Protecting Another’s Reputation
Posted inExecutive Insights Theology and Business

Protecting Another’s Reputation

Reputational damage is type of division that is long-lasting, quiet, and ambient yet difficult to repair. People say things about each other in a church or business setting that may appear benign but in reality can be highly damaging to others. Managing Your Reputation I have seen the visceral, adverse effects a Christian business owner experiences when their reputation is wrongly damaged. As Christian business owners, we...
July 5, 2024Posted inExecutive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags:
A Primer on Risk
Posted inExecutive Insights Governance, Risk, Compliance Theology and Business

A Primer on Risk

The definition of risk varies from source to source. Steinberg (2011:75) defines risk as “uncertainty surrounding a potential event. It is the possibility that something will happen—that is, an event will occur—with a negative outcome.” Lupton (2013:3) describes risk as “deviation from the norm, misfortune, and frightening events. This concept assumes human responsibility and that ‘something can be done’ to prevent misfortune.”  Stern and Fineberg (1996:214) define...
December 2, 2023Posted inExecutive Insights, Governance, Risk, Compliance, Theology and BusinessTags: , ,
The Center of a Biblical Worldview of Christian Business Ownership
Posted inChristian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights Theology and Business

The Center of a Biblical Worldview of Christian Business Ownership

What is the center of a biblical worldview of business ownership? How should a Chrisitian business owner view the owner's role as a steward before God? This is how I define this center, in one sentence: Christian business owners live with an eternal perspective derived from their covenantal relationship with God and is lived out through biblical stewardship. There are several questions that can always be asked...
November 1, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags: ,
What Should Christian Business Owners Value?
Posted inEthics Executive Insights Theology and Business

What Should Christian Business Owners Value?

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. What values does the Bible prescribe for a Christian business owner to adopt and bake into his business? Happily, comparisons in the Bible teach us what to value. These values are presented as valuing one thing over another. The following table outlines that which all Christians - including Christian business...
October 21, 2023Posted inEthics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags: ,
Business Formation and Christian Theology: Partnerships
Posted inChristian Stewardship Executive Insights Theology and Business

Business Formation and Christian Theology: Partnerships

A three-part Bible and Business series on what the Bible says about the legal formation of a business. This post on partnerships will be abnormally long when compared to Sole Proprietors or Corporation. The reason for this is simple: many partnerships do not work well and seem to be the structure in which many ownership problems prevail. The harmony and trust the partners have at the beginning...
October 17, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags:
Business Formation and Christian Theology: Sole Proprietor
Posted inChristian Stewardship Executive Insights Theology and Business

Business Formation and Christian Theology: Sole Proprietor

A three-part Bible and Business series on what the Bible says about the legal formation of a business. A sole proprietor is an individual who is engaged in business activities. A sole proprietor does not register a business entity with government authorities. A sole proprietorship is the easiest business type to form because there is no legal structure. However, under current American law, a sole proprietor can...
October 10, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Theology and Business
The Starting Point for Christian Ethics
Posted inChristian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights Theology and Business

The Starting Point for Christian Ethics

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Ethics in Business Making correct ethical decisions matters for two reasons. First, when one allows small compromises to encroach into one’s ethics, those compromises will become larger and larger until there are significant moral or legal violations. Second, making correct ethical decisions is tantamount to following God’s commands. Foundation for...
September 29, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags:
Growing New Entrepreneurs for God’s Kingdom
Posted inChristian Stewardship Theology and Business

Growing New Entrepreneurs for God’s Kingdom

I'll offer several ideas here on what a local church ministry could do to be intentional about growing new stewards who own for-profit businesses. Being a Christian business owner is a much a calling as being a missionary to a foreign land. The macro point is not about the money. It is about God's call on their lives to serve him in the marketplace. All ministry is...
June 8, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Theology and Business
New Book: Working for a Difficult Boss: Lessons from the Life of Daniel
Posted inChristian Stewardship Executive Insights Leadership Theology and Business

