Resources

Click on the + sign next to the title to see the description of the course material and the link to download if available.

Title Language Links Type of Resources
Why Contextualized Theology of Work? provided by R. Paul Stevens
Document Description: 

This is a powerpoint presentation for "Why Contextualized Theology of Work?" by Dr. R. Paul Stevens.

English Document
TOW Powerpoint (Russian) provided by Anatoliy Glukhovskyy
Document Description: 

This is a Theology of Work powerpoint presentation in Russian prepared by Dr. Anatoliy Glukhovskyy

Russian Document
TOW Course Outline - Called4Work Institute provided by King Yangnde Madaki Kinang
Document Description: 

This is the course outline for the Certificate in Theology of Work  in Abuja, Nigeria provided by INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION (Called4Work Institute).  

The Called4Work Institute does onsite and mobile courses around Africa.

The course has been taught in

1. Grace in potters house, cocoa beach- greater Accra, Ghana ( Church leaders submit )
2. Royal chapel international , Jalingo Taraba State, Nigeria ( church workers and leaders retreat )
3. Reformed Christian church of christ, Jalingo Taraba State ( The church business men and women submit )
4. International circle of faith chaplaincy corps in Yola and abuja all in Nigeria ( Theology of work and chaplaincy )
5. Praise chapel international churches, assiyeye lome 11 Near bar banana, Togo ( Theology of work and the believers)

English Document
Theology of Work Powerpoint in Swahili provided by Samuel Maduma
Document Description: 

This is the powerpoint presentation of the Theology of Work course in Swahili prepared by Rev. Samuel Maduma.

Swahili Document
Theology of Work - Nigeria provided by Gwen Dewey, Don Dewey
Document Description: 

TOW Nigeria  is a course taught at West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS) in Lagos Nigeria by Drs. Gwen and Don Dewey in 2009

English Document
Theology of Work - Ghana provided by Gwen Dewey, Don Dewey
Document Description: 

Theology of Work in Ghana  is the first TOW course taught in Africa by Gwen and Don Dewey at Ghana Christian University. A month later the course was taught in 2008 in Uganda at Uganda Christian University.

English Document
Theology of Training Manual- Sonya Undugu Initiative Foundation provided by Omari Omollo
Theology of Work Training Manual
Book Description: 

This is a Theology of Work Training Manual written by Rev. Omari Omollo for Sonya Undugu Initiative Foundation

English Book
théologie du travail programme provided by Guy M Luyeye
Document Description: 

This is a syllabus prepared  and  adapted by Luyeye Mukoko Guy in the context  of  Congo  from the TOW course.

DESCRIPTION DU COURS 

Ce cours est destiné aux étudiants de troisième année de licence et de deuxième cycle désirant se familiariser avec les principes de base de la théologie du travail. Il a pour but de donner à l’étudiant chrétien les outils indispensables pour comprendre les fondements bibliques de l’institution du travail ainsi que son application dans les contextes spécifiques de notre 21e siècle  en  considérant  la  République  Démocratique  du Congo  et  l’Afrique.

French Document
Theologia Ya Kazi provided by Samuel Maduma
Document Description: 

This is a Theology of Work Outline of the course done at Morogoro Theological College, Tanzania by Rev. Samuel Maduma. 

Swahili Document
Term paper: Theology of Work in First Nation Education provided by Dean Johnson
Document Description: 

This is a term paper submitted by Dr. Dean Johnson as part of his studies at Bakke Graduate University.

SAMPLE TEXT: “After doing all of the readings, and reflecting on the educational statistics that I discovered while doing my dissertation, and seeing the disparity in learning outcomes between First Nations and other students in the province I applied for the position of school principal at our local school and was hired. (Just this week)”…

“If there was one thing I read that perhaps affected me the most it was Novak's comment "Business is, bar none, the best hope of the poor. And is one of the noblest callings inherent in business activities: to raise up the poor." The best hope isn't prayer, bible study, personal salvation, rehabilitation programs, mercy or grace. Business.  Whether I agree with this comment or not it is hard to argue that productive employment can have a redemptive purpose in the kingdom of God.”

English Document
Syllabus for Increase Meaning: A Wholistic Approach to Christian Education provided by Christian Overman
Document Description: 

This is the syllabus for "Increase Meaning: A Wholistic Approach to Christian Education" online course at Seattle Pacific University.

