3.what to…

🔊 Listen to this

Have you ever found the decision about what to do with your life a difficult one? Take a moment to reflect on how you ended up in your current role. How would you describe God’s hand in this? Write down the highlights and, if you can, share a key moment with the group

Have you ever felt pressure to go into some form of full-time
church ministry?

Open the session with a short time of prayer.

If ‘yes, is this having an effect on your commitment to your current role?

You may have found yourself wondering if the time you are spending at work could be better spent in a church ministry. You may even have felt guilty about your passion for your work and the limited time you seem to be able to give to the ‘work of the church’. You are not alone.

There is a powerful moment in the early years of William Wilberforce, one of the great political reformers who is famous for his role in the abolition of the slave trade. He, like many believers, was deliberating over his calling and what path he should follow. He questioned whether his renewed awareness of God should lead him away from an emerging career in politics and into a church ministry.

His great friend and soon-to-be Prime Minister, William Pitt, arranged for abolitionists to come to his home and encourage him to recognise that his calling, even his ministry, was in fact best achieved in and through a career in politics. The meeting is recorded in the film ‘Amazing Grace’ and closes with the powerful and life-changing remark; “We understand you are having problems choosing

Teaching.
whether to do the work of God or the work of a political activist. We humbly suggest that you can do both.”

Do you believe that a career in politics was Wilberforce’s ministry?

BizMin believes that a career in business and a fruitful Christian ministry are not mutually exclusive. You can in fact do both! This course is designed to reveal how.

We believe：if it’s your business, it’s your ministry.

Discussion.
Teaching:
life-changing Wilberforce’s God-given passion for the abolition of the slave trade was best served through a dedicated career in politics. That was where his God-given role and responsibility lay.

Some fifteen painful years later, his tireless campaign in the House of Commons resulted in the abolition of the slave trade across the British Empire; possibly the greatest moment in one of the great ministries of the nineteenth century.

If you are having similar problems choosing whether to do the work of God or the work of a business leader, we would also humbly suggest that you should do both. Great things may yet depend on it.

Discussion:
Wilberforce found it hard to see how a career in politics could be the work of God. Do you struggle to see how a career in business can be the work of God?

Teaching :
Throughout history people have struggled to see how work and ministry can combine. Even Jesus had to struggle against this prejudice. His peers could not see how someone from the marketplace could possibly be spiritual.

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Where then did this man get all these things?’ And they took offence at him.

Matthew13:53-57a
The Apostle Paul was famously a tentmaker and an apostle. He clearly moved quite seamlessly between work and witness. It would be interesting to know if the early church saw him more as a tentmaker who preached or a preacher who made tents. We are not sure that he would care much for the distinction. His work was fully integrated with his ministry and he was never ashamed of his work.

Do you think that Paul was working equally for the Lord in both activities?

What Paul himself made clear is that we all have to work and, whatever you do, you should ‘work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23).

Reflection :
Would you consider yourself to be currently working ‘for the Lord’ or ‘for human masters’?

Discussion :
Are you doing it with ‘all your heart’? If not, what is holding you back?

After the 1666 ‘Great Fire of London’, the world-famous architect Christopher Wren was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral. One day in 1671, Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold. He asked each of them “what are you doing?”

The first bricklayer, the least productive of the three, replied “I am laying bricks.” The second bricklayer replied, “I am building a wall.” The third bricklayer, the most productive of the three, replied, “I am building a great cathedral for The Almighty.”

Teaching:
Are you aware that your work is ‘for The Almighty’?

The third bricklayer had a greater awareness that he was working for the Lord. How might this awareness affect our
attitude to work?

Discussion:

Do you see a connection between how you have been created,as God’s handiwork, and your work?

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians2:10
Works. 
Do you see your current work as ‘good work’?

Do you recognize that your work was prepared in advance for you to do?

Luke19：1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord!

Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’

Discuss the difference in this passage between Jesus’ attitude to a man from the marketplace and that of ‘all the people’.

What was the impact of Jesus’ attitude on Zacchaeus and on his approach to his work?

Discussion:
Jesus was comfortable being in the company of business people. Encountering Jesus transformed Zacchaeus’ attitude to the way he did business. He went from self-centered to servant, and miser to minister, overnight. Why do you think Jesus didn’t ask him to leave his work and ‘follow me as he had done with the twelve disciples?

Do you think collecting taxes is ‘good work’? Could this have been Zaccheus’ God-given calling; a work prepared in advance for him? It may help to consider what the consequences for society would be if taxes were not collected and by a Godfearing Christian.

Teaching:
Jesus had a broad view of what constitutes ‘good work’. Here is a good example.

Eric Liddell was one of Britain’s greatest sprinters and an unashamedly fearless man of God. He also knew well the
tension between wanting to be active in both a church ministry and the world of sport. He famously ran for Britain in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. It was not easy for everyone to accept that Eric’s ability to run was a gift from God, let alone his calling.

There is a wonderful line in the film made about his story called ‘Chariots of Fire’ that illustrates this. Eric is talking with his Christian sister. She is deeply concerned with his growing commitment to running and seeks to convince him to go into the mission field in China; a place to which he later went and died young.

 

On one occasion they are walking on the hills above Edinburgh. Eric’s response to her pleas is delightful. He says to his sister; “Jenny, I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast,” and he pauses as if lost in the memories of those moments on the race track, ”and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Eric had discovered that running was a gift and one, like all gifts, that revealed God’s call on his life. He knew that running was a ‘good work’ and felt God’s affirmation when he did it.

 

At the 1924 Olympics, Eric got into the squad and was to run in the 100m race. Much to Eric’s disappointment, the final of the 100m race was to be held on a Sunday. Eric was not willing to run on the Sabbath and was even prepared to resist the pleas from the Royal Family for him to run.

Despite their attempts to persuade him otherwise, he did not run and his stance on the Sabbath became a media sensation. His story and witness did not end there though. A place was found for him to run in the 400m final. It was a race that was to cement his witness in
history. Running, clutching the scripture ‘He that honors me,I will honor,’ which had been given to him by a fellow Christian competitor, he famously went on to win the gold medal in style.

His decision not to race on the Sabbath, in obedience to God, gained international exposure and was still being remembered when the Olympics were held in London in 2012 through a specially commissioned theatre production of the film ‘Chariots of Fire’.

There was even an article in an Indian newspaper that same year, focused, not on his winning, but on his stance on the Sabbath. In that one stand for Christ, a stand facilitated by his God-given gift for running, Eric achieved lasting fruit for the Kingdom of God. Even athletics is ‘good work’ if that is what you were created for!

You are uniquely made as God’s handiwork for a specific purpose; this is your ‘good work’.

Are you clear on what you are called to? If you are a Christian, God has a purpose for your life, a ‘good work’ for your gifts, and ultimately, a contribution you are called to make towards achieving His purposes in our generation.

If you are a Christian and in business, especially a Christian who owns or leads a business, it follows that one of these three options is true for you:

A fruitful role in business is God’s calling on my life.

I am called to be fruitful in something other than business.

I am not called to be fruitful.

Which of these three statements best describes you?

Reflection :
If you are a Christian, option C cannot be true.

‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’

There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

John15：8  .1Corint 12：6

If you are not sure whether A or B is true for you then here are four questions that may help.

1. Are you gifted at business? Do ventures prosper when you’re involved?

Genesis39：3,5a
When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did the Lord
blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.

2. Does business excite you? Do you have a business idea and a passion to run a business?

Howard Thurman

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Reflection :
3. Are you a generous and joyful giver?

R.G.LeTourneau
The question is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.

4. Do you have the essential ingredient for success; humility?

RickWarren
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

Break into small groups of 3 or 4. Consider the categories below. Within your group, each share which category
you think you fall into.

Activity:
You answered ‘yes’ You answered ‘yes’ to You answered ‘no’ to to all 4 questions question 1 and 2, but question 1 and/or 2 ‘no’ to question 3 and/or 4

As a group, take time to pray for the people in each category:

Called & clear :
Affirm and encourage those who are clear in their calling. Pray that they continue to press on to take hold of their calling.

Called but challenged :
For each person in this group, identify the particular area they find challenging (generosity or humility). They will need both in order to make their business fruitful.

ministry. Support them in prayer, seeking God’s help in resolving issues.

Not called to business leadership:
There may be people in your group who are not called to be in business. For some, this will not be an issue (e.g.church leaders or anyone with a general interest in the course). For others, this may be an unexpected outcome.
Pray that they would receive the courage they will need to discover and pursue their true calling.

Regardless of which category you fall into, you will need support going forward. Consider sharing your findings with a spiritual friend.

As you take up your calling, you are going to need their prayers and encouragement in the adventure that lies ahead. We hope that you feel endorsed by both God and your church in your calling. We hope that you feel called to business.

Teaching:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for
which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians3：12
The Apostle Paul recognized that he had not yet arrived at his goal. We must, like him, proactively press on to
take hold of this calling if we are to make the business a fruitful ministry.

We hope you feel inspired to make your business your ministry. The rest of this course will help in that task. We want you to be established and robust in your calling.

It is time to press on and take hold of the good works that God has prepared you for. Both the world of business and the Kingdom of God need people like you to take up this calling into business.

We hope you feel clear in your calling, ready to press on and take hold of your ministry. We hope that it is a calling to do business as a ministry.

