The Gospel Goes to Work - Softcover

Dr. Stephen R. Graves

Softcover

ISBN 10: 194079417X ISBN 13: 9781940794174

Publisher: KJK Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

Work is core to our lives. And the gospel is core to our faith. In The Gospel Goes to Work, author and executive coach Stephen Graves introduces a fresh framework that explores not only how the gospel should shape our work, but also how it could. It is called The Baseline and The Blue Sky and applies to any worker doing any work anywhere. This framework helps us understand how the reach, power, and intent of the gospel going to work is a revolutionary insight, even for veterans of the faith.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Stephen R. Graves is a strategist, executive coach, and author. At any given time he is working with a handful of remarkable executives leading large global organizations and young social entrepreneurs just starting out. Steve has authored over a dozen books aimed at teaching people how to flourish in their life and work. When Steve is not consulting or writing on strategy, leadership, or impact, you can find him back-casting in the cold clear rivers of northwest Arkansas. For more resources from KJK Inc. Publishing, go to stephenrgraves.com.

Review

I have read a number of books about integrating our faith with our work. I enjoyed some of the unique perspectives to this issue that the author brought forward in this new book. The author tells us that the book is about work and the gospel. Not ministry work only, but every kind of work. He aims to focus on the question: What more can you and I do to engage the gospel through our work? He introduces the reader to what he calls the four-act gospel, which provides a comprehensive grid of meaning for our lives, including our work. He states that work itself is a service to God. He argues that the message about the gospel s integration with work is needed as much now as it ever has been, if not more so. He provides a different way of looking at the integration of faith and work. He first talks about a lowest-common-denominator application of the gospel that is relevant to all workers and all workplaces. This is what he calls the Baseline. Then, there are individualized applications of the gospel for each of us in our particular wiring and for our particular organizations. He calls this the Blue Sky. He tells us that The Baseline is the starting point or universal minimum for all people in all environments, regardless of their personality, title, age, background, and other particulars. The Blue Sky represents the boundless horizons of what could be when someone personalizes any idea or insight. He tells us that the gospel going to work will look different depending on where we work and what we do. He tells us that when we merge the baseline/blue sky pair with the individual/organizational pair, you get The Gospel Goes to Work Grid. It covers the whole range of workplace expressions of the gospel. He then looks at each quadrant in detail as well as four foundation stones. The four foundation stones are: Foundation Stone 1: You give evidence of your calling Foundation Stone 2: You display character on the job Foundation Stone 3: You deliver skill consistently Foundation Stone 4: You model service to others I found his list of a Gospel 500 (think of the Fortune 500) to be of interest. He lists organizations that would make his list in each of four regions of the Blue Sky. Among those listed that you may be familiar with are Chick Fil-A and Hobby Lobby. He writes that we all must ask and answer, How does the gospel go to work in my industry and especially in my particular organization? He feels that this is the most penetrating question anyone can ask in his or her faith and work. It requires vulnerable personalization. And it demonstrates a mature faith that depends on God doing His work His way. He writes that the gospel is intended to penetrate, permeate, and alter the way we consider our work and do our work. I enjoyed this book and its unique approach to the important issue of how we integrate our faith and work and recommend it to you. --Amazon listing for The Gospel Goes to Work first edition

Steve has captured the vision of an integrated Gospel that is sorely needed in contemporary Christianity. I say it this way; if we don't need the gospel, or it isn't authoritative on Monday through Saturday, we don't need it at all. Jesus NEVER called a part-time disciple! Every believer is called to "full-time" ministry. Ephesians 2:10 lays the foundation, II Corinthians 5:10 fills in the blanks. In between we are Ambassadors for Christ all day, every day, in every place that God plants us. Well done. --Amazon listing for The Gospel Goes to Work first edition

We've forgotten the story that we live in. Some of us live in an abridged version. We don't remember (or have never been taught) how our work relates to the bigger faith story that we are in the middle of, and hence we underestimate our role. In this book, Steve Graves reorients us to the full story that our work is a part of and invites us to walk with our Father at work in both deep and practical ways. If you haven't read one of his books, you will enjoy how Steve packs a solid 1-2 punch of storytelling with practical application in less than 200 pages. --Amazon listing for The Gospel Goes to Work first edition

About this edition

• Publisher: KJK Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 194079417X
• ISBN 13: 9781940794174
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 174