The course explores how an understanding of the “bigger picture” of a biblical worldview can bring greater meaning and purpose to the study of academic subject matter (K-12), and how the biblical worldview can bring meaning to extracurricular activities of students, teachers and administrators. Participants will be presented with practical learning tools (see syllabus)

English Document
Pastoral Transformation for the 21st Century: A Pastoral Look at the Theology of Work provided by Lowell Bakke
Document Description: 

This is a Pastoral look of Theology of Work course taught by Dr. Lowell Bakke in 2009 in South Africa

English Document
Pambazuko La Maendeleo Kiteto (Pamaki) provided by Samuel Maduma
Document Description: 

This is a report for Theology of Work Seminars by Rev. Samuel Maduma which was conducted on 17th - 20th January and on 21st - 24th February 2018 at Community Centre Hall - Kiteto as reported by Neema Nathan (Director of Pamaki).  The seminars were attended by 184 participants

English Document
NBTS - Marketplace Ministry for Pastors (Sample Presentation) provided by Oladotun Reju
Document Description: 

This is a sample powerpoint presentation for Marketplace Ministry for pastors during the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary prepared by Dr. Oladotun Reju.

English Document
Le Leadership Et La Discrimination Au Travail provided by Guy M Luyeye
Abstract: 

Introduction  générale

  1. Problématique

Dans  le contexte de l’Afrique  en général et de la République Démocratique du  Congo  en particulier, il se pose un problème  lié   au travail  de  personne  vivant  avec le  VIH-SIDA.  Ces dernières  du moins  pour la  plupart, vivent encore dans l’anonymat dans  les  milieux  de  travail. Celles  qui  sont  en   quête  de l’emploi   ont  beaucoup  moins d’opportunité  d’être  recrutées  dans  le  travail. Il  est  rare  de  voir  ces personnes  s’exprimer  librement concernant   leur  état sérologique  sinon  dans  des cercles  fermés  de forum ou des  ateliers  et  conférences.  Et  pourtant  elles  sont  des  malades  en  possession  de leur  droit  au travail  et  au respect  comme  c’est  le  cas  de  ceux  et  celles  qui  souffrent du  paludisme. ...Lire la suite

French Dissertation
Joy at Work Seminar at Bowen University (Sample Presentation) provided by Oladotun Reju
Document Description: 

This is a sampe of powerpoint presentation of Joy at Work Seminar done by Dr. Oladotun Reju at Bowen University.

English Document
God at Work - Taytay-Rizal-Philippines provided by Fletcher Tink
Document Description: 

God at Work is a one hour synopsis of Theology of Work powerpoint presentation by Dr. Fletcher Tink to the congregation in Taytay, Rizal, the Philippines.

English Document
Ethics Powerpoint (Russian) provided by Anatoliy Glukhovskyy
Document Description: 

This is a powerpoint presentation of Theology of Work and Christian Ethics course in Russian prepared by Dr. Anatoliy Glukhovskyy

Russian Document
Economic Empowerment for Sustainability Training Manual provided by Omari Omollo
Economic Empowerment for Sustainability Manual
Book Description: 

"A Practical Training Manual on Social Economic Sustainability" developed by Rev. Omari Omollo

English Book
Eben-Ezer TOW Curriculum provided by Lazare Sebitereko
Document Description: 

This is the curriculum of TOW course conducted at Eben-Ezer University

English Document
CTL-Marketplace Theology Syllabus Sample provided by Oladotun Reju
Document Description: 

This is the sample syllabus of Center of Transformational Leadership - Nigeria course: "Marketplace Theology".

English Document
CTL - TOW-Discerning Your Vocation Sample Syllabus provided by Oladotun Reju
Document Description: 

This is the sample syllabus of Center of Transformational Leadership - Nigeria course: "TOW: Discerning Your Vocation".

English Document
Business vs Aid in Africa provided by Gwen Dewey, Don Dewey
Document Description: 

This is an article "Where's the Beef in Africa?" posted on The Root (www.theroot.com) regarding the Business vs Aid in Africa.

English Article
Bibliography of Theology of Work provided by R. Paul Stevens

Core Bibliography (some out-of-print)

Dennis W. Bakke, Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job (Toronto: Viking Canada, 2005).

