Doing Business Differently
Once we recognise God's purpose for us in our work, the next step is to live it out. This course provides a biblical framework and practical guidance to help you integrate your faith into your work and lead a more fulfiling and God-honouring career.
About this Course
- 10 Sessions
- 1 Course Workbook
- ‘Getting Started’ Guide for facilitators
Through 10 sessions focused on marketplace "fundamentals," you will learn how to move beyond theory and begin practicing redemptive business in your specific context.
Each session pairs a Biblical example with real-world testimonies from African marketplace leaders who have grappled with and exemplified these principles in action.
- Guided reflection on a Scriptural example and the business principle drawn from it.
- Video testimony from leaders sharing their honest struggles and successes.
- Discussion questions designed to help you apply to your unique context.
Course Breakdown
Frequency: We recommend doing a session weekly or bi-monthly, but feel free to go at your own pace.
Time: We recommend setting aside 2 hours per session to allow for robust discussions.
Introduction
In this opening session, participants are introduced to the foundational principles of conducting business in a God-honouring way. This session sets the stage for the journey ahead, providing an overview of the course structure and goals.
Session 1: Have your identity firmly rooted in Christ
Identity in Christ is not only the springboard for God-honouring Christian endeavour, but also our protection against the fear of failure and the idolatry of success. In this video, Adelaide shares how her identity in Christ led her to make tough decisions and how God honoured her faithfulness.
Session 2: Have a clear “why”
By the end of the first chapter of the Bible, God had established work right at the centre of human life and worship. The “why” of work has always been bigger than a paycheque. Dr Nthabiseng’s story is an example of how God can turn personal tragedy into a clear calling in business. In her case, it was to address the issue of affordable quality healthcare.
Session 3: Be able to engage the world
Jesus called his followers ‘salt and light’. His hearers rubbed salt into meat as a preservative and used oil lamps to dispel darkness. Nothing could have said, ‘engage the world’ as powerfully as this. Craig’s story helps us to see that engagement with the world often comes at a cost, because redeeming a community means meeting real needs.
Session 4: Pursue excellence in leadership
In His sovereignty, God has chosen to fulfil His purposes through ordinary people like us. There could be no greater burden placed on the need to lead with excellence than this. From humble beginnings, Martin’s faithfulness with the little that God entrusted to him led to positions of great influence where excellent leadership brought order out of chaos.
Session 5: Seek excellence in your field
The goods we produce and the services we provide are all expressions of God’s common grace – His goodness to all, regardless of faith. As such, we can never settle for average. Through his passion for rugby, Joey’s testimony helps us to see what being ‘salt and light’ (Matthew 5:13) in the workplace can look like – and it all begins with doing excellent work.
Session 6: Be creative & hopeful
As those formed in God’s image, creativity is part of who we are. Finding expression for our creativity for the common good, however, is a deliberate act of worship that we must choose. Karabo challenges us as Christians to be people who see the world as it should be, and through courage and faithfulness, work towards creating that world.
Session 7: Have a generous attitude
What we call generosity, is in fact a reasonable response to the revelation of who God is and what He has done for us. The world of business allows us to respond spectacularly. According to Willem, “Your true significance is how much value you add to other peoples’ lives.” He shares how giving can go beyond money, and the difference business can make in society.
Session 8: Be courageous and realistic
When we understand that God has created and gifted us for a particular purpose, the steps we take to embrace that calling will seem courageous only to those looking on. “It takes courage to see things as they really are.” Dr Rudzani’s gracious but powerful testimony challenges us to ‘earth’ our vocations in the truth of the Bible and the truth of our context.
Session 9: Keep seeking and learning
If success is defined as fulfiling God’s plan for our lives, then it is impossible to succeed without seeking him, and learning from those he selects especially for that purpose. Mergon CEO Pieter Faure reminds us that seeking God is not a once-off event, but a continual exercise in humility, patience and trust.
Session 10: Hear and obey God
If it is true (and it is) that God loves us and that in all things (even your business) he works for the good of those who love Him, why would we not want to obey him? God still leads his people to do seemingly strange and unexpected things. For Kerryne, obeying God’s counter-intuitive voice has led to success in business.
Preview the Workbook
Course Overview:
- 10 Sessions
- 1 Course Workbook
- ‘Getting Started’ Guide for facilitators
Group Access
$120/year
This course is included in our marketplace ministry toolkit, Business Fellowship in-a-Box, available on RightNow Media.
Multiply the Impact
Doing Business Differently is a featured course within Business Fellowship in-a-Box.
If you want to see your church or group flourish in their marketplace callings, Business Fellowship In-A-Box is your turnkey solution. Hosted on RightNow Media, this toolkit contains everything you need to ignite a thriving marketplace ministry.
For $120 a year, your group can journey through Foundations together and enjoy access to:
- Three additional courses to deepen faith-work integration.
- Facilitator’s Training to equip leaders to guide discussions effectively.
- The wider RightNow Media library for ongoing discovery.
