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Transcript

Marketplace Ministry For Real Life Workplaces · Called to Build

• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: Most people will never step foot inside a church, but they will step foot into your office, shake your hand at a job site, or buy a product from your store.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: What if your business isn't just a way to make a living, but a living example of the gospel itself?
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: Some years ago I had a client who was going through a rough patch in his marriage, and he knew I was quote unquote religious, so he started opening up about his struggles.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_01: Eventually he asked if I would pray for him.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: I never quoted a Bible verse or tried to corner him into a spiritual conversation.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: I simply listened, offered encouragement, and lifted his needs to the Lord.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_01: That small act of presence became a turning point in his life.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: A powerful reminder to me that marketplace ministry isn't about preaching, it's about showing up with Christ like love.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_01: Marketplace ministry is about living your faith where you are with excellence, compassion, and authenticity.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: You don't need a pulpit, you need a purpose.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_01: And the question is not how can I evangelize at work?
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: The question is how can I reflect Christ in the way I live, lead, and love through my business.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: As we get into this topic today, I want to start by dealing with the question: what is marketplace ministry and why does it matter?
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: Well, marketplace ministry is the expression of God's kingdom through your business, career, or entrepreneurial calling.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: It's not about having a cross on your business card or holding Bible studies in the break room, though those can be useful tools.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: It's actually about being intentional to represent Christ in the real world.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: Colossians 323 and 24 tells us whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: That includes the emails you send, the deadlines you meet, and the way you treat your team and your customers.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: In Scripture, Jesus called fishermen, tax collectors, and tent makers.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Their professions weren't a side note, they were the primary platform for their witness, and the same is true for you.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: Your work is your witness.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: Business isn't separate from the sacred, it is sacred when surrendered to God.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_01: So let's talk about evangelism without preaching and what it looks like to live out the gospel in business.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: You see, there's a profound power in simply being the gospel rather than preaching it.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: I think of one of my vendors who was diagnosed with a debilitating illness.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: His ability to work and provide for his family was impacted significantly.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: He didn't need a sermon, he needed someone to listen, pray, and walk alongside of him, so that's what I did.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: I met with him regularly for encouragement and helped him redirect his efforts to stay productive in ways he hadn't even considered.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: That to his ministry.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: Second Corinthians three two says, You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: People are reading your life long before they'll read the Bible.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: They watch how you treat people, how you handle pressure, and how you navigate both success and failure.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: And when your actions reflect the love, wisdom, and strength of Christ, the Holy Spirit opens hearts to receive what you have to say.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_01: If and when the time is right, you're going to have the opportunity to speak.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: And so if you will just take those opportunities to live it out.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: So let me challenge you with the thought of building a Christ-centered culture without the pulpit.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Simplicity marketing, one of our foundational values is simple.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: People matter.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: It's not just a tagline, it's a way of life.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_01: We embed that belief into every layer of our company culture.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: From our weekly meetings to our team retreats to intentionally getting to know each other, we strive to live out that principle.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_01: And what's interesting is we have a globally remote team, but we know about each other.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_01: We know about each other's families.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_01: We know about each other's dreams, and we take time to get into each other's lives.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_01: It's how we lead, how we serve, how we resolve conflict.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_01: We don't need a devotional to be a ministry team.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_01: And just living out the fruit of the Spirit in our culture, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness makes an undeniable impact.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_01: Not everybody on our team is a Christian, but we embed those values into our organization.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: Philippians 2 calls us to the mindset of Christ, who made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_01: Marketplace leaders who model servant leadership reflect the kingdom more than a thousand sermons ever will.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_01: When our employees and our partners know they are seen, they are valued, and they are heard, they begin to ask questions, and that's when doors are open.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_01: Everybody on our team knows that I'm a man of prayer, that my wife is a woman of prayer.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_01: When their kids are sick, when things are going on in their lives, they come to us and say, Would you pray for us?
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: It's an open door.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: Then there's the power of testimony.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: Your story is the message.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: People are not looking for perfect Christians.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: They are looking for real people who have experienced real transformation.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Recently I recorded a video on going through difficult seasons, and not long after I received a private message from one of my employees.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_01: He thanked me for the video and told me he had recently started believing in God.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: And he asked me to keep sharing more about my faith.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: I was able to send him three of my books that I had written and pray with him over the needs in his family and continue walking with him in his faith journey.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_01: I never planned it.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_01: I simply shared my own journey my own journey with honesty and with hope.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_01: That's the heart of Marketplace Ministry.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_01: Share your scars, tell your story, trust that God will use your authenticity more than your polish.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_01: Now here's some lessons from nations and neighborhoods.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_01: While I've seen incredible moments of impact during my international ministry in places like India and East Africa, I found that the very same principles apply in my own backyard.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_01: And these moments happen all the time.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_01: Whether it's health challenges, marital struggles, rebellious children, financial hardship, midlife crises.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_01: When I sit across from someone at a lunch meeting, conference, or coffee shop, God opens the door.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes it is a simple conversation that turns into a soul deep moment.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes it's a simple, tearful thank you for listening.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: Marketplace ministry isn't confined by geography.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: Wherever people are hurting, Jesus wants to show up.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: And often he chooses to show up through you.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: Here's some common pitfalls I want you to avoid.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: Number one, don't preach at people.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: Let your life do the talking.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_01: Pressure turns people off, presence draws people in.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: Don't separate your business from your faith.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: The kingdom does not work in compartments.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_01: If Jesus is Lord at church, but not in your payroll decisions, your team dynamics, or your customer service, you're living a divided life.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: Don't fall into spiritual pride either.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_01: Ministry doesn't make you better than anyone else.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: Micah six eight reminds us what does the Lord require of you?
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: And here's a final encouragement.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_01: You are already on mission.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: You don't need to wait for a ministry title to begin your mission.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: Some of my favorite stories come from unexpected places.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: Let me tell you about a couple I met in 2013.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_01: They're my favorite couple to talk about.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_01: I met them at a personal development conference in Las Vegas.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_01: I was their fire eating coach.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, really, their fire eating coach.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: Over the years I have walked with them as they searched for meaning and truth.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: In 2023, I had the incredible privilege of marrying them and baptizing them both in the hot tub of the hotel.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_01: That's the fruit of faithful presence.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 2.10 tells us we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: You don't need to create opportunities, you just need to show up and recognize the ones God has already prepared.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_01: I want to end with this.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: Your business is your pulpit.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: Marketplace ministry is all about faith and action.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_01: It's about bringing the kingdom into the ordinary, doing business with integrity and being available for divine appointments.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: It's not about being the loudest voice in the room.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_01: It's about being the most consistent light.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_01: So here's the challenge for you.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: This week, as you lead your team, serve your customers, and sip your coffee with a colleague, ask yourself this question.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: How can I reflect Christ better in my business today?
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: Because you may be the only Jesus someone sees this week.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: Let that reflection be clear, compassionate, and undeniably real.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: If I can help you be better at being his hands and his feet in the marketplace, reach out to me.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_01: I'd love to talk with you.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_01: As always, thanks for tuning in.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_01: I look forward to talking with you in the next episode.