Ray Bakke, William Hendricks, and Brad Smith Joy at Work Bible Study Companion (PVC: www.dennisbakke.com)

John D. Beckett, Mastering Monday: A Guide to Integrating Faith and Work (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

John D. Beckett, Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business without Losing Your Soul

Peter Block, Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self (Koehler, 1995).

Darrell Cosden, The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work (Peabody, Mass.: Henrickson, 2006).

Darrell Cosden, A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation (Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Paternoster Press, 2004).

Os Guiness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville: Word, 1998).

Lee Hardy, The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice and the Design of Human Work (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006).

Richard Higginson, Questions of Business Life: Exploring Workplace Issues from a Christian Perspective (Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Spring Harvest, 2002).

Richard Higginson, Called to Account: Adding Value in God’s World: Integrating Christianity and Business Effectively (Glasgow: HarperCollins, 1993).

Michael Novak, Business as a Calling: Work and the Examined Life (New York: The Free Press, 1996).

Michael Novak, Toward a Theology of the Corporation (Washington: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1982).

Gordon Preece, Changing Work Values: A Christian Response (Melbourne: Acorn Press, 1995).

Alan Richardson, The Biblical Doctrine of Work (London: SCM Press, 1954).

Doug Sherman and William Hendricks, Your Work Matters to God (Colorado Springs, Navpress, 1987).

Gerry Schoberg and R. Paul Stevens, Satisfying Work: Serving God Nine to Five (Wheaton: Harold Shaw, reprinted, a 12 bible study guide on work).

Christopher Schumacher, God in Work: Discovering the Divine Pattern for Work in the New Millenium (Oxford, Lion Publishing, 1998).

R. Paul Stevens, The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work and Ministry in Biblical Perspective (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999),published in UK under the title: The Abolition of the Laity

R. Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace

R. Paul Stevens, ed. “Readings in the Theology of Work” (see below)

R. Paul Stevens and Robert Banks, Marketplace Ministry Handbook (Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2005).

Benny Tabalujian, God on Monday: Reflections on Christians @ Work (Melbourne, Australia: Klesis Institute, 2005).

Miroslav Volf, Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) or

_____________, “Human Work, Divine Spirit, and the New Creation: Toward a Pneumatological Understanding of Work,” Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (Fall 1987), p. 175 (173-193).

Recommended Reading

Robert Banks, God the Worker: Journeys into the Mind, Heart and Imagination of God (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1994).

Robert Banks & Kimberly Powell, eds., Faith in Leadership: How Leaders Live Out Their Faith in Their Work and Why It Matters (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000).

John Dalla Costa, Magnificence at Work: Living Faith in Business (Ottawa: Saint Paul University – Novalis Press, 2005).

Alain De Botton, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (New York: Pantheon Press, 2009).

William Dumbrell, “Creation, Covenant and Work,” Crux 24.3 (September 1988): 14-24.

Lee Hardy, The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice, and the Design of Human Work (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000).

Gilbert C. Meilander, ed., Working: Its Meaning and Its Limits (Notre Dame, Notre DameUniversity Press, 2000).

David W. Miller, God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement (Oxford University Press, 2006).

Jeremy Rifkin, The End of Work: The Decline of the Global Work-Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era (London: Penguin Books, 2000).

Max L. Stackhouse, Dennis P. McCann, Shirley J. Roels, Preston N. Williams, On Moral Business: Classical and Contemporary Resources for Ethics in Economic Life (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995).

Reg Theriault, How to Tell When You’re Tired: A Brief Examination of Work (New York: W.W. Norton& Co., 1995)

Studs Terkel, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do (New York: Ballantine Books, 1974).

Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, All You Who Labor: Work and the Sanctification of Daily Life (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 1995).

Additional Bibliography

   Helen J. Alford, and Michael J. Naughton, Managing as is Faith Mattered: Christian Social      Principles in the Modern Organization (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001).

Ray S. Anderson, Minding God’s Business (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986).

Robert Banks, ed., Faith Goes to Work (Washington, DC: Alban Institute, 1993).

Robert Banks, "Work Ethic, Protestant," Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens, eds., The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 1129-1132.

Robert and Linda Banks, Going to Work with God: Eight Flexible Study Guides for Use at, after, or Outside Work (Macquarie Park, Australia: Bible Society NSW, 2005)

Grace Preedy Barnes, Servant First: Readings and Reflections on the Practice of Servant Leadership (Indianapolis, Indiana: Precedent Press, 2006).

