Mike Baer is one of the most acclaimed of BAM spokespersons and writers. His didactic and logical mind links well with his experience in business and pastoral work. Additionally, his Business as Mission podcast is an important listen, and I recommend it highly.
In a recent podcast, Mike reported on his trip to Argentina and his teaching in Mendoza. It was there that he came up with the idea of using the Socratic method. His books and his teaching often utilize his four characteristics of a Kingdom Business; the Kingdom Business is Vocational, Intentional, Relational, and Operational. In Mendoza, he decided to teach these components in the form of a question – What If?
Vocational What if our work and business are actually callings from God? Whatever our job – as a teacher, a physician, a carpenter, a nurse, an administrator – no matter what – everything is a calling from God. What if we saw business as a good thing, and God called us to play a special part in it with our job?
Intentional What if our work was intentionally connected to what God is doing in the world? Our work is a part of God’s plan that all people will worship Him; that all people will be obedient disciples. What if God intentionally knew my work placement had a life purpose – to create jobs, to live like Jesus, and to pursue making disciples of Jesus?
Relational What if my co-workers, customers, and clients- everyone were placed there for me to love and serve in the name of Jesus? Those relationships, I would never have otherwise. What if my relationships saw God in a special way because of the way I loved them and related to them?
Operational What if everything I did in my work reflected God’s excellence? We would realize that everything we did reflects on God’s Kingdom. What if we operationally understood the Hebrew word avodah which combines work, service, and worship into an integrated whole?
What If? Ask it of yourself.
Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com