Close the session with a short time of prayer. Ask God to affirm you in your calling and give you the courage to take hold of that ‘for which Christ Jesus took hold of you.

 

2.God-giv…

🔊 Listen to this

Genesis(39:20-23)

Would you agree that Joseph had a God-given gift for business administration that blossomed, whatever the context?

.At this point, is there anything obviously spiritual about any of the activities that Joseph is undertaking?

Reflection.
Joseph was clearly gifted at business, whatever the circumstances. Everywhere he went, his God-given abilities bore fruit.

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness ness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warder.

So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

The Lord was with Joseph. Whatever the context, his gift of business administration bore fruit.

Do you know what your abilities are? List them here.

1 . Are your abilities bearing fruit in business?
Do you recognize your abilities in business as God-given gifts?
Can you recall when these gifts were given?

During the early years in Egypt, Joseph was being prepared for the role that lay ahead. We have seen that long before his gift of interpreting dreams would begin its work, the gift of administration was blossoming, developing, and being refined. This was a gift that could not be repressed by circumstances.

As long as there were opportunities, and people to recognize his gift, it prospered. We too need to recognize that, whatever our circumstances, God’s gifts long to bear fruit in our lives. Whenever we see consistent fruitfulness, we can be sure that God is at work.

However, our gifts will never achieve a great work of God, bearing spiritual fruit, unless we complement our gifting with an equal measure of humility. If we are to be truly successful, we must learn to acknowledge God as the source of our gifts. Humbly relying on God is the essential ingredient of spiritual success. Joseph learned this the hard way. We will now see how.

Teaching.
2.2 The essential ingredient for success.

During his time in prison, Joseph’s more widely recognized gift emerged…the gift of interpreting dreams.

Teaching.
An essential attribute, if we are to see God working through us, is to genuinely desire to serve God and others with our gifts. On first impressions, it would seem that Joseph had this desire. He showed clear compassion towards his fellow prisoners and offered to interpret their dreams as an act of kindness. On this occasion, both the cupbearer and the baker

Genesis& 14
After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men- the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison- had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.

So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, ‘Why do you look so sad today?’ ‘We both had dreams,’ they answered, ‘but there is no one to interpret them.’

Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams…But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.’

of the king of Egypt were troubled by dreams and desired an interpretation. We don’t know how, but Joseph clearly believed that he could interpret their dreams and offered to do so for both men. It must have felt like quite a risk. This suggests that Joseph already had a strong sense of confidence in his second
gifting.

Joseph began by acknowledging that only God can interpret dreams. The passage says; ‘Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’‘ (Note the emphasis is on ‘me’).

There is a subtle but significant hint of arrogance in his statement which, as we will see, revealed that he was not yet fully reconciled to the principle that all good gifts come from God and it is God that should receive the glory for their use. It reveals that he was not yet fully submitted to God.

Discussion.
Do you think these men might have thought it was Joseph rather than God who was able to interpret the dream?

Once Joseph knew the dream’s interpretation, he sought to use it for his own benefit. Do you think this self-interest was a significant mistake?.

Teaching.
In interpreting the cupbearer and bakers’ dreams, Joseph fails to draw a clear distinction between God and himself. This may sound harsh but, as we will see, two years later, this is a distinction he made very clear when he eventually stands before Pharaoh. It is an essential distinction.

Genesis(41:15-16)
Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh,‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’

When Pharaoh demands that Joseph interprets his dream, his reputation has preceded him and Pharaoh attributes the gift of interpreting dreams, not to God, but to Joseph.

This suggests that the cupbearer had missed God’s hand in Joseph’s gifting. However, Joseph’s response to Pharaoh is fundamentally different from two years earlier in the
dungeon. This time he does what every servant of God must do in each new relationship if it is to bear fruit for the King dom of God, and the earlier the better.

He makes it clear that God is the one who interprets dreams and that he is merely His agent; ‘‘I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’’ Joseph recognizes God’s hand in his ability and makes it clear that his ability to interpret dreams is a gift of God.

This is one of those seminal moments in any believer’s life, particularly if we want our work to be our ministry. This is the moment we come out for God, acknowledging His power and, in humility, our dependency on Him. This is the moment God is fully let in and the moment our ministry truly begins. From this moment, the glory will go to God.

Discussion.
How had Joseph’s attitude to the source of his gift changed by the time he saw Pharaoh? What is the key distinction?

1.Real humility leads a person to be curious about and concerned for others, not fixated on how others can lead to one’s own enrichment.

2. Humility is about true service, not self-congratulation.

3.In admitting an error or acknowledging that one is wrong, the humble person not only apologizes but also changes course.

4. Real humility builds up; false humility tears down.

5. The more responsibility or power one has, the more humility one need.

Reflect on Joseph’s story up to this point. Do you think he had learned real humility?

Why is it so essential for those who are gifted to have real humility?

Reflection.
Joseph’s life seemed to go through a series of ups and downs. His early life was like a discipleship course; each time his gifts resulted in promotion, he received a lesson in humility.
However, regardless of his circumstances, his gifts bore fruit. They could not be held down. He learned to be both gifted and humble; the essential ingredients of success.

HUMILITY GATEWAY
Reflect on how the events of Joseph’s early life nurtured his gifts and shaped his character. How has God used the events of your life to nurture and shape you? Describe a little of your journey into business.

Joseph’s God-given gifts could not be fully fruitful until, in complete humility, he gave all the glory to God. Then Joseph was not only released from prison but also into his ministry.
Having passed through the gateway of humility, it was all onwards and upwards with his life’s work. He was ready to fulfill God’s purposes in his generation.

Reflection.
Are you humble with your God-given gifts?
Are you able to publicly acknowledge God as the source of
your gifts?

Never 、 Always。
Acknowledging God as the source of our gifts is essential if God is to be glorified through a significant leadership role.

‘Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.’

Matthew(10:32-33)
If we hope to succeed in business, we need to allow God to nurture humility within us. It is the essential
a complement to our God-given gifts.

Discussion.
How might you take a practical step this week to acknowledge God before others?

2.3 Achieving God’s purposes through business
Prepared VISION
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean.

I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

 

‘In my dream I saw seven ears of corn, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other ears sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.’

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless ears of corn scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

Genesis(41:17-31)
‘It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.’

Teaching.
Pharaoh’s dream was prophetic and revealed both a challenge and an opportunity. Joseph used his gift of interpretation and described what was about to happen. Together, Joseph and Pharaoh declared God’s word to their generation.

Joseph could have stopped after interpreting the dream, but then his other gift came into action. Joseph’s gift of business to the administration could not be contained and he immediately Prepared.

responded to the prophetic dream and set out a business plan that would leverage the situation and realize the opportunity.

Pharaoh and his officials would have been full of fear at the prospect of approaching famine. Joseph’s response was clear and succinct. It was the plan of a God-gifted business person. It was God’s plan. It was also a business plan which would itself enable the fulfillment of the prophecy and God’s purposes.

Genesis(41:33-36)
‘And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon  Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.’

Activity.
Joseph’s gifts were central, not only to the interpretation but also to the fulfillment of Pharaoh’s dream. Once appointed to deliver his plan, Joseph proactively set out to ensure the dream was fulfilled.

Genesis describes Joseph’s key action plan for fulfilling the dream. Look at the following scriptures and come up with relevant modern business terms that might describe what Joseph is doing.

Prepared

Genesis(41:48-49a)
Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city, he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea.

Genesis(41:46b)
Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled
throughout Egypt

Genesis(41:56-57a)
When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…

Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people.

Genesi
‘But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children. So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt – still in force today – that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh.

47:24,26a Joseph’s 5-point action plan , Fruit that will last Perpetuate a sustainable 5 SYSTEMS system God-inspired RESEARCH TO ENSURE A LEGACY Business plan God-given vision 2 PREPARATION
4 OVERSIGHT & GOVERNANCE 3 TRADE 1

Discussion.
By the end of his life, Joseph finally came to understand God’s purposes in all that had happened. What did Joseph believe was the primary purpose of his life’s work?

How did Joseph’s 5-point action plan combine to achieve the purposes of God in his generation?

2.4 Prepared

Genesis50:19-20

But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’

Which of Joseph’s spiritual gifts contributed most to achieving God’s purpose, and why?

Reflect on the relationship between Joseph’s practical actions and their spiritual outcomes. What does this suggest about the God-given role of business in society?

Reflection.
At the end of his life, Joseph was aware that he had achieved what God intended, and it was good. his work had saved many lives. In the prophetic, his father, Jacob, also foresaw that far greater fruit was to come through the line of Judah, whose life had been saved from the famine by Joseph’s actions.

The record below the purpose of your company.

Are these God’s purposes for your company?

Joseph only struggled to interpret his own childhood dreams. As a young man, his prophetic dreams led only to the arrogance that ironically led to the beginning of their fulfillment.

Things did not work out the way he or his brothers could ever have imagined when Joseph’s brothers jealously led them to sell Joseph as a slave. It was more than Joseph could ‘ask or imagine’. Are you able to rest,
Genesis49:10
‘The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.’

Matthew2:6
‘But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah…out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’

secure in the knowledge that God can achieve more than you ask or imagine?

Teaching.
At the heart of this story is a key moment. It is essential in every Christian’s life. Because Joseph gave the glory to God, acknowledging God as the source of his gifts, God is recognized by others as the source of his abilities and wisdom.

