Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Energy; Preparation; Rest; Sabbath; Success; Work Reference: Psalm 127:1–2 Two men had to clear a field of trees. The contract called for them to be paid per tree. Bill wanted the day to be profitable, so he grunted and sweated, swinging his ax relentlessly. Ed, on the other hand, seemed to be working about … Continue reading “REFUELING
IN REST”

Topics: Commitment; Devotion; Ministry; Priorities; Sacrifice Reference: Luke 14:25–33 Years ago, I worked part-time on the loading docks of various trucking companies. At one company I met a fine Christian man named Rufus Kidd. He had just completed his associate’s degree in transportation and wanted to make it a full-time career. Since the company was … Continue reading “TURNING
DOWN A DREAM JOB”

Topics: Attitudes; Business; Creativity; Hope Reference: Proverbs 3:13–14 Three men owned shops in the same building. Times were tough, so the owner of the shop at one end of the building put a sign above his front entrance that said Year-End Clearance! The owner of the shop at the other end of the building responded … Continue reading “BATTLING
BUSINESS SIGNS”

Topics: Character; Circumstances and Faith; Convictions; Dishonesty; Dying to Self; Guidance; Honesty; Integrity; Persecution; Work References: Psalm 41:12; Proverbs 11:3; Matthew 5:10; 16:24–26; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:7–17 George Galatis, an engineer at Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, Connecticut, found several unsafe practices at his plant. Federal guidelines required the Millstone plant to store only … Continue reading “REPORTING
WORK VIOLATIONS”

Topics: Change; Decisions; Leadership; Planning; Risk; Vision Reference: Matthew 25:15 Sewell Avery, former chairman of Montgomery Ward & Co., was responsible for Ward’s failure to open a single new store from 1941 to 1957. Instead, the big retailer piled up cash and sat on it. Montgomery Ward amassed $607 million, earning it the Wall Street … Continue reading “RIDING
WAVES OF CHANGE”

Topics: Failure; Perseverance; Persistence; Success References: Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4; 5:11 John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, was rejected by twenty-eight agents and publishers. When an agent finally took him as a client, the book’s first press run was only 5,000 copies. Grisham himself purchased 1,000 copies and hawked his work to bookstores … Continue reading “PERSEVERANCE
PAYS OFF”

Topics: Career; Jobs; Money; Prestige; Satisfaction References: Ecclesiastes 2:10–11; Colossians 3:23 The three things people in the United States value most in a job, according to a 2001 Gallup poll: •     job satisfaction: 65 percent •     being paid well: 34 percent •     having an important title: 1 percent —“Workers Take Happiness over Money,” USA Today “Snapshots” (September 20, … Continue reading “FINDING
SATISFACTION IN WORK”

Topics: Books; Gender Differences; Men; Reading; Women References: 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 1:2; Matthew 22:37; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:1–2 A study of book purchases from 1998 to 2000 shows that the leading genre of books purchased by men was nonfiction/religion. Espionage/thriller books were the second most popular, followed by science fiction, computer, and mystery/detective books. … Continue reading “BUYING
BOOKS”

Topics: Christmas; Example; Humility; Jesus Christ; Self-denial; Service References: John 13:13–17; Galatians 5:13–14; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 6:1–2 We need more servants today. But a good servant is hard to find. In the past decade, the number of American households worth $10 million or more has quadrupled, and the newly rich want help managing their … Continue reading “TRAINING
HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS”

Topics: Dedication; Diligence; Integrity; Meekness; Responsibility; Sacrifice; Self-discipline; Values References: Colossians 3:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15; Hebrews 12:1 In February 2006, eight workers at a Nebraska meatpacking plant contributed $5 apiece to buy a block of 40 Powerball lottery tickets. The men usually worked sixty to seventy hours a week and earned $9.00 to $10.00 an … Continue reading “WORKING
BEYOND WINNING”