Posted inExecutive Insights

Christian Business Reference Architecture Explained

A reference architecture is a document or set of documents an interested party can refer to as a blueprint for developing a new entity based on the architecture (Muller, 2020:4). An ‘architecture’ is “…the fundamental organisation of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and to the environment and the principles guiding its design and evolution” (Hilliard, 2000:10). Reference architectures can be used...
November 15, 2023Posted inExecutive InsightsTags: ,
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: ,
Common Types of Ethical Decisions Christian Business Owners Face
Posted inChristian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Common Types of Ethical Decisions Christian Business Owners Face

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Schwartz (2017:234-235) suggests there are different ethical situations that a business owner may face: Moral temptation: the owner can benefit or avoid loss. Moral temptations require moral willpower. Stand up for ethics: the owner will suffer if the correct ethical decision is made. Standing up for ethics requires moral courage....
October 30, 2023Posted inChristian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsTags: ,
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: ,
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Foundations in Christian Stewardship Part III God Gives us the Ability to Create Wealth

Watch the companion video of this Foundation for Christian Stewardship at the Bible and Business You Tube Channel. Deuteronomy 8.10-18 is one of the foundational passages for Christian Stewardship. Here are verses 10-11: 8.10-11: When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to...
August 9, 2020Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , , , ,
Wealth in Proverbs
Posted inTheology and Business

Wealth in Proverbs

Business owners have unique opportunities to leverage the work and talent of others to create value for their customers and wealth for themselves. How a Christian Business Owner manages the wealth that God gives him or her (Deuteronomy 8) is a core stewardship issue about which God will evaluate the owner. So, given that the Bible gives us everything we need to know from the mind of...
November 25, 2017Posted inTheology and BusinessTags: , , ,
Lessons from the Life of Joseph Part IV
Posted inLeadership

Lessons from the Life of Joseph Part IV

Genesis 39.21 – 40.23: "But while Joseph was there in the prison,the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because...
May 31, 2016Posted inLeadershipTags: , , , , ,
Ten Principles to Remember When You’re Vocal about Your Faith as a Christian Business Owner
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Ten Principles to Remember When You’re Vocal about Your Faith as a Christian Business Owner

I walked into a business in Indianapolis when I was in high school that was owned by a classmate' father. There on the wall, in raised lettering was this: "This business is dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ". If I remember correctly, this man had an affair and ended up divorcing his wife. I've often thought about that scenario and what those who were not believers...
April 5, 2015Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , ,
The Value of “Paying it Forward”
Posted inExecutive Insights

The Value of “Paying it Forward”

I just got off the phone talking with a representative of an industry research group whose research I'm interested in. This was a scheduled, introductory call in which I was asking questions about their organization and how I might use their research in my new business, Elevate. Our conversation went well for the first 15 minutes. Then I inquired about their cost because I was interested in...
January 20, 2015Posted inExecutive InsightsTags: ,
A Man of Understanding
Posted inExecutive Insights Theology and Business

A Man of Understanding

"Seek to understand before being understood" is a phrase I've heard repeatedly in my 12+ years as a Christian Business Owner. It's good advice, frankly, because when you can understand what the other person is saying or understand the "why" behind their actions, the root of the problem or the core issues can be more clearly understood. "Man of Understanding" in Proverbs In Proverbs, the Bible refers...
November 15, 2014Posted inExecutive Insights, Theology and BusinessTags: , , , ,