US Adults Giving Patterns show Christian Church Still Number One

If you wonder where US adults give their money, the Barna Group has answered this question. In a survey of 2,016 adults in 2021, Barna found that US adults give to the following causes and institutions, as follows: Christian Church - 19%Animal Welfare - 12%Extreme poverty - 10%Christian ministry - 10%Medical research - 10%Global climate change - 9%Environmental issues - 9%Racial justice - 8%Sexual abuse causes -...
LGBTQ Activists Protest Hiring Practices of Seattle Pacific University

LGBTQ Activists Protest Hiring Practices of Seattle Pacific University

These protests against the university for upholding a policy prohibiting hiring LGBTQ people are coming from the university's students. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is (effectively) supporting the students in their litigation against the school. In response, the university is suing the State of Washington over its probe into the school's LBGTQ exclusion, claiming a violation of its first amendment rights. This is another example of...
Don’t Get Caught Up in all the Anger

Don’t Get Caught Up in all the Anger

I recently published my latest book, titled Biblical Wisdom for Business Leaders: Thirty Sayings from Proverbs. In that book, I gave a devotional on Proverbs 22.24-25, which reads: Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. This proverb reminds us that angry ways can be learned. And after learning them,...
You can hide from men but not God

You can hide from men but not God

I was reading a JulieRoys.com story this morning about Bruxy Cavey, a megachurch pastor near Toronto who has been involved in a multi-year affair with a church member he had counseled. He was able to keep his affair private for years, but God recently revealed his private sin and he was forced to step down. In reading this story, I was reminded of all the various scandals...
Who Will Answer? Only Jesus Christ.

Who Will Answer? Only Jesus Christ.

With the conflict going on in Europe and a very real possibility of WWIII, I find the lyrics and the core question posted by Ed Ames in 1967 to be just as relevant today as it was 55 years ago. Our political and business problems will *not* be solved by our politicians in either political party. They will only be solved when Christians – those who claim...
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: The Importance of Identity

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: The Importance of Identity

A transcendent life purpose is essential to leading well as a Christian in the marketplace. We cannot lead the way God intended if we don’t have a set of core convictions about our life purpose that extends beyond our vocation. Without deeply held beliefs, you’ll negotiate away too much of yourself when normal business pressures and uncertainties come your way. From a leadership viewpoint, the book of...
Be a Life-Long Learner

Be a Life-Long Learner

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.Proverbs 23.12 Positioned in stark contrast to the previous saying that characterizes those who despise godly wisdom as fools, the sage instructs us to be different: to intentionally bake into our inner-most being godly instruction [1] and knowledge. “Apply” is an imperative in the Hebrew text. Applying your ears is another way of saying, “pay attention and...
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Resolve Comes from a Healthy Fear of God

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Resolve Comes from a Healthy Fear of God

This lesson focuses on the contrast between Daniel and the chief official,[1] Ashpenaz (vs 3). Whereas the chief official fears the king, Daniel and his friends fear God. This is what verses 9-10 says: 9Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink....
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Christian Leaders do not Trade their Purity for Success

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Christian Leaders do not Trade their Purity for Success

Lesson in Brief Daniel demonstrates an unusual but health fear of God, which forms the foundation of his resolve to not defile himself as he is assimilated into Babylonian culture and beliefs. If we are to lead as God intends in the marketplace, we must have a similar resolve. Let's learn about Daniel's resolve as a way for us to think about our own resolve. Introduction A...
A Violation of the Purpose of Products

A Violation of the Purpose of Products

One of the four purposes of business is Products. Quoting from my book, A Christian Theology of Business Ownership, I wrote this: "Simply stated, the first purpose for business is this: Business exists to provide a means to produce products that enables the community to flourish." When businesses aggressively market their products or services to those who cannot afford them, they are violating this principle. Case in...
How Churches can Grow and Mentor New Christian Business Owners

How Churches can Grow and Mentor New Christian Business Owners

You can download the companion slides in PDF format here. I’ll offer several ideas here on what a local church ministry could do in order to be intentional about growing new stewards who own for-profit businesses. First, you’ll need the support of your pastors and elders. Most ministries in local churches need this support. They will become your first group of stakeholders. Secondly, spell out the purpose...
Have Minimal Contact with a Fool

Have Minimal Contact with a Fool

In the ears[1] of a fool[2] do not speak, for he will despise[3] the wisdom of your words.[4]Proverbs 23.9 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.[5]Proverbs 24.7 Fools are often mentioned and contrasted in Proverbs. Here are many of their characteristics: Despise wisdom and instruction (1.7, 15.5, 19.29, 23.9)Hate knowledge (1.22, 17.10, 18.2, 26.7)Complacent (1.32)Always talking...
Avoid Those Who are All About the Money

Avoid Those Who are All About the Money

Proverbs 23.6-8 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;[1] do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.[2] “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.[3]Proverbs 23.6-8 This saying is similar to the sixth saying in that...
Courage. Faith. Sacrifice.

Courage. Faith. Sacrifice.

Todd: Hello… Operator…listen to me…I can't speak very loud. – This is an emergency. I'm a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco.. We have a situation here….Our plane has been hijacked…..can you understand me? Lisa: (exhaling a deep breath to herself) I understand… Can the hijackers see you talking on the phone? Todd: No Lisa: Can you tell me how many hijackers are on the...
Maintain Margin in Your Life

Maintain Margin in Your Life

Proverbs 23.4-5 Do not toil[1] to acquire wealth; be discerning[2] enough to desist.[3]  When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.[4] The acquisition of wealth, in and of itself, is a moral neutral in the Bible. It is the how and why we acquire wealth that make the difference in how God views our wealth-building...
Should You Require Vaccinations as a Condition of Employment?