Genesis41:37-40
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’

At the heart of this passage is one of the greatest compliments that a Christian can ever receive; ‘‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’’ Pharaoh recognized the inspiration behind Joseph’s interpretation and subsequent business plan. He saw that the hand of God was at work in Joseph.

This is so important. If the gifts and achievements of Christians in business are never recognized as the work of God’s spirit then there is little, if any, discernible difference between us and our non-Christian peers. As Christian entrepreneurs, we need to be known as those ‘in who is the Spirit of God.’ This is the essential hallmark of a Kingdom Entrepreneur.

Discussion.
Do you recognize that you are ‘one in whom is the Spirit of God?

Do other people?

Teaching.
Joseph was spiritually gifted for business. Once he learned the essential ingredient of success and walked through the gateway of humility, his spiritual gifts were able to bear much fruit and achieve the real purpose for which they were intended; the saving of many lives.

Joseph can be considered a great Kingdom Entrepreneur. His career in business
demonstrates how God can build His Kingdom through gifted business leaders. For Joseph, business was a ministry.

At the end of his life, Joseph came to recognize that he has achieved God’s purposes through his God-given gifts. The same can be true for us.

Prayer.
Close the session with a short time of prayer. Thank God for your spiritual gifts and ask Him for the opportunity to humbly use them to pursue His purposes in this generation.

2.上帝赐予商业管…

【创39:20-23】你是否同意，无论在什么情况下，约瑟都拥有上帝赐予的卓有成效的商业管理天赋?

此时，约瑟所从事的某些活动是否明显与上帝有关?

反 思: 约瑟的主人把约瑟下在监里，就是王的囚犯被囚的地方。于是约瑟在那里坐监。但耶和华与约瑟同在，向他施恩，使他在司狱的眼前蒙恩。司狱就把监里所有的囚犯都交在约瑟手下。他们在那里所办的事都是经他的手。凡在约瑟手下的事、司狱一概不察、因为耶和华与约瑟同在；耶和华使他所作的尽都顺利。

耶和华与约瑟同在。无论在什么情形下，他的 商业管理天赋都取得了成果。无论在何种情形下，约瑟显然有经商的天赋。他所到之处，上帝赋予他的才能都取得了成果。

你知道你的才能是什么吗？把他们列在下面。

你的才能在经商中有成果吗？
你是否认识到你在商业中的才能是上帝的恩赐
你能回忆起是什么时候你被赋予这些恩赐？

在埃及的早期岁月里，上帝就一直在为将来的角色预备约瑟。我们已经看到，早在他解梦的天赋开始发挥作用之前，他的管理天赋就已经开花结果、发展并完善。这是一种无法被环境所抑制的天赋。只要有机会，只要有人意识到他的天赋，它就蓬勃发展。我们也要认识到，无论我们的环境如何，上帝的恩赐渴望在我们的生活中结出果实。每当我们看到持续的成效，我们就可以确信神正在做工。

然而，我们的恩赐永远不会成就神的伟大工作结出属灵的果子，除非我们以同样程度的谦卑来伴随我们的恩赐。如果我们想要真正的成功，我们必须学习承认上帝是我们天赋的来源。谦卑地倚靠上帝是属灵成功的基本要素。约瑟好不容易学到这个功课。现在我们来看如何做到这一
点。

教 导: 成 功 的 基 本 要 素.
在他服刑期间，约瑟另一个大家更熟悉的天赋出现了 – 解梦的天赋。

【创世纪 – 14】他们有些日子在监里。被囚在监之埃及王的酒政和膳长二人同夜各做一梦，各梦都有讲解。到了早晨，约瑟进到他们那里，见他们有愁闷的样子。他便问法老的二臣，就是与他同囚在他主人府里的，说：“你们今日为什么面带愁容呢？”他们对他说：“我们各人做了一梦，没有人能解。”

约瑟说：“解梦不是出于神吗？请你们将梦告诉我。” 但你得好处的时候，求你记念我，施恩于我，在法老面前提说我，救我出这监牢。

如果我们要看到上帝通过我们做工，一个基本的品质就是真诚地渴望用我们的天赋来服侍神和他人。猛地一看，约瑟像是有这个愿望。他对狱友们表现出明显的同情，并好心地表示愿意为他们解梦。

那时，埃及王的酒政和膳长因梦愁烦，求梦的讲解。我们不知道他是怎么做到的，但是约瑟确信他能解梦，并表示可以为这两人解梦。这令人感觉太冒险了，它说明当时约瑟对自己的第二个天赋有着强大的信心。

约瑟先是承认只有上帝才能解梦。经文写道：约瑟对他们说“解梦不是出于神吗? 告诉我你的梦。”(注意这里强调的是‘我’)。

在他的话里有一丝微妙但意味深长的傲慢，正像我们将会看到的，这表明他还没有完全顺应所有天赋都来自上帝，由这些天赋所带来的荣耀应归给上帝的原则，也就是说他还没有完全顺服神。

讨 论.
你认为这些人会不会以为是约瑟而不是上帝能解梦呢? 

当约瑟知道了梦的解释后，他就用它为自己谋利。你认为他为自己谋利是个重大错误吗? .

 教 导

在给酒政和膳长解梦时，约瑟没有明确区分上帝和他自己。这听起来可能很苛刻，但是，我们将会看到，两年后，当他最终站在法老面前时，他把上帝和自己做了很明确的区分。这样的区分是非常必要的。

【创41:15-16】法老对约瑟说：“我做了一梦，没有人能解。我听见人说，你听了梦就能解。”约瑟回答法老说：“这不在乎我，神必将平
安的话回答法老。”

法老要约瑟解梦时早知道他的名声，他没有把解梦的天赋归给上帝，而是归给了约瑟。这表明酒政没有认为约瑟的天赋来自神。

然而，约瑟对法老的回答与两年前在地牢里时的完全不同。这次他做了每个要为神国结出果实的神的仆人，在每个新关系中必须做的事，而且这事越早做越好。他清楚地表明上帝才是解梦的那位，他只是上帝的代理人：“这不在乎我，神必将平安的话回答法老。”约瑟认识到他的能力是借上帝之手，并清楚地表明他解梦的能力是上帝的恩赐。

这是信徒一生中决定性的时刻之一，尤其是当我们希望把我们的工作当成我们的事工时。这是我们为神站出来的时刻，谦卑地承认他的大能和我们对祂的依赖。这是我们让神完全进到我们里面的时刻，也是我们的事工真正开始的时刻。从这一刻起，荣耀将归于上帝。

讨 论.
当约瑟见到法老时，他对自己天赋来源的态度有了什么改变？关键的区别是什么? 

真正的谦卑使人对他人感到好奇和关心，而不是只关注他人如何使自己得利。

谦卑是有关真正服务他人，而不是自我陶醉。

通过承认错误或承认自己不对，谦卑的人不只是道歉，而
且也着手改变。 
真正的谦卑建造;虚伪的谦卑拆毁。

一个人的责任或权力越大，就越需要谦卑。

为什么对那些有天赋的人来说，真正的谦卑如此重要?

反 思
约瑟的一生似乎经历了一连串的起起落落。他早期的生活就像是门徒训练课程; 他的天赋为他带来的每一次提升，都给他上了谦卑的一课。然而，不管他的环境如何，他的天赋都结出果实，无法被压制。他学会了既有恩赐又谦卑这一成功的基本要素。

思考约瑟早年生活中发生的事是怎样培养他的天赋和塑造他的性格的。神是怎样用你生命中发生的事来培养和塑造你的? 描述一下你从商的经历.

约瑟的“门徒训练课程”父亲的家 波提乏的家 监狱 法老的王宫谦卑之门神给约瑟的恩赐不能全然地结果子，直到他完全谦卑地把所有的荣耀归给神。之后约瑟不但被放出了监狱，而且开始了他的事工。通过了谦卑之门后，他一生的工作都是向前和向上的。他已准备好在他的世代成就神的目的。

反 思.
拥有上帝赐予的天赋你仍谦卑吗? 
你能公开承认上帝是你天赋的来源吗?
从来没有 、一直是、

如果要通过重要的领导角色来荣耀上帝，承认上帝是我们天赋的来源是至关重要的，

“凡在人面前认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必认他；凡在人面前不认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不认他。”

【太10:32-33】如果我们希望在商业上取得成功，我们就要让上帝在我们里面 孕育谦卑。它是上帝赐予我们的天赋之必要补充。

讨 论.
这个星期你会如何采取实际行动在别人面前承认神呢? 
有天赋/准备好了/愿意被使用愿景

通过商业实现神的目的.

法老对约瑟说，我梦见我站在河边，有七只母牛从河里上来，又肥壮又美好，在芦荻中吃草。随后又有七只母牛上来，又软弱又丑陋又干瘦。在埃及遍地，我从来没有见过这样丑陋的母牛。这又乾瘦又丑陋的母牛吃尽了那以先的七只肥母牛。可是，他们吃了以后，谁也看不出来是吃了什么。它们看起来和以前一样丑陋。然后我醒了。

我梦见一棵麦子长了七个穗子，又饱满，又佳美。随后又长了七个穗子，枯干细弱，被东风吹焦了。这细弱的穗子，吞了那七个好穗子。我将这事告诉了术士，他们却没有一个能给我讲解。

约瑟对法老说，法老的梦乃是一个。神已将所要作的事显明给法老了。七只好母牛是七年，七个好穗子也是七年。这是同一个梦想。那随后上来的七只又乾瘦又丑陋的母牛是七年，那七个被东风吹焦的穗子也是七年，都是七个荒年。

【创41:17-31】这就是我对法老所说，神已将所要作的事显明给法老了。埃及遍地要来七个大丰年，随后又要来七个荒年。这样，埃及地就全然忘记先前的丰收，全地必被饥荒所灭。因为后来的饥荒甚大，就不记念那地的丰裕了。

教 导.