Karl Barth, ‘Vocation,’ in Church Dogmatics, trans. A.T. Mackay, T.H.L. Parker, H.  Knight, H.A. Kennedy, and J. Marks, vol 3, part 4:595-647 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1961).

John A. Bernbaum and Simon Steer, Why Work? Careers and Employment in Biblical Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986).

Peter L. Berger, The Capitalist Spirit: Toward a Religious Ethic of Wealth Creation (San Francisco: Institute for Contemporary Studies, 1990).

____________, The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1967).

H. Berkhof, Christ and the Powers, trans. J.H. Yoder (Scottdale, Penn.: Herald, 1962).

Klaus Bochmuehl, “Recovering Vocation Today,” Crux, Vol XXIV, No 3 ((September 1988):25-35.

Dietrich Bonheoffer, Ethics (London: SCM Press, 1976).

Richard C. Chewning, John W. Eby, Shirley Roels, Business Through the Eyes of Faith (HarperSanFrancisco, 1992).

Richard C. Chewning, ed., Biblical Principles & Economics: The Foundations, Vols 1,2 (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1989).

_____________________, Biblical Principles & Economics: The Practice, Vols 3,4 (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1991).

Christians in the Marketplace, Vols 1-2 (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Graduates Christian Fellowship, 1995, 1997).

S. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989).

Peter Curran, All the Hours God Sends? Practical and Biblical Help in Meeting the Demands of Work (Leicester, UK: InterVarsity Press, 2000).

John Jefferson Davis, “’Teaching Them to Observe All that I Have Commanded You’” The History of the Interpretation of the ‘Great Commission’ and Implications for Marketplace Ministries” (South Hamilton, MA: Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary, unpublished, 1998). 

William E. Diehl, Thank God It's Monday (Philadelphia: Fortress Press,1982).

_____________, The Monday Connection: A Spirituality of Competence, Affirmation, and Support  in the Workplace (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991).

_____________, Christianity and Real Life (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976).

William L. Droel, Business People: The Spirituality of Work (Chicago: ACTA Publications, 1990).

Peter F. Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and Principles (New York: Harper & Row,

 1985).

Jacques Ellul, Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes, trans. Joyce Main Hanks (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972).

___________, Money and Power, trans. L. Neff (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1984).

___________, “Meditation on Inutility,” The Politics of God and the Politics of Man, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), 190-199.

Richard Foster, Money, Sex and Power: The Challenge of  the Disciplined Life (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1985).

T.L. Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree ( New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999).

Craig Gay, With Liberty and Justice for Whom? The Recent Evangelical Debate over Capitalism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991).

Robert Girard, “Failure,” in Banks and Stevens eds., The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 363-366.

Emilie Dietrich Griffin, The Reflective Executive (New York: Crossroad, 1993).

E. Goodell, ed., Social Venture Network Standards of Corporate Social Responsibility (San Francisco: Social Venture Network, 1999).

Richard Foster, Money, Sex and Power: The Challenge of  the Disciplined Life (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1985).

Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington, The Fourth Frontier: Exploring the New World of Work (Nashville: Word, 2000).

Thomas H. Green, Darkness in the Marketplace: The Christian at Prayer in the World (Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria Press, 1981).

R. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (NJ.: Paulist Press, 1977).

Stanley Grenz, "Community as Theology Motif for the Western Church in an Era of Globalization," Crux Vol XXVIII, No 3: 10-19.

Emilie Griffin, The Reflective Executive: A Spirituality of Business and Enterprise (New York: Crossroad, 1993).

Brian Griffiths, The Creation of Wealth (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1984).

Os Guiness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville: Word, 1998).

__________, Winning Back the Soul of American Business (Washington, D.C.: Hourglass Publishers, 1990).

Pete Hammond, R. Paul Stevens and Todd Svanoe, The Marketplace Annotated Bibliography: A Christian Guide to Books on Work, Business and Vocation (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002).

Charles Handy, Waiting for the Mountain to Move: Reflections on Work and Life (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999).

___________, The Hungry Spirit: Beyond Capitalism - A Quest for Purpose in the Modern World (London: Hutchinson, 1997).  

Marc Gunther, “God and Business: The Surprising Quest for Spiritual Renewal in the American Workplace,” Fortune, Vol 144 (No 1): 58-80.