New Book: Working for a Difficult Boss: Lessons from the Life of Daniel

In the United States, roughly 158 million people go to work daily. Well over half (70%) report working for a bad boss. At some point, 50% will quit their jobs because of a boss who lacks the skills and ability to manage people well. In addition, according to Barna Research, 25% of American adults are practicing Christians. This means that (roughly) 40 million Christians go to work...
May 6, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Leadership, Theology and BusinessTags:
Self-Preservation and Losing Our Lives: Lessons from the Life of Daniel
Posted inLeadership Theology and Business

Self-Preservation and Losing Our Lives: Lessons from the Life of Daniel

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and...
January 28, 2023Posted inLeadership, Theology and BusinessTags:
Calling Dependencies
Posted inTheology and Business

Calling Dependencies

I will offer, for your consideration, the notion that there are calling dependencies in the Christian life. These dependences form the foundation of our leadership in business and are visceral to our life. I will submit that these dependencies look like this (bottom to top): Call to Service Call to Faithfulness Call to Dependence Call to His Presence Call to Covenant God’s call on our lives is...
November 27, 2022Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , ,
Business Ownership and Philanthropy
Posted inCurrent Events Theology and Business

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...
July 30, 2021Posted inCurrent Events, Theology and BusinessTags: , , ,
Prospering in Proverbs
Posted inTheology and Business

Prospering in Proverbs

We all want to be prosperous. In America, this is equated with financial success and wealth. But the Bible has a different notion of what prosperity is and isn't. So, I thought I'd look at what Solomon, through his proverbs, says we need to do if we’re going to prosper. Let’s take a look first by noting the verses in Proverbs which speak to prospering. The first...
January 28, 2021Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,
The Theological Context of Business Ownership Part VII: The Value of Faith and Money
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context of Business Ownership Part VII: The Value of Faith and Money

Part 7 of 7. This seventh and final section finishes the theological context for business ownership by elevating our faith and relationship with God far above our businesses and any wealth we might have. I felt God wanted me to coalesce into one section several passages which form the Biblical truth that faith is (much) more valuable than wealth. Some of what I present in this section...
January 20, 2021Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , , ,
Table of Contents: A Christian Theology of Business Ownership
Posted inTheology and Business

Table of Contents: A Christian Theology of Business Ownership

Chapter 1: The Theological Context for Business OwnershipChapter 2: Gaining Freedom from the Bondage of SinChapter 3: Christian StewardshipChapter 4: PartnershipsChapter 5: Advisors and WisdomChapter 6: Engaging the Unseen WorldChapter 7: Hearing the Voice of GodChapter 8: Fulfilling God's Purposes for Business Our work on this earth is preparation for our reign with Christ in eternity. Living in a covenant relationship with God that is characterized by...
January 11, 2021Posted inTheology and Business
The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part VI: Connecting the Physical with the Unseen Realm
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part VI: Connecting the Physical with the Unseen Realm

Part 6 of 7 Our sixth theological element which forms the theological context for business ownership is understanding and leveraging how our physical world is connected to the unseen realm. Our discussion about presence in the previous section will both help us understand this section and also make fuller our understanding of the Biblical concept of presence. In the Bible, physical geography matters. It needs to be...
January 9, 2021Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , ,
The Theological Context for Business Ownership, Presence, Part 5 of 7
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership, Presence, Part 5 of 7

Part 5 of 7 View the companion video here. If one is merely faithful to God – even with His help – one could still live a life of duty. But when you combine faithfulness with presence, you have the dual elements which form the core of any covenant relationship. Being present with God is essential to enjoying His beauty and persona. Loving Him and receiving His...
January 3, 2021Posted inTheology and BusinessTags:
The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part IV: Perseverance
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part IV: Perseverance

Part 4 of 7 View the companion video. While God’s redemptive faithfulness is expressed through His covenants, our response of faithfulness is expressed in the Scriptures through perseverance. We are said to be faithful when we have persevered. If we don’t persevere, we’ll eventually break our covenant with God. Consider 2 Peter 1.3-9. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through...
December 31, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,
The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part III: Covenants
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part III: Covenants

Part 3 of 7 Covenants are far more important than most Christians realize. It’s one of the most important, yet under-taught theology in Evangelical Christianity. Orienting yourself to living in a covenant relationship with God will change your life, for the better. I’m not kidding and I’m not exaggerating. God has chosen to implement His redemptive plan through a series of covenants which are given in both...
December 19, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags:
Posted inTheology and Business