法老的梦是先知性的，同时带来了挑战和机会。约瑟用他解梦的天赋描述了将要发生的事情。约瑟和法老一起向他们的
世代宣告了神的话。

有天赋/准备好了/愿意被使用 计划

约瑟本可以在解梦之后停下来，但他的另一个天赋却开始发挥作用。约瑟在商业管理方面的天赋无法被抑制，他立即对这个先知性的梦做出反应，制定了一个商业计划，利用当时的情况抓住机会。

法老和他的官员们一定对即将到来的饥荒充满了恐惧。约瑟的回答清楚而简洁。这是一个拥有上帝恩赐的商人的计划，这是上帝的计划。这个商业计划本身就是来实现预言和上帝的目的的。

【创41:33-36】法老当拣选一个有聪明有智慧的人，派他治理埃及地。法老当这样行，又派官员管理这地，当七个丰年的时候，征收埃及地的五分之一，叫他们把将来丰年一切的粮食聚敛起来，积蓄五谷，收存在各城里做食物，归于法老的手下。所积蓄的粮食可以防备埃及地将来的七个荒年，免得这地被饥荒所灭。”

行 动.
约瑟的天赋是关键，不仅是对法老梦的解释，也是对法老梦想的实现。一旦被任命实施他的计划，约瑟就积极行动，确保梦想得到实现。创世纪讲述了约瑟实现梦想的主要行动计划。看看下面几段经文，想出能描述与约瑟所做之事相关的现代商业用语。

【创41:48-49】约瑟聚敛埃及地七个丰年一切的粮食，把粮食积存在各城里，各城周围田地的粮食都积存在本城里。约瑟积蓄五谷甚多，如同海边的沙…

【创41:46】约瑟从法老面前出去，遍行埃及全地。有天赋/准备好了/愿意被使用 行动.

【创41:56-57】当时饥荒遍满天下，约瑟开了各处的仓，粜粮给埃及人。在埃及地饥荒甚大。各地的人都往埃及去，到约瑟那里籴粮瑟买粮.

那时治理埃及地的是约瑟，粜粮给那地众民的就是他。

【创世记 】后来打粮食的时候，你们要把五分之一纳给法老，四分可以归你们做地里的种子，也做你们和你们家口孩童的食物。是约瑟为埃及地定下常例，直到今日，法老必得五分之一。

持续性的成果保证传承的体系监督和管理 贸易准备调查研究来自上帝的愿景上帝赋予灵感的商业计划行动

讨 论.

在他生命的最后，约瑟终于明白了上帝在这一切事情上的目的。约瑟认为他一生工作的主要目的是什么?

约瑟的5点行动计划是如何结合起来实现神在他那个世代的目
的的? 
实现上帝的目的.

上 帝 的 目 的.

【创50:19-20】有天赋/准备好了/愿意被使用愿景 计划.

约瑟对他们说：不要害怕，我岂能代替神呢？从前你们的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命，成就今日的光景。

约瑟的哪一项属灵恩赐对实现神的目的贡献最大，为什么?思考约瑟的实际行动与这些行动的属灵成果之间的关系。这表明上帝赋予商业在社会中的角色是什么? 

反 思.

在他生命的尽头，约瑟知道他完成了神的计划，而这计划是好的.他的工作拯救了许多人的性命。在约瑟父亲雅各的先知性预言中，他也预见更大的果子将由犹大的后裔而来，而犹大的性命是借着约瑟的行动从饥荒中拯救出来的。

在下面写下你的公司存在的目的。 1 2  3.

这些是上帝对你的公司的目的吗? 

【创49:10】圭必不离犹大，杖必不离他两脚之间，直等这杖所属的人来到，万民都必归顺。

【太2:6】犹大地的伯利恒阿，将来有一位君王，要从你那里出来，牧养我民以色列。

约瑟只是努力去解释他自己童年的梦。作为一个年轻人，他有预言性质的梦只导致了傲慢，说来好笑,这竟导致梦中预言真正实现的开始。

当约瑟兄弟们的嫉妒让他们把他卖为奴隶时，他们怎么也想象不到事情会这样发展。结果比约瑟能“要求或想象”的更好。你能放松下来，因知道神能成就比你所要或所想的更好而安心吗? 

教 导.

这个故事的核心是一个关键的时刻。这个时刻在每个基督徒的生活中都是必不可少的。因为约瑟将荣耀归给神，承认神是他天赋的来源，别人才能认识到神是他能力和智慧的来源。

【创41:37-40】法老和他一切臣仆都以这事为妙。法老对他们说，像这样的人，有神的灵在他里头，我们岂能找得着呢? 法老对约瑟说，神既将这事都指示你，可见没有人像你这样有聪明有智慧。你可以管理我的家。我的民也都听从你的话。只是在宝座上我比你大。

这段经文的中心是一个基督徒所能得到的最大的赞美之一：“像这样的人，有神的灵在他里头，我们岂能找得着呢？”。法老认出约瑟解梦和随后的商业计划背后的力量。他看出神的手在约瑟身上做工。这非常重要。如果基督徒在商业上的天赋和成就从来没有被认为是神的灵的工作，那么我们和非基督徒同行之间就没有什么明显的区别了。作为基督徒企业家，我们需要被人知道是“有神的灵在里头的人”。这是一个国度企业家的基本特征。

讨 论.

你是否认识到你是“有神的灵在里面”的人? 

其他的人也这样认为吗? 
教 导.

约瑟有神的恩赐善于经商。一旦他明白成功的基本要素并走过谦卑之门，他的属灵恩赐就能结出许多果实，并成就神赐给他这些天赋的真正目的，即拯救许多人的性命。约瑟可以说是一个伟大的国度企业家。他的商业生涯显示了神如何通过有恩赐的商业领袖来建立祂的国度。对约瑟来说，经商就是事工。

在他生命的最后，约瑟认识到他已经通过上帝赐予的天赋实现了上帝的目的。我们也可以这样。
恩赐 目的谦卑之门.

祷 告:
以简短的祷告来结束。为你的属灵恩赐感谢神，祈求神给你机会，谦卑地使用这些恩赐，来完成祂在这世代的计划。

企业家培训: 1.…

2019 年，爱德曼信任晴雨表（一项对来自 28 个国家的 33,000多人的调查）表明，只有 20％的受访者认为当前的经济体系在为他们服务。76％的受访者认为商业领袖应带头进行变革，而不是等待政府来推动。
教 导.
讨 论.

你是否认为“经济体系”需要改变？ 如果是，你认为需要改变什么？

你是否认为“修复”经济的责任在于商业领袖和企业主？

“商业领袖应带头进行变革”
 讨 论.

在下面左栏中写出你认为能描述当今盛行商业文化的七个单词。
在下面右栏中写下这些单词的反义词。
商业文化 、 对立面

哪一栏最能反映上帝及其国度的品格？当今的商业文化有多敬虔？

活 动.
商业已经忘记了其通过正义手段实现共同富裕的初创者之角色。流行的商业文化需要改变。

如果在职场有“上帝伟大的行动”，它将如何改变商业文化？

葛培理.

你是否认为所有经商的基督徒都被呼召在“上帝伟大的行动”中发挥积极主动的作用？

你是否认为基督徒企业家，企业主和领导者应扮演特殊的角色？

以下四个选项中哪一个最能说明“基督徒企业”一词对你的意义？
A 由基督徒创立.
B 由基督徒领导.
C 基督教精神.
D 基督徒职工.
 讨 论.
 反 思.
无需 A 或 B 能实现 C 吗？

这些都是世界领先的公司。它们涵盖了经济的所有领域。你也许会感到惊讶，所有这些公司的创始人都是基督徒。

这些基督徒企业家经商的方式改变了职场文化。这些敬虔的企业家为社会做了很大的贡献。一个多世纪以来他们创建的公司使他们的工人富裕，他们改变了工人的权利，建立了备受喜爱的社区，并倡导以道德和可持续的方式经商。许多人还为教会的使命做出了很大贡献。在公司普遍设立社会责任部门很早以前，他们就已经在通过他们的经商方式来开展事工。也许最重要的是这些公司大胆又闪亮的基督徒见证。

教 导.
这些基督徒企业家没有站在一边进行论断。相反地，他们卷起袖子，成立公司，坚持以上帝的方式经商。毫无疑问这些基督徒企业家的宗教信仰和商业信条是一致的。他们的基本价值观所建造的公司内部文化，在公司创始人离开后很久都还保持着。
他们并不是完人，但毫无疑问，他们的所作所为是强有力的遗产和典范，应当激发我们这一代基督徒企业家。当今的圣徒可
以在这一传承上继续建造。

今天，这些公司中几乎没有由基督徒领导的了。他们的基督徒见证不幸地暗淡下来。我们需要新一代的基督徒企业家来捡起指挥棒再次引领商业文化。

这些基督徒领袖和他们的企业为共同财富做出贡献的做法与今天盛行的经商方式有何不同？

讨论.