John Haughey, Converting Nine to Five: A Spirituality of Daily Work (New York: Crossroads, 1989).

S. Helgesen, The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership (New York: Doubleday, 1990).

Donald R. Heiges, The Christian’s Calling (Philadelphia: United Lutheran Church in America, 1958).

Bruce Hiebert, Good Work: How to Live Your Values in the Workplace (Kelowna, BC: Northstone Publishing, 1997).

Alexander Hill, Just Business: Christian Ethics in the Marketplace (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997).

R. F. Hock, The Social Context of Paul’s Ministry: Tentmaking and Apostleship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980), p.166.

Joe Holland, Creative Communion: Toward a Spirituality of Work (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1989).

James M. Kouzes, and Barry Z. Possner, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1993).

Hendrik Kraemer, A Theology of the Laity (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958).

Lake Lambert III, “Called to Business: Corporate Management as a Profession of Faith,” (PhD Dissertation, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1997, available through UMI Services).

Gregg Levoy, Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997).

Martin Luther, "Treatise on Good Works," in W.A. Lambert, trans., James Atkinson, ed. Luther's Works, Vol 44 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966), 15-114.

Paul Marshall, A Kind of Life Imposed on Man: Vocation and Social Order from Tyndale to Locke (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996).

___________, Thine Is the Kingdom (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986).

Paul Marshall and Lela Gilbert, Heaven is Not my Home: Learning to Live in God’s Creation (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998).

David W. Miller, “The Faith at Work Movement: Its Growth, Dynamics and Future” PhD Thesis, Princeton University, 2003.

Laura Nash, Believers in Business: Resolving the Tensions between Christian Faith, Business Ethics and our Definitions of Success (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995).

Richard John Neuhaus, Doing Well and Doing Good: The Challenge of the Christian Capitalist (New York: Doubleday, 1992).

Lesslie Newbigin, Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986).

______________, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989). 

______________, Unfinished Agenda: An Updated Autobiography (St. Andrews, 1993).

______________, Honest Religion for Secular Man (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1966).

Bruce Nicholls, Contextualization: A Theology of Gospel and  Culture  (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1979).

Michael Novak, The Catholic Ethic and the Spirit of Catholicism (New York: The Free Press, 1993).

____________, The Fire of Invention: Civil Society and the Future of the Corporation (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1997).

____________, “Human Dignity, Personal Liberty: Themes from Abraham Kuyper and Leo XIII, in Journal of Markets & Morality, Vol 5, no 1 (Spring 2002): 59-134.

Thomas Oden, Two Worlds: Notes on the Death of Modernity in America and Russia (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992).

E. H. Oliver. The Social Achievements of the Christian Church (United Church of Canada, 1930, reprinted Regent Publishing, 2004).

William Perkins, “A Treatise of the Vocations or Callings of Men” in The Work of William Perkins, ed. and intro. By Ian Breward (Appleford, UK: Courtenay Press, 1970).

Gordon Preece, “Business as a Calling and Profession: Towards a Protestant Entrepreneurial Ethic” (unpublished manuscript delivered at the International Marketplace Theology Consultation, Sydney, June 2001).

Scott Rae and Kenman Wong, Beyond Integrity: A judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996).

D. G. Reid, “Principalities and Powers,” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. F.F. Hawthorne, R. Martin and D.G. Reid (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1993).

John Renesch, ed. New Traditions in Business: Spirit and Leadership in the 21st Century (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1992).

Leland Ryken, Redeeming the Time: A Christian Approach to Work and Leisure (Grand Rapids; Baker, 1995).

Vinay Samuel, “Evangelical Response to Globalisation: An Asian Perspective,” Transformation (January 1999).

Edgar H Schein, Organizational Culture and Leadership: A Dynamic View (San Fancisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991).

H. Schleir, Principalities and Powers in the New Testament (New York: Herder & Herder, 1964).

Alexander Schmemann, For the Life of the World (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1988).

Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organization (New York: Doubleday, 1990).

Ed Silvoso, Anointed for Business: How Christians Can Use Their Influence in the Marketplace to Change the World (Ventura, CA: Regal Press, 2002).

