 10 min 25 min

Introduction & Episode Discussion Reflection Now or Later

(Optional)

What does each session look like?

Session Outline
Introduction: This section recaps the last session and introduces the current
session .
Episode: The corresponding video is viewed.
Discussion: Discussion question guide participants through the major themes
and questions relevant for the session and episode viewed.
Reflection: Source reading from the Bible (TNIV) is read and discussed in
correlation to the session’s topic.
Now or Later: This section is optional; however it suggests additional discussion
topics, questions, activites, and case studies to apply learnings from the session in
a practical way.
SESSIONS

Session 1: What is So Good About Working?

Session 2: Reframing Monday to Friday

Session 3: Why Work is Sometimes So Hard

Session 4: Grappling with the Pressures

Session 5: Why You Can Be Creative

Session 6: Dealing with a Changing World

Session 7: Doing Kingdom Work

Session 8: Business As Mission. Really?

12

SESSION 1:

WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT WORKING?

 13
25 min

INTRODUCTION
This session suggests a need for a marketplace theology to overcome the false hierarchy
of occupations, and to break down the dualism of sacred and secular in work. We will see
the significance of our daily work whether remunerated or not.

MEET THE MENTOR

Dr. R. Paul Stevens is Professor Emeritus of Marketplace
Theology at Regent College, Vancouver and is Chairman
of the Institute for Marketplace Transformation.

MEET THE PRACTITIONER

Dr. Clive Lim is the CEO of Leap International, a Singa-
pore-based family investment company. As an entrepre-
neur, he has a background in telecommunications and has
developed several companies. He lives in Singapore,
Toronto and Vancouver.

WATCH EPISODE 1
14

15 min

DISCUSSION
1. Paul Stevens talked about the hierarchy of occupations in many people’s minds. Where in the
list from top to bottom do you see yourself? Where does the meaning of your work come from?

2. Stevens is arguing that dualism (that some work is holy and other work is secular) is a
dangerous misunderstanding. Do you agree? If so why, if not why not?

3. One of the things you saw in the film was a matrix of how people integrate faith and work:
mission, motivation, morality and meaning. Which one has been influential in your life up to now
and which one do you most need to explore?
 15

10 min

REFLECTION
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to
curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at
it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Those who do
wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with
what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:22—4:1,
TNIV )

1. What difference will it make to slaves and masters to know that they both (at least when both are
Christians) are servants/ministers of God and are doing “the Lord’s work”?

2. If someone asked you “Why do you work?” what would you now answer?

*All Scripture quotations are taken from the Today’s New International Version unless otherwise noted, Zondervan
TNIV Study Bible, 2006.
16

25 min

NOW OR LATER
Here are some ideas of what you can do to explore this theme further:

1. Interview a couple of people at your worksite on why they work, what brings them joy and
what causes them stress. Here are some questions you can ask:

1) What do you do for a living?

2) How did you come to be doing the work you now do?
3) Describe what you do in an average day?
4) What are the issues you face in your daily work?
5) What difference does your faith make to how you deal with those issues?
6) Do you see your daily work as a calling? If so how?
7) Are there dimensions of your work that you feel are actually a ministry? Describe.
8) Has your church ever affirmed, empowered you for your service/ministry in the
marketplace? If so how?
9) In your own thinking and feeling do you regard your work as less pleasing to God and
less strategic for the kingdom of God than the work of a pastor or missionary? If so, where
did this come from? Or is it really the case?
10) If you had a request for the church to help you in your everyday work, what would you
ask for?
11) How often, if at all, do you hear references/teaching and/or prayers in the public
gathering of the church about work or the marketplace?
12) Have you ever invited your pastor to visit you in the workplace? If so, what was it like?
13) What causes you to celebrate in your daily work?
14) What causes stress in your daily work?
15) Do you find yourself praying during your work?
16) Do you find your work draws you closer to God or makes you feel distant?
17) What is the main thing you would find helpful in integrating your faith and work?

2. A Book to read: R. Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the
Marketplace, Chapter 1 “What Business Is God In?” Persons wanting to explore the entire Bible
on the subject of work can read R. Paul Stevens, Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012).

3. Something to Do: Ask your pastor, if you have one, to visit you in the workplace for an hour
and use the coffee break or lunch as an opportunity to discuss and share about your work.
17
82

PREPARING FOR EACH SESSION

1. Read and review the Introduction segment of the guide for an overview of the curriculum and
the topics that will be explored and discussed.

2. Review the Guidebook for the Session, particularly focusing on the discussion questions.

3. Watch the Episode for Session keeping the discussion questions in mind as you watch. Take
note of any words and topics that are relevant or may need to be clarified with the group during
the discussion.

4. Read and meditate on the biblical text from the session’s Reflection and think about
how it relates to the topics discussed in the Episode. This guide is based on the Today’s New
International Version (TNIV). Consider how you can apply the Scripture to your life and relate it
back to the episode and related discussion questions.

5. Review the Leader’s Guide for the session.

LEADING EACH SESSION

1. Start each session with prayer.

2. At the start of the first session, introduce the purpose of the series and what the group’s
desired learning outcomes and goals are.

3. Focus on the session’s topics being careful not to spend too much time recapping or leading
the discussion off-topic.

4. Facilitate engagement with the topics of the session through conversation. Encourage
discussion and participation in each session while practicing the art of listening well, but avoid
pressuring those who are hesitant to share.

5. Feel free to modify (focus on fewer discussion questions, spend more time engaging with the
episode in Discussion rather than in Reflection of the corresponding biblical Scripture or the
Now or Later activities) the session per the needs to the group.

6. Introduce further resources suggested in Now or Later or in the Leader’s Guide if relevant.

7. End each session with prayer.

86

Institute for Marketplace Transformation Regent College

Vancouver BC & Jeju Island, Korea 5800 University Blvd,
www.imtglobal.org Vancouver, BC V6T 2E4, Canada
www.regent-college.edu