下面是 2005 年《今日基督教》上一篇文章的片段；就在信贷危机前几年：

‘今年几个高级别基督徒商人的庭审发出了一个明确的信号：许多信徒完全不知道他们的信仰与其工作的关系。今年 7 月在WorldCom 首席执行官伯纳德·埃伯斯因他在美国历史上最大的公司欺诈案中所扮演的角色被宣判之后，舆论界把火力对准了他。

他们指出，这个“好基督徒”自称的信仰与他领导管理团队走上欺骗道路的行为之间存在脱节。被判有罪的埃伯斯和安然高管肯尼思·莱，以及被宣判无罪的 首席执行官理查德·斯克鲁西，都是已知的积极去教会的信徒。

这些“好基督徒”在一家重要的公司承担了领导职责，这值得赞赏。这不是一项容易的工作。但令人失望的是，似乎没有人来装备他们去通过自己重要的职位使神的国度兴盛，最终也带来他们自己的成功。

根据你的经验，经商的基督徒在他们“自称的信仰”和他们的经商方式之间，是否有明确的联系？
讨 论.

如果基督徒商业领袖成功地将商业实践与基督信仰相结合，你能想象的结果是什么？For them 对于他们.
对于他们的公司.
对于商业文化.

在 1 到 5 分之间，你觉得你的商业实践与你的信仰之间的联系有多紧密？
仅仅因为我们是信徒又碰巧是职场的领导者，甚至是成功的领导者，并不能保证我们可以自动有效地在上帝伟大的行动中发挥自己的作用。就像任何其他领域的基督徒门徒训练一样，职场的信徒也需要被装备以上帝的方式经商。

你是否同意这种说法？

反 思.
完全无关.

完全结合.
讨 论.

对你目前经商方式产生主要影响的是什么？

在经商中，你是否定期从圣经寻求智慧？

如果我们要在职场看到上帝的伟大行动，我们需要向上帝寻求.

1. world’…

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In 2019, The Edelman Trust Barometer (a survey of over 33,000 people from 28 countries) indicated that only 20% of the interviewees felt that the current economic system was working for them. 76% believed that business leaders should take the lead on change rather than waiting for governments to impose it.

Teaching.
Discussion.

Do you believe the ‘economic system’ needs to change? If so, what do you believe needs to change?

Do you believe that the responsibility to ‘fix the economy lies with business leaders and owners?

Discussion.
Write seven words that you feel describe the prevailing culture of business today in the left-hand column below. Write down the opposite of these words in the right-hand column.

Business culture. Opposite.

Which column best reflects the character of God and His Kingdom? How godly is today’s business culture?

Activity.
The business has forgotten its true role as the creator of collective prosperity through just means. The prevailing culture of business needs to change.

If there was a ‘great move of God’ in the workplace, how might this change the culture of the business?

Abraham
Do you think all Christians in business are called to take a proactive role in this ‘great move of God’?

Do you think Christian entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders have a special role to play?

Which of the four options below best describes what the term ‘Christian company’ means to you?

A Founded by a Christian.
B Led by a Christian.
C Christian ethos.
D Christian workforce.
Can C be achieved without A or r B?
Discussion.
Reflection.

These are some of the world’s leading companies. They cover all sectors of the economy. It may surprise you to know that all of these companies had Christian founders.

The way these Christian entrepreneurs did business changed the culture of the workplace. These godly entrepreneurs achieved a great deal of good in society. They created companies that have prospered their workers for over a century, transformed workers’ rights, built many loved communities, and championed an ethical and sustainable approach to business. Many also contributed much to the mission of the Church.

Long before it was commonplace for companies to have a corporate social responsibility department, they were doing ministry in and through the way they did business. Perhaps most significantly, these companies had a Christian witness that was both bold and bright.

These Christian entrepreneurs did not stand on the sidelines and pass judgment. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves, set up companies, and got stuck into doing business God’s way. There is little doubt that the religious beliefs and business

Teaching
The creeds of these Christian entrepreneurs were aligned. Their founding values created cultures within their companies that lasted long after their founders stood down.

They were not perfect but there is no doubt that theirs is a powerful legacy and a model which should inspire our generation of Christian entrepreneurs. It is a heritage on which today’s saints can build.

Few, if any, of these companies are today led by Christians. Their Christian witness is sadly growing dim. We need a new generation of Christian entrepreneurs to pick up the baton and lead the culture of business again.

What is it about the way these Christian leaders and their companies contributed to the commonwealth that is different from the prevailing way in which business is being done today?

Discussion 

Below is a clip from an article in Christianity Today from 2005; just a few years prior to the credit crunch:

‘The trials of high-profile Christian businessmen this year have sent a clear signal: Many believers have little idea how their faith relates to their work. After the July sentencing of World Com CEO Bernard Ebbers for his part in the largest corporate fraud case in American history, commentators had a field day.

They pointed to the disconnect between the professed faith of this ‘good Christian man’ and the way he led his management team in the paths of deception. The convictedEbbers and Kenneth Lay, the Enron executive, and the acquitted HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy are all known as active churchgoing believers.’

It is commendable that these ‘good Christian men’ took on the responsibilities of leadership in a significant company. This is not an easy undertaking. It is disappointing that no one appears to have equipped them to prosper the Kingdom, and ultimately themselves, in and through their significant roles.

In your experience, do Christians in business have a clear connection between their ‘professed faith’ and the way they do business?

Discussion 
What do you imagine would be the outcome if Christian business leaders successfully combined business practice with the Christian faith?

For their company.
For the culture of the business.

On a score of 1 to 5, how connected do you feel your business practice is to your faith?

Not at all Fully integrated.

There is no guarantee, just because we are believers and happen to be leaders in the workplace, even successful ones, that we will automatically be effective in playing our part in a  great move of God.

Like any other area of Christian discipleship, believers in the workplace need to be equipped to do businessGod’s way.

Do you agree with this statement?

Reflection 

Discussion 

What is the primary influence on the way you currently do
business?

Do you regularly look to the wisdom of the Bible on business?

If we are to see a great move of God in the workplace, we need to look to God for His vision for the business.

Most of us have read a host of secular books on business but we would have little to say in answer to the questions ‘If Jesus was leading my company, what would Jesus do?’ and ‘What would Jesus not do?’

11.当我们与人和…

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神透过约瑟的生平，最直接实现祂说要借着亚伯拉罕的后裔祝福列国的应许。约瑟理解这个使命，且按照神的心意论到他人生的目的：“要保全许多人的性命”。

人纵使我们确定自己是对的，也不代表我们就不需要同理别人可能有不同的观点。好的领袖会努力培养团队精神，而不是嫉妒。约瑟没有注意到这点，使他与他兄弟之间产生严重的对立。因他从小就相信神在身上有伟大的计划。透过梦境，他会高升到领导的位置，高过他父母与兄弟。他兄弟一开始策划要杀害他，但最后决定把他卖给路过的商队。

当我们知道我们是属于主的，也知道祂为弱者伸冤，这的确能帮助我们面对困境而不放弃。带有盼望的故事。最终靠着神的恩典，良善会获胜。即使我们被诬陷、被不当对待，我们还是可以继续进行神给我们的工作，让神最后为我们平反。