Erwin O. Smigel, ed. Work and Leisure: A Contemporary Social Problem (New Haven, Conn.: College and University Press, 1963).

Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman (Trenton NJ: Francis S. Wiggins, 1823).

R. Paul Stevens, “The Spiritual & Religious Sources of Entrepreneurship: From Max Weber to the New Business Spirituality, Crux, Vol XXXVI, No 2 (June 2000), 22-33; reprinted in Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought and Practice, Vol 9, Issues 1 (Feb 2001):2-11.

_____________, “The Marketplace: Mission Field or Mission?” Crux, Vol XXXVII, No 3 (September 2001): 7-16.

_____________, “Vocational Conversion: An Imaginary Puritan-Baby Boomer Dialogue” Crux, XXXVII (December 2001), No 4, 2-8.

_____________, The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work and Ministry in Biblical  Perspective (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans and Vancouver: Regent Publishing, 1999).

_____________, “Wealth,” in Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens, The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997): 1102-1106.

_____________, Seven Days of Faith (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2001), 49-50.

_____________, The Equippers’ Guider to Every Member Ministry (Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2000).

_____________, Down-to-Earth Spirituality: Encountering God in the Ordinary, Boring Stuff of Life (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003).

William M. Sullivan, Work and Integrity: The Crisis and Promise of Professionalism in America (New York: Harper, 1995).

The Task Force on Issues of Vocation and Problems of Work in the United States Presbyterian Church (USA), Challenges in the Workplace (Louisville: Presbyterian Church [USA], 1990).

Ernst Troeltsch, The Social Teachings of the Christian Churches, trans. Olive Wyon (Louseville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992).

John E. Tropman & Gersh Morningstar, Entrepreneurial Systems for the 1990s: Their Creation, Structure and Management (New York: Quorum Books, 1989).

Elton Trueblood, Your Other Vocation (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952).

William Tyndale, “A Parable of the Wicked Mammon,” in Treatises and Portions of Holy Scripture (1527; reprint, Cambridge: Parker Society, 1848), 98, 104.

Robert A. Wauzzinski, Between God and Gold: Protestant Evangelicalism and the Industrial Revolution 1820-1914 (Rutherford: Furleigh Dickinson University Press, 1993).

Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, trans. Talcott Parsons (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958).

John Wesley, “The Use of Money,” in Max L. Stackhouse, Dennis McCann, and Shirley Roels, eds. On Moral Business: Classical and Contemporary Resources for Ethics in Economic Life (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 197.

Lynn White Jr., "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis," Science 155, no 3767 (March 10, 1967): 1203-1207.

Loren Wilkinson, "One Earth, One World, One Church," Crux (March 1992), Vol XXVIII, No 1:28-36.

Paul S. Williams, “Hermeneutics for Economists: The Relevance of the Bible to Economics,” (MCS Thesis, Regent College, Vancouver, 1995).

W. Wink, Naming the Powers: The Language of Power in the New Testament (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984).

Siew Li Wong, “A Defence of the Intrinsic Value of ‘Secular Work’ in Tentmaking Ministry in the Light of the Theology Doctrines of Creation, Redemption and Eschatology” (MCS Thesis, Regent College, Vancouver, April 2000).

Walter Wright Jr., Relational Leadership: A Biblical Model for Relationship and Service (Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Paternoster Press, 2000).

Christopher J. H. Wright, Living as the People of God: The Relevance of Old Testament Ethics (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1998).

Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, All You Who Labor: Work and the Sanctification of Daily Life (Manchester, NH: Sophia Press, 1995).

Appendices (available on registration for the Theology of Work course)

  1. Reading the Bible in the Global Marketplace 3
  2. Organizational Culture and Change              17
  3. Organizational Values                                   23
  4. Leadership                                                     27
  5. Faith: Discovering the Soul of Work            32
  6. The Prophets: People of the Burning Heart  39
  7. A View from the Ground: The Great Commandment Company in the Philippines      47
  8. Love: Recovering the Amateur Status           51
  9. On Being Kingdom People: Regents of our God and King 58                                                        
  10. Aware of the Struggle                                    68
  11. Hope: Making Our Mark on Heaven             81
  12. Work Ethic, Protestant                                   86
  13. Tentmaking                                                    90
  14. Work                                                              97
  15. Creation, Covenant and Work (Dumbrell)   104

R. Paul Stevens

2008

Updated April 21, 2008

English Bibliography
BGU-TOW 701/601 - Theology of Work provided by R. Paul Stevens
English Video
A Very Selective Bibliography on Vocation and Mission provided by Glenn Smith

(In part inspired by Peter Hammond’s annotated bibliography on ministry in the marketplace)

BARTH, KARL. PROFESSOR . Church Dogmatics, paragraph 71, The doctrine of Creation. Ed. G. W. Bromiley & T. F. Torrance. T & T Clark, 1961.