The Generosity of God Should Evoke Our Gratefulness

I have been spending time in Revelation because I want to learn how to praise and worship God as they do in heaven. I must admit that I really don't know how to do this. But I want to learn. Hence, I'm mulling over Revelation since it's the only place in Scripture where we have such clear accounts for how those in heaven worship God and why...
December 14, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , , ,
The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part II: Divine Council
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part II: Divine Council

The Divine Council Part 2 of 7 View the companion video here. The second truth which I present here is connected to the first truth of reigning with Christ: the divine council. Some may not be familiar with this notion of a divine council.[1] However, the Bible says that God has a council of divine beings who carry out His decisions. It is referred to as God’s...
December 13, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,
Biblical Passages on Products and Services
Posted inTheology and Business

Biblical Passages on Products and Services

Products is one of the four purposes God has for business (the other three are People, Profits and Philanthropy.) Simply stated, Business exists to provide a means to produce products that enables the community to flourish. So, if this is one of God's purposes for business, then as Christian Business Owners, we need to see what the Bible says about producing products and delivering services. Products Which...
December 6, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,
The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part I: Reigning with Christ
Posted inTheology and Business

The Theological Context for Business Ownership Part I: Reigning with Christ

Part 1 of 7 Watch the companion video on YouTube. Starting with eternity in mind, we will be able to understand more clearly God’s purposes for our businesses and our lives. We need to know the purposes to which we Christian business owners[1] have been called. We will better understand the connection between what we do as owners today and what we will be doing in eternity....
December 3, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , ,
What it Means to be a Christian Business Owner
Posted inChristian Stewardship Theology and Business

What it Means to be a Christian Business Owner

Recently, I had lunch with a business owner who is on his second business. He grew and sold the first business he owned and how he’s on his second business. As we talked about business, he made the comment that he’s far from perfect when it comes to integrating his faith as a business owner. “I don’t hold Bible studies for my employees”, he said. “Sometimes, I’ll...
November 7, 2020Posted inChristian Stewardship, Theology and BusinessTags: ,
Trust in Proverbs
Posted inTheology and Business

Trust in Proverbs

Trust is a curious thing. At its core, it is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something else. It is predictive in nature – you can know the future because you trust the outcome from that person, process or event. Trust takes years to develop and a few seconds to destroy. Trust reveals the quality of the relationship between you...
November 7, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags:
Elements of a Church Ministry to Grow New Stewards Who Own Businesses
Posted inTheology and Business

Elements of a Church Ministry to Grow New Stewards Who Own Businesses

I’ll offer several ideas here on what a local church ministry would 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 and audience for this ministry. Simple is best. Don’t create...
October 29, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , , ,
Speech in Proverbs
Posted inTheology and Business

Speech in Proverbs

How we talk – what we say – is a reflection of what is in our hearts and displays our self-control. Luke 6.45 says: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Another translation says “…for...
September 19, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,
Assuming Risk as a Christian Business Owner
Posted inTheology and Business

Assuming Risk as a Christian Business Owner

Risk can be defined as the exposure to chance of injury or loss.  Everyone who runs a business assumes a certain amount of risk.  In traditional economic thinking about this topic, most Americans would agree that those who assume the most risk in a business venture are also entitled to the most compensation should the venture turn out to be successful.  I personally would agree with this...
September 2, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , ,
A Good Name is Better than Getting Rich
Posted inTheology and Business

A Good Name is Better than Getting Rich

When you're in a position of leadership, having a good reputation and the respect of those you're leading is essential to your success. There are three passages recently which have stood out to me even though I have read them numerous times before my recent readings. So many people chase money and power. Both are elusive and fleeting. But the things that really matter cannot be bought...
September 2, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags:
God’s System of Fairness
Posted inTheology and Business

God’s System of Fairness

The companion podcast is here. Recently on Faith Radio, I suggested that God’s system of fairness and our system of fairness in America are two different things.  I stuck my neck out just a bit because I was speaking out of my intuition, not my research.  Then I committed to having researched this topic of fairness enough that I could speak to it on-air the following week.  Hence,...
August 13, 2020Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: ,