10.凭信心求神的…

9&10…

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Leadership is one of the fundamental preoccupations of modern business and for good reason. It matters. Few subjects have been more written about in recent years than leadership. Good leadership is at the heart of every successful organisation. As kingdom entrepreneurs, we must look to the greatest of leaders as our role model. We must learn to lead like Jesus.
领导力成为现代商业的基本前提之一是有充分理由的。领导力很重要。近年来，鲜有其他不是领导力的话题被书写。良好的领导力是每个成功机构的核心。作为国度企业家，我们必须以最伟大的领袖为榜样。我们必须学习像耶稣那样领导。
Activity 活 动
Write down some of the words that come to mind when you think of business leadership.
写下当你想到企业领导力时脑海里浮现的一些词。
记 住 谁是老 板
祷 告
Teaching 教 导
If we are to lead a fruitful business ministry, we must cultivate a Christ-like approach to leadership. We suggest that the core characteristics of Jesus’ leadership are authority and service. Were these on your list? The people around Jesus recognised that He ‘taught as one who had authority and they ‘praised God, who had given such authority to man.’ The people recognised that Jesus acted with authority long before they understood his positional authority as the Son of God.
如果我们要领导一个富有成果的营商事工，我们必须培养一种像基督那样的领导方式。我们认为耶稣领导力的核心特征是权柄和服务。这些在你的清单上吗？耶稣周围的人认识到耶稣“教训他们正像有权柄的人”，他们“就归荣耀与神，因为祂将这样的权柄赐给人。”人们认识到耶稣做事有权柄，远在了解他因上帝独生子的地位而有的权柄之前。
Do you have authority? If so, what is it based on?
你有权柄吗？如果有，它基于什么？
Reflection 反 思
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’
耶稣进了迦百农，有一个百夫长进前来，求祂说：『主啊，我的仆人害瘫痪病，躺在家里，甚是疼苦。』耶稣说：『我去医治他。』百夫长回答说：『主啊，你到我舍下，我不敢当；只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好了。因为我在人的权下，也有兵在我以下；对这个说“去！”他就去；对那个说“来！”他就来；对我的仆人说：“你做这事！”他就去做。』耶稣听见就希奇，对跟从的人说：『我实在告诉你们，这么大的信心，就是在以色列中，我也没有遇见过。
Matthew马太福音8:5-10
Teaching 教 导
If Jesus’ authority was so important, we need to understand better. It helps to think about where authority comes from. Authority always flows from a higher authority. Even Jesus looked up. He had authority yet was Himself under the authority of His Father. The Centurion was commended by Jesus for recognising this. The passage illustrates how authority flows within a hierarchy. Authority always starts at the top where the buck stops. From there, it flows down the hierarchy. Being under authority means you operate with the authority of the one whose authority you are under. As Kingdom Entrepreneurs, we are leaders who are under the authority of Christ. We act with His authority.
如果耶稣的权柄如此重要，我们就要更好地了解它。这有助于思考权柄的来源。权柄总是来自更高的权柄。甚至耶稣也要向上看。他拥有权柄，但却把自己放在父神的权柄之下，他称赞百夫长看到了这一点。这段经文说明了权柄是如何在等级制度中流动的。权柄总是从承担全责的权力顶峰开始，从那里在等级制度中向下流动。在权柄之下意味着你运用对你有权柄之人的权柄来运作。作为国度企业家，我们是在基督权柄之下的领袖。我们以他的权柄行事。
What are the benefits of knowing that we are ourselves under the authority of Christ?
知道我们自己是在基督的权柄之下有什么益处？
Teaching 教 导
Too often in business, authority is based on positional leadership alone. It becomes ‘the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience over subordinates.’ Not so for the Kingdom Entrepreneur. This is because Christ-like leadership is characterised by both authority and the equally essential and complementary characteristic of service.
在商业领域，权柄常常完全基于职位。权柄成为“下达命令，做决定，并强制下属服从的权力或权利。”对于国度企业家来说，情况并非如此。这是因为基督般的领导力特征是即有权柄又有与之同等重要且互补的服事。
Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
耶稣叫了他们来，说：『你们知道外邦人有君王为主治理他们，有大臣操权管束他们。只是在你们中间不可这样；你们中间谁愿为大，就必作你们的用人；谁愿为首，就必作你们的仆人；正如人子来，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人；并且要舍命，作多人的赎价。』
Matthew马太福音20:25-28
Jesus turns the world’s pattern of leadership on its head. He modelled servant leadership and made this a clear priority for His disciples. If we are to become Christ-like leaders we too must model an attitude of service towards those who are under our authority. Great leaders are not better than others. They are just the ones willing to lay down their lives for others. This turns the normal understanding of authority upside down.
耶稣彻底改变了世界的领导力范式。他示范了仆人式领导，并清楚地把这作为门徒的首要任务。如果我们要成为像基督一样的领袖，我们也必须树立服事我们下属的态度。伟大的领导者并不是比其他人更好，他们只是愿意为他人付出自己生命的人。这就颠覆了人们通常对权柄的理解。
What might it look like when a business leader gives their life for their subordinates?
当商业领袖为下属付出自己的生命时，看起来会是怎样的？
Hierarchy 等级制度 Obedience 服从 Trust 信任 Faith 信仰
God上帝
Delegation 代表 Empowerment 赋权 Authority 权柄
The diagram above illustrates the flows in a hierarchy. Discuss where the word ‘service’ should go on the diagram.
上图显示了等级制度中的流动。讨论“服事”一词在图表上的位置。
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.
你们作仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。不要只在眼前事奉，像是讨人喜欢
的，要像基督的仆人，从心里遵行神的旨意。甘心事奉，好像服事主，不像服事人。因为晓得各人所行的善事，不论是为奴的，是自主的，都必按所行的得主的赏赐。你们作主人的，待仆人也是一理，不要威吓他们。因为知道，他们和你们同有一位主在天上；祂并不偏待人。
Ephesians以弗所书6:5-9
Discussion 讨 论
Reflect on the passage. Note that masters are called to treat their employees in the same way as the Lord does. List what is expected from masters.
反思这段经文。请注意，上帝要求做主人的用与上帝同样的方式对待仆人。请列出上帝对主人的期望。
The Bible makes it clear that both employees and their employers have a Master in heaven who will treat everyone
without favouritism. What would change in business if earthly masters behaved in this way and showed ‘no favouritism’?
圣经清楚地表明，雇员和他们的雇主同有一位不偏待人的主在天上。如果全地的主如此行事，祂不偏待人，那么我们经商的方式应该发生什么变化？
When we recognise that we are under the authority of Christ we will be able to model Christ-like servant leadership.
当我们认识到我们是在基督的权柄之下时，我们就能效法基督式的仆人领导力。
The goal of every ministry is to bear fruit. Not just any old fruit, but spiritual fruit that will last. This can only be achieved in God’s way, through spiritual means. We must seek to ensure the activities of our business bear spiritual fruit.
每个事工的目标都是结果子，而且不是什么破旧的果子，是历久不衰的属灵的果子。而这只能通过属灵的方法达到。我们必须努力确保我们的商业活动结属灵的果子。
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’
我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。
‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’
不是你们拣选了我，是我拣选了你们，并且分派你们去结果子，叫你们的果子常存，使你们奉我的名，无论向父求什么，祂就赐给你们。
John约翰福音15:5,John约翰福音15:16
Jesus makes it clear that he has appointed us to bear much fruit. It is empowering to know that this is God’s desire for us. As the leader of a business ministry, we can confidently expect to bear spiritual fruit, in and through the activities of our business. It is
在基督 里
essential, however, that we remember how this is achieved. We must learn to operate ‘in Christ’.
耶稣清楚地表明他委派我们多结果子。知道这是神对我们的期望带给我们力量。作为营商事工的领袖，我们可以充满信心地期待通过我们从事的商业活动结属灵的果子。然而，至关重要的是，我们必须记住怎样才能实现这一目标。我们必须学会“在基督里”运作。
Discussion 讨 论
Jesus tells us that we can ‘do nothing’ apart from Him. Why can’t a Kingdom Entrepreneur bear fruit apart from Jesus?
耶稣告诉我们，离了祂，我们就不能做什么。为什么国度企业家离了耶稣就不能做什么？
What does this tell us about the kind of fruit we are to bear?
这告诉我们，我们要结的果子是那种果子？
Teaching 教 导
Jesus goes on to set out why we are to bear fruit.
耶稣继续阐明为什么我们要结果子。
We are called to bear fruit for the Father’s glory. We do this by  showing ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples. Business as a ministry is all about the spiritual fruit that occurs when Kingdom Entrepreneurs confidently and publicly live as visible disciples of Jesus. The BizMin Course seeks to set out what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the business context. When we learn how to do this we will have become the leaders of a fruitful Christian ministry. We can rejoice in knowing that it will bring glory to God.
我们被呼召为着天父的荣耀结果子。我们通过表明自己是耶稣的门徒来结果子。营商事工的一切都是为了结属灵的果子，当国度企业家充满信心并公开可见地做耶稣的门徒时，就会结属灵的果子。BizMin 课程就是要阐明在经商环境中，做耶稣的门徒意味着什么。当我们学习如何这样做，我们都将成为富有成果的基督教事工的领袖。知道这将荣耀上帝，我们就欢喜雀跃。
We must never forget that Jesus is the source of our fruitfulness and that it is for the Father’s glory, not our own.
Reflect on the following account of a kings downfall.
我们永远不要忘记，耶稣是我们结果子的源泉，而结果子是为了天父的荣耀，而不是我们自己的荣耀。反思以下关于一个国王垮台的记述。
‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’
你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。