Barth’s theology of vocation is integrated with the fundamental themes of the Trinity, theology and Scripture. In his section on reconciliation, (“The key to my theology, he subsequently wrote.”) he rejects any view that elevates human culture, warning that we should neither over-spiritualize nor elevate work to the level of worship. He vigorously disputes the way human dominion over creation has been used to provide a rationale for capitalism, the development of technology and the work ethic. Barth offers five criteria for defining proper work: (1) objectivity: setting ends and devoting one’s self to them, (2) worth: is it honest, constructive work? (3) humanity: the social and cooperative dimension of work, (4) reflectivity: the person must be the active subject and not just passive object of work, and there must be room for reflection, and (5) limitation: work must not become an absolute; rest is also commanded. Barth broadens the concept of vocation to go beyond the job and to include the work of caring for children, the sick, the elderly, the unemployed, and the work of mothers and housewives. Mission and witness are key themes in this paragraph of Barth’s notion of vocation.

BLAMIRES, HARRY. PROFESSOR . The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? S.P.C.K., 1963, 191 pages.

In this Christian classic Blamires seeks to reform Christian thinking. “There is no longer a Christian mind…Except in the area of personal conduct,” says Blamires, “Christians have lost their saltiness intellectually. Thus we have retreated from society and have been trodden underfoot by secularism” (Introduction). What should characterize the Christian mind? Blamires discusses six qualities: its supernatural orientation, its awareness of evil, its conception of truth, its acceptance of authority, its concern for the person and its sacramental cast.

CONGAR, YVES. THEOLOGIAN . Lay People in the Church. Christian Classics, 1985, 498 pages.

This work is the one of the earliest and most extensive theologies of vocation.  Congar looks at Jesus as prophet, priest and king as a source of thinking on the roles of the laity in society. First published in 1953, this Christian classic helped lay the groundwork for reassessments of Catholic laity at Vatican II, where Congar was an expert witness and counsel. Exhaustive in its coverage, several reprints attest to its indispensability as the rallying cry of the Catholic lay movement. The lay movement needs more work like this if it is going to avoid being just another church fad.

DORR, DONALD. THEOLOGIAN . Spirituality and Justice. Orbis,1984, 255 pages.

Dorr writes to bring together two popular but clashing concerns. Those interested in social justice often criticize traditional spirituality for being individualistic and passive in the face of the world's evils. And those who stress the need for spiritual­ity see the inability of many social activists to deal with frustration and anger. In attempting to resolve this dilemma Don touches on a number of diverse subjects: economics, politics, theology and prayer.

ELLUL, JACQUES. PROFESSOR. The Presence of the Kingdom. Seabury, 1967, 153 pages.

In this early work Ellul considers the problem of how to live as a Christian in the world—that is, in the domain of the Satan. He is concerned for the layperson who, though salt and light, is a sheep in the midst of wolves.

GUINNESS, OS. SOCIOLOGIST . The Call. Word, 1999, 247pages.

This is a definitive text on calling. “Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are everything we do and everything we have is invested with special devotion, dynamism and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service.” says Guinness. It is bigger than our jobs, talents or a self-centered identity quest. It is not a matter of what we do or where we are so much as whom we are and how we partner with God. With an unparalleled grasp on Western cultural perspectives, Guinness presents alternative views before presenting his own with unusual clarity. Probing and passionate, philosophical yet readable, this book provides no tests or techniques for evaluating one’s calling. It simply peels away misconceptions and restores a sense of what it means to follow Christ.

HOLMES, ARTHUR F. PROFESSOR . All Truth is God’s Truth, Eerdmans, 1979, 240 pages.