Should You Require Vaccinations as a Condition of Employment?

So many organizations have swiftly mandated COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, I doubt any of us can recall a time when there was this much consensus coupled with velocity in action around any given topic. It is truly remarkable how fast this train is leaving the station, or should I say, shot out of the station. As a business owner, you might be asking yourself,...
Predictions on the COVID-19 Situation

Predictions on the COVID-19 Situation

As remasking to protect against COVID-19 is being recommended by the CDC, I thought this might be a good time to share some thoughts for Christian business owners to consider. First, it is just a matter of time before nearly all employers, associations, non-profits and so forth require their employees to be COVID vaccinated. Protecting employees, customers, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders will become an expected standard...
Business Ownership and Philanthropy

Business Ownership and Philanthropy

The Associated Press recently reported that only half of Americans are giving to charity. They cited a study conducted by Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy: "The findings confirm a trend worrying experts: Donations to charitable causes are reaching record highs, but the giving is done by a smaller and smaller slice of the population." Philanthropy is one of the four core purposes of business. If...
Control Your Desires

Control Your Desires

When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well[1] what[2] is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.[3] Do not crave[4] his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.[5]Proverbs 23.1-3 This is the first of three sayings (23.1-3, 4-5, 6-8) which pertain to greed of one type or another. The phrase “do not crave his delicacies” appears in both...
Shrinkflation and Gods Purposes for Products

Shrinkflation and Gods Purposes for Products

An interesting site, mouseprint.org, reports on numerous examples of shrinkflation, the shrinking of product size/volume/weight without lowering their price or changing the look and feel of their packaging. Essentially, companies reduce how much they are including in their product but they charge you the same. Some say this is a way for them to control costs and not contribute to inflation. That's fine. But then they should...
Sallie Mae an Example of Violating God’s Purposes for Business

Sallie Mae an Example of Violating God’s Purposes for Business

This article in the Wall Street Journal, Al Lord Profited When College Tuition Rose. He’s Paying for it is an example of how violating God’s purposes for business creates inefficiencies and inequities in our society (or any society for that matter). The article (adapted from the book The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe) reveals that back in the seventies – nearly 50 years...
Competence Wins Every Time

Competence Wins Every Time

Proverbs 22.29 Do you see someone skilled[1] in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.[2] I happen to be writing this devotional during the week of the The Master’s[3] golf tournament. Every year, I marvel at their ability to hit a little white ball hundreds of yards and land it within a defined space. I’ve tried numerous times...
Do Not Steal

Do Not Steal

Do not move an ancient boundary[1] stone set up by your ancestors.[2]Proverbs 22.28 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.[3]Proverbs 23.10-11 This instruction is given to us twice by the sage. With these two sayings, our attention is directed back to protection of the poor: Protecting the fields of...
The Heart of Stewardship

The Heart of Stewardship

View the sermon here. In this series, we have learned that the Context of Stewardship is our covenant relationship with God. Part of our pledge to be faithful to Him includes being faithful in giving to Him. The Context of Stewardship means that we allow Him to transform our hearts through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit as He writes His laws into our minds and...
Do Not Pledge Another’s Debts

Do Not Pledge Another’s Debts

Proverbs 22.26-27 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security[1] for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.[2] In this saying, we’re instructed to avoid accepting the legal obligation to pay another’s debts on their behalf, should they default on the debt. In essence, we should not allow our assets or our...
The Life of Christian Stewardship

The Life of Christian Stewardship

View Bill's sermon here. Good morning. We’re in the 3rd Sunday of a four-part series focusing on Christian stewardship. The central idea which we’re working with is this: Disciples of Jesus Christ are faithful to God in stewarding all that He owns by disadvantaging themselves in order to advantage His kingdom. On the first Sunday, we looked at the Context for Stewardship. We learned that the context...
The Foundation of Stewardship

The Foundation of Stewardship

Watch the sermon video here. Good morning. We’re in the 2nd Sunday of a four-part series focusing on stewardship and generosity. The overriding theme we’re working with in this series is this: Disciples of Jesus Christ are faithful to God in stewarding all that He owns by disadvantaging themselves in order to advantage His kingdom. Last week, we considered the Context of Stewardship. We learned that our...
How Much Should We Pay our Pastor?

How Much Should We Pay our Pastor?

I am indebted to Julie Roys at the Roys Report for her work in exposing ministers who are clearly overpaid and living on the backs of their congregants. You can learn more here, here (scroll to "Ed Young Sells Miami Home"), here and here, and this isn't an exhaustive list. Ministers who live lavish lifestyles at their parishioners expense is nothing new, but it creates an impression...
The Context of Stewardship

The Context of Stewardship

This sermon was preached on April 25, 2021 at The Grove Church in Maple Grove, MN. View the sermon here. Introduction Good morning.  I’m Bill English. Along with Kathy, my wife, we have been attending here for roughly 12 years. For those who are visiting, I am not on staff here, though I am seminary trained to be a pastor. Right now, I work in business in...
Becoming Free From the Bondage of Sin, Part 2 of 8, Bondage is More Than Addictions

Becoming Free From the Bondage of Sin, Part 2 of 8, Bondage is More Than Addictions

Listen to the podcast here. Watch the companion video here. When it comes to bondage and sin, what we’re discussing is the notion that sin is your master. Sin is believing that “our way” is better than “God’s way.” It is a violation of God’s commands: Sin is any want of conformity either of the moral state of the soul, or of the actions of a man...