John 约翰福音 15:8,Daniel但以理书4:28-33a
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass
by for you until you acknowledge that the Highest is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
这事都临到尼布甲尼撒王。过了十二个月，他游行在巴比伦王宫里（原文是上）。他说：『这大巴比伦不是我用大能大力建为京都，要显我威严的荣耀吗？』这话在王口中尚未说完，有声音从天降下，说：『尼布甲尼撒王啊，有话对你说，你的国位离开你了。你必被赶出离开世人，与野地的兽同居，吃草如牛，且要经过七期。等你知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁。』当时这话就应验在尼布甲尼撒的身上。
Who did the king think was behind his achievements and who’s benefit and glory were they for?
尼布甲尼撒王认为谁是他成就的源泉，这些成就是为了谁的利益和荣耀？
Discussion 讨 论
How might a Kingdom Entrepreneur ensure that they and their company avoid the king’s mistake and remain ‘in Christ’?
国度企业家如何确保自己以及自己的公司不犯尼布甲尼撒王的错误，确保自己“在基督里”？
If we are to bear spiritual fruit we must remain in Christ.
我们若要结出属灵的果子，就必须在基督里。
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
都是照祂自己所预定的美意，叫我们知道祂旨意的奥秘，要照所安排的，在日期满足的时候，使天上、地上、一切所有的都在基督里面同归于一。
Ephesians1:9-10以弗所书
This passage sets out that God’s purpose is ‘to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.’ This is the primary objective of any Christian ministry and must involve bringing all aspects of our business under Christ. The book of Ephesians sets out how this goal is achieved in chapters 4, 5 and 6.
这段经文指出，上帝的旨意是“使天上、地上、一切所有的都在基督里面同归于一。”这是所有基督教事工的主要目标，而且必须包括将我们业务的各个方面都归于基督之下。以弗所书在第 4、5 和 6 章中阐述了如何实现这一目标。
The diagram opposite illustrates the process. At the centre is the church and those called to ‘equip the saints for works of service.’ With the support of our church, we are required to progressively bring all areas of our lives under Christ. First and foremost, our own lives are to be brought under Christ through personal discipleship. Secondly, we are to bring our family and homes under Christ. Next, we are to be disciplined as workers, serving the Lord wholeheartedly. The master, the employer or Kingdom Entrepreneur is the final step in the process. It is here,
in the hands of leaders, that all things on earth might be brought under Christ.
下图说明了这一过程。中心是教会和那些被呼召“为要装备圣徒，去承担圣工”的人。在教会的支持下，我们被要求逐步地将我们生活的各个领域都归于基督之下。首先要通过个人的门徒训练把自己的生命归于基督之下。第二，要把我们的家庭和家族归于基督之下。然后，我们要成为做工的门徒，全心全意地事奉主。主人，雇主或国度企业家是这个过程的最后一步。正是在这一步，在领导者的手中，地上的万物才可以被带到基督里。
When your business is brought under Christ you will have done your bit to bring unity to all things on earth. This is BizMin’s
Teaching 教 导
goal. We want to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to play their part in bringing all things under Christ. That includes your business. We believe this is one of the key reasons why God is calling and equipping a new generation of Kingdom Entrepreneurs. It is a key part of what He purposed in Christ.
当你的企业被带领归于基督时，你就为地上万物的合一尽了自己的那份力量。这就是 BizMin 的目标。我们想装备国度企业家去发挥自己的作用，将万物归于基督。这其中包括你的企业。我们相信这是上帝呼召和装备新一代国度企业家的关键原因之一。这是祂在基督里对我们的旨意的一个关键部分。
At the centre of this process is the local church. Has your church equipped you for ‘works of service’ in the world of work? Discuss what your church could do to better support believers in the workplace.
Discussion 讨 论
教会 属灵前线的扩展 ,我的家庭,我的生意,我的生活
这个过程的中心是本地的教会。你的教会有没有装备你在工作中“去承担圣工”？讨论你的教会可以做什么以更好地支持职场的信徒。
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
我还有末了的话：你们要靠着主，倚赖祂的大能大力作刚强的人。要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。因
我们并不是与属血气的争战（原文是摔跤；下同），乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。所以，要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。
Ephesians以弗所书6:10-13
It is at this point that the book of Ephesians turns to the spiritual battle. A Kingdom Business is a front-line in the battle for the Kingdom of God. It is essential that we recognise this. Bringing every aspect of our business under Christ will be a spiritual battle. This battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. It will not be won through anything other than the authority of Christ. It is by remaining
Teaching 教 导
in Him and standing in His authority that this battle will be won. First in our own lives, then in our homes and finally in our workplace. As this occurs in our business, we will see it transformed into a fruitful ministry.
正是在这一点上，以弗所书转向了属灵的战争。在为上帝国度征战的这场战争中，国度企业是最前线。我们必须意识到这一点。把我们企业的各个方面归入基督将是一场属灵的战争。这场战争不是与血气和肉身争战，而是与黑暗的属灵势力争战。除非凭着基督的权柄，否则怎么都不会赢。只有靠着在主里面并凭着主的权柄站立，才能赢得这场战争。首先是在我们自己的生命里，然后是在我们的家庭中，最后是在我们的工作场所。当这发生在我们的企业中时，我们就会看着它变成一个富有成果的事工。

Without evidence of a spiritual battle, we may need to consider whether we are really striving to achieve spiritual fruit. Is your experience of business a spiritual battle?
如果没有属灵战争的确据，我们可能需要思考我们是否真的在努力取得属灵的果子。你的经商经历是一场属灵战争吗？
Think of an example of where you have taken a stand over a situation in your business. Write down the testimony of how you were successful.
举个例子说明针对经商中的某种情形你坚持了立场。写下你如何获胜的见证。
Reflection 反 思
What was the role of prayer in this process?
祷告在这个过程中起了什么作用？
How often do you pray for your business?
你多久为你的生意祷告一次？
Never All the time Business is at the front-line of the spiritual battle for the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to take a stand and, when everything is done, to still be
Discussion 讨 论
从来没有 一直祷告
standing. The good news is that we do not need to fight in our own strength. Remember, we are in Christ and can do nothing apart from Him. Any spiritual fruit we bear is a product of grace and most often the result of prayer.
商业是为了上帝国度的属灵战争之最前线。我们的目标是装备国度企业家采取立场，并在一切完成后仍然保持立场。好消息是我们不需要以自己的力量来战斗。记住，我们在基督里，离了他我们什么也做不了。任何我们所结的属灵果子都是恩典的产物，常常是祷告的结果。
The Kingdom of God will advance as our business is brought under Christ. This is a spiritual battle, won by grace.
当我们的企业被带领归于基督，上帝的国度就会拓展。这是一场属灵的战争，将靠着恩典得胜
In section 9.2 we identified that all of this is ‘for the Father’s glory’. In a Kingdom Business, it is God who should receive both the praise and the glory. When you succeed, who receives the praise? Is it you, your colleagues or God? If it is you, that is not surprising. You are the boss, and the boss is often the For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。
Ephesians以弗所书2:8-9. 为 着赞美祂的荣耀
教 导
the figurehead for the team’s success. If it is your colleagues, that is impressive. It is not easy to let others have the limelight. Hopefully, you are one of the first to sing your team’s praises when they do well. It is much harder, however, for our success to result in God getting the glory.
在 9.2 节中我们指出所有这一切都是“为了父的荣耀”。在国度企业中，上帝才是应该接受赞美和荣耀的那位。当你成功时，谁会受到赞美？是你，你的同事还是上帝？如果是你，这并不奇怪。你是老板，而老板通常是团队成功的象征。如果是你的同事，那真是令人瞩目。让他人在聚光灯下并不容易。在你的团队表现出色时，希望你是第一个赞扬他们的人。然而，要使我们成功让上帝得荣耀则要困难得多。
Discussion 讨 论
How are we to ensure that God gets the glory through our business success? Reflect on the power of testimony.
我们如何确保上帝通过我们的商业成功而获得荣耀？反思见证的力量。
If we don’t regularly praise and thank God for what He is doing in and through our business, who else will! Has your business success been for ‘the praise of His glory?
如果我们不经常赞美和感谢上帝在我们的企业中以及通过我们的企业所做的事，还会有谁赞美呢？！你企业的成功是否是为了“赞美祂的荣耀”呢？
If we are to transform our business into a fruitful ministry, it must be for the praise of His Glory.
如果我们要把我们的企业变为富有成果的事工，就必须是为了赞美祂的荣耀
Close the session with a short time of prayer. Ask God to equip you to take a stand and bring every aspect of your business under the authority of Christ.
短暂祷告后结束会议。祈求上帝装备你，让你站出来引领你企业的各个方面都归于基督的权柄之下。