This foundation piece on how to integrate faith and life is rooted in the Christian tradition. “The early church claimed that truth is God’s truth wherever it is found. The focus here is on truth. But the ultimate focus of truth is God. If he is eternal and all-wise creator of all things, as Christians affirm, then his creative wisdom is the source of … all truth about everything….“The Scriptures and the church fathers clearly placed the focus on truth, they perceived its universality and they recognized the ultimate unity of all truth in God. They believed passionately that all truth is God’s truth no matter where it be found. But as Holmes states, “Yet today the Christian faith is too often seen as a private affair of the heart without reference to the larger scope of human knowledge and cultural affairs.” This books presents a clarion call to recapture the notion that, yes, all truth is God’s truth.

HOLMES, ARTHUR F. PROFESSOR . Contours of a World View. InterVarsity Press, 1983, 240 pages.

Regarded as a modern classic on Christian worldview development, this book contrasts secular and Christian ways of looking at the world and defends the Christian perspective as the strongest alternative. “In a world ravaged by dehumanizing bar­barism and torn by ideological conflict we have an obligation to rekindle and disseminate the Christian vision of a unified world view” (back cover). Chapters include applications to work, play, science and technology, and human creativity. This is literature for the serious Christian thinker.

HOUSTON, JAMES M. PROFESSOR . I Believe in the Creator. Eerdmans, 1980, 275 pages.

Houston reminds us that how we integrate our Christian faith with life in the world is based on what we believe about God as Creator and about his creation. With great erudition he challenges popular worldviews with a radical Christian faith in God the Creator. He then draws out the implications of this faith for how we look at and live in the world.

PALMER, PARKER. EDUCATOR . Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. Jossey-Bass, 2000, 117 pages.

In this book Palmer helps people discover their truest calling. Discerning your call involves getting beneath the events, crises and experiences of life to grasp what really motivates you. Then those motives are matched with world needs. This treatment of career decision making is rooted in Palmer’s Quaker beliefs as he states, “We listen for guidance everywhere except from within” (p. 5), and adds, “We arrive in this world with birthright gifts—then we spend half our lives abandoning them or letting others disabuse us of them” (p. 12). Palmer provides insight into the God-created motivational grid each person possesses.

PALMER, PARKER. EDUCATOR . The Courage to Teach. Jossey-Bass, 2009, 224 pages.

“This book is for teachers who have had good days and bad – and whose bad days bring the suffering that comes from something one loves. It is for teachers who refuse to harden their hearts, because they love learners, learning and the teaching life”, says Parker Palmer in the Introduction to this, one of the finest pieces that integrates the vocation of teaching with spiritual life.

SAYERS, DOROTHY L. WRITER . Are Women Human? Eerdmans and InterVarsity Press, 1971, 47 pages.

This collection of essays is a Christian classic. Sayers enjoys upending unthinking assumptions about gender and work. While many people would consider Sayer; feminist, she rejects such labels in favor of a no-nonsense, commonsense approach to the issue of women’s roles in society.

STACKHOUSE, JOHN PROFESSOR .  Need to Know: Vocation as the Heart of Christian Epistolomogy (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014)

How should a Christian think? This book is a bold articulation of Christian epistemology rooted in vocation. “All (legitimate) work is blessed by God and vocation….is the divine calling to be a Christian in every mode of life, whether public as well as private, religious as well as secular, adult as well as juvenile, corporate as well as individual, female as well as male. And thus to be a Christian in every mode of life is to show something of what it means to be redeemed and renewed human being as well.” The book is a crystal clear model of responsible Christian thinking and living for today.

Coupled with Stackhouse’s lecture, Engaging the University: The Vocation of Campus Ministry, (available on his blog), these are two fine pieces to embrace the subject of authentic engagement with the university.

STEVENS, R. PAUL. PROFESSOR . The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective. Eerdmans/Regent, 1999, 289 pages.

Stevens acquaints readers with a “people theology” that challenges the division God’s people into laity and clergy. He provides a theological foundation for each person’s calling to do the Lord’s work. He lays a solid biblical foundation for changing individual lives and the life of the church as a whole. Each chapter ends with discussion and study questions.

English Bibliography
A Transformational and Theological Study of Work , the Church and the Marketplace provided by Lowell Bakke, Anatoliy Glukhovskyy
Document Description: 

This is the powerpoint presentation for a Theology of Work seminar by Dr. Lowell Bakke and Dr. Anatoliy Glukhovskyy at Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary

English Document