10.BizMin-Course
When you commit to doing business as a ministry and are equipped to do business God’s way, we hope that your mind will turn to how your personal transformation might affect the culture of your company. At the very least, you will want to ensure that your company is a place where a Biblical approach to business is able to flourish and prosper. Importantly, this is about more than you. It is about more than being a better Christian at work. In addition to transforming the way you do business, it is about redeeming the culture of your company, which is the way you and your company do business.
当你致力于做营商事工并且装备好以上帝的方式经商，我们希望你的思想将转向如何通过你个人的转变来影响你公司的文化。最起码，你要确保你的公司能成为按圣经原则开展业务的做法可以蓬勃发展的地方。重要的是，这不仅仅只涉及你，不仅仅只涉及你在工作中成为一个更好的基督徒。这除了改变你的经商方式之外，还涉及到挽回你公司的文化，也就是你和你的公司经商的方式。
Your business is a separate legal entity with an identity, values and a culture of its own. This culture will determine how the company functions, how it is perceived and ultimately what kind of fruit it achieves in the world. Doing business as a ministry is about cultural transformation. It is this that ensures your
祷 告,教 导,更 新公司文化
company will bear spiritual fruit that will last, even when your leadership ends.
你的企业是一个独立的法律实体，具有自己的形象、价值和文化。这种文化将决定你公司的运作方式、人们对它的看法以及它在世上最终能取得什么样的成果。营商事工是关于文化的转变。只有文化的更新才能确保公司结出持久的属灵果子，甚至在你对公司的领导结束之后。
Both you and your business are called to play a part in the ministry of business. Your business needs you to mould and lead it, changing its culture from the inside. If you are successful in this task, your business will become a context that helps nurture and sustain your own walk and witness. As importantly, it will also help to transform the lives of those around you, including your colleagues, customers and even your competitors. Finally, it will help to sustain your business as a Kingdom Business long after you have gone.
你和你的企业都被呼召在营商事工中发挥应有的作用。你的企业需要你去塑造和领导，从内部改变它的文化。如果你成功完成这个任务，你的企业将成为有助于养育和维持你自己的工作和见证的环境。同样重要的是，它还有助于改变你周围的人的生活，包括你的同事，客户甚至竞争对手。最后，它还将在你离开公司很长时间之后，保持企业仍是属神国度的企业。
At BizMin we are seeking Kingdom Entrepreneurs who will make their business their ministry. A key responsibility of the Kingdom Entrepreneur is to embed a Biblical way of doing business in their company. This is the pursuit of what we call a Kingdom Culture Company.
在 BizMin，我们寻找会将经商当成他们事工的国度企业家。国度企业家的一个主要责任就是在他们的公司中植入符合圣经原则的经商方式。这就是对所谓的国度文化公司的追求。
The diagram below illustrates how you’re personal transformation can ultimately establish and sustain a Kingdom
culture in your company, such that it bears spiritual fruit and becomes resilient enough to outlast the company’s Christian founders. This is BizMin’s goal.
下图说明了你个人的改变如何可以最终在你的公司建立和维持一种国度文化，从而使它结属灵的果子，并有足够强大的生命力，对公司的影响比其基督徒创始人更持久。这就是 BizMin 的目标。
Reflection 反 思
Look at the diagram and mark where you and your company are on this journey, from Kingdom Entrepreneur to Kingdom Culture Company. In order to sustain this transformation in your own life and embed this in your company, it is helpful to regularly audit how you are doing. This is why we have created the BizMin Audit.
建立,You adopt it你采用它 你建立它，别人采用它 your company 它成为你公司的经营方式
时间,国度企业家 国度文化企业
Reinforce, celebrate & embed it in your culture
强化、赞美并将其融入公司的文化查看上图并标出你和你的公司在从国度企业家到国度文化公司这一旅途中的位置。为了在你自己的生活中维持这种转变，并将其植入你的公司，定期审核你做的怎样将很有帮助。这就是
为什么我们创建了 BizMin 审核。
Look back to the activity on Session 1.1 page 10 which explored the difference between the culture of business and the character of God and His Kingdom.
回顾第 1 课第 1 节“活动”标题下的内容，其中探讨了商业文化与上帝及其国度的品格之间的区别。
A Kingdom culture is often contrary to the prevailing business culture. We must actively swim against the tide if we are to see business transformed into a fruitful ministry and become part of a great move of God.
国度文化通常与盛行的商业文化背道而驰。如果我们想要将企业转变成富有成果的事工，并成为上帝伟大行动的一部分，就必须积极地逆流而上。
Reflection 反 思
Are you increasingly confident to swim against the tide of prevailing business culture and model a Kingdom Culture in your company?
活 动
商 业 更 新 (第 1 课) BizMin 回 顾 审 核
你是否越来越有信心对与盛行的商业文化逆流而上，并在你的公司中树立国度文化？
Is there evidence that this is influencing the behaviour of others?
是否有证据表明这正在影响他人的行为？
Pledge 1 – I recognise that business needs transformation through a great
move of God and I will seek to play my part.
誓言 1 – 我认识到商业需要通过上帝的伟大行动来更新，我将努力在其中尽我的一份力量。
Joseph was spiritually gifted for business. Once he had learnt the essential ingredient of success and walked through the gateway of humility, his spiritual gifts were able to bear much fruit and achieve the primary purpose for which they were intended. Joseph demonstrated how God can achieve His purposes through gifted business leaders.
约瑟有经商的属灵天赋。一旦他了解了成功的基本要素并走过谦卑之门，他的属灵恩赐就可以结出很多果子，并实现其初衷。约瑟展示了上帝如何通过有天赋的商业领袖来实现祂的目的。
Teaching 教 导
Gifted for a Purpose (Session 2) 有 目 的 的 恩 赐 (第 2 课)
1. Activity 活 动
The record below your abilities/ gifts and God’s purpose for your company as recorded in Session 2.1 page 23 and Session 2.4 page 35.
在下面列出你在第 2 课第 1 节和第 2 课第 4 节写下的你的才能/天赋和上帝对你公司的目的。
Your abilities/ gifts 你的才能/天赋 God’s purpose 上帝的目的

Pledge 2 – I humbly acknowledge that it is God who has gifted me for His purposes.
誓言 2 – 我谦卑地承认，我的天赋是上帝为了祂的目的赐给我的。
天赋,谦卑之门,目的
1. God has a call on your life and has prepared you for ‘good work’. In Session 3, you established whether or not that was acall to a business. We believe God is calling a new generation of Christian Entrepreneurs to do business as ministry. We hope you feel equipped to press on and take up that calling.
上帝对你的一生有个呼召，并预备你做“善工”。在第 3 课中，你已经确定了这呼召是否是经商。我们相信上帝正在呼召新一代的基督徒企业家将经商当成事工。我们希望你觉得装备好了继续前行，接收这个呼召。
Reflection 反 思
Are you called to do business as ministry?
你被呼召将经商作为你的事工吗？
Are you prepared to do business as ministry?
你准备好了将经商作为事工吗？
上帝预备好的善工 , 上帝预备你 你做善工
Called to Business (Session 3) 被 呼 召 经 商 (第 3 课)
Are you committed to doing business as a ministry?
你致力于把经商作为事工吗？
Pledge 3 – I will take up the call to do business as a ministry.
誓言 3 – 我将接受把经商作为事工的呼召。
At the core of BizMin is the idea that business should be transformed into a fruitful ministry. Our core belief is; if it is your business, it is also your ministry. A complete Christian ministry will ‘carry forth Christ’s mission in the world’ through a spirituality that balances Deed, Word and Spirit.
BizMin 的核心思想是将业务转变为富有成果的事工。 我们的核心信念是； 如果是你的业务，那也是你的事工。 完整的基督徒事工将通过一种平衡循环，即圣经的话语、精神的灵性（圣灵）和行为来“执行基督在世界上的使命”。
圣灵,神的话 行为 ,事工
A Complete Ministry (Session 4) 全 备 的 事 工 ( 第 4 课 )
Do you have examples of how you and your company are doing ministry in each area?
你能举例说明你和你的公司在各个领域都在做事工吗？
Deed 行为
Word 话语
Spirit 圣灵
How might you and your company take practical steps to become a more complete ministry?
你和你的公司将如何采取切实可行的步骤来达成更全备的事工？
Pledge 4 – I will make my business a complete ministry with equal emphasis on Deed, Word and Spirit.
誓言 4 – 我将使我的企业成为一个对行为、神的话和圣灵同等注重的全备的事工。
As Kingdom Entrepreneurs, we must balance work with care sothat our good works are sustainable. To do this successfully, we need to pursue a godly vision of prosperity.
Reflection 反 思
The Creation Mandate (Session 5) 被 造 的 使 命 (第 5 课)
做为国度企业家，我们必须在工作与看顾护理之间取得平衡，以使我们的善工可以持续。为了成功做到这一点，我们需要追求神眼中的富裕。
Reflection 反 思
Are you living within the moral limits of Biblical prosperity?
你是否生活在符合圣经富裕观的道德界限内？
Is your business trading off and promoting a way of life that is sustainable within the moral limits of Biblical prosperity?
你的企业是否是在符合圣经富裕观的道德界限内权衡并促进一种可持续的生活方式？
贫 穷 、欲 望、需 要符合圣经原则的富裕区间、知 足、富 裕 道德界限
Pledge 5 – I will sustain fruitfulness by pursuing a Biblical vision of prosperity that balances work with care.
誓言 5 – 我将通过追求保持工作与看顾护理之间平衡的、符合圣经原则的富裕观来持续结果子。
A Kingdom Business will demonstrate love for God, our business neighbours and ourselves.
国度企业将表现出对上帝、我们的商业邻居和我们自己的爱。
Activity 活 动
On the diagram below, mark how you and your company are currently expressing love. Join up the dots to reveal the current ‘shape’ of your company. Who is receiving the most love? Who might you need to love more?
在下图标记你和你的公司目前如何表达爱。把点连起来呈现你公司目前的“形状”。谁得到最多的爱？你可能需要爱谁更多？
The Great Commandment (Session 6) 大 诫 命 （第 6 课）
Pledge 6 – I will love God, my neighbours and myself, in and through my business.
誓言 6 – 我将通过我的商业经营来爱神，爱我的邻居和爱我自己。
A Kingdom Business will do good work that wins the respect of those with whom it works. It will model Christ and help both us and others to know Christ and become more Christ-like.
股东 客户
The Great Commission (Session 7) 大 使 命 （第 7 课）
国度企业将做好工作来赢得与之合作的人们的尊重。它将效仿基督，并帮助我们和其他人来认识基督并变得更像基督。
Are you modelling Christ at work?
你在工作中效法基督吗？
反 思、门徒训练过程、我们的工作、我们学习、我们应用、我们示范、我们作见证、其他人学习、其他人经历 上帝的工作、其他人相信、其他人作见证、上帝的方式
Pledge 7 – I will not be ashamed of the gospel and will respectfully model Christ at work.
誓言 7 – 我将不以福音为耻并在职场谦卑地效法基督。
If we are to prosper in business, we must master money. We must proactively pursue purpose before profit, adding value across multiple bottom lines. A generous spirit should underpin all that we do.
如果我们想要企业兴盛，就必须掌控金钱。我们必须积极主动地在追求赢利之前追求使命，在多个领域中增加价值。慷慨的精神应贯穿我们所做的一切。
Activity 活 动
On the diagram below, mark the impact you and your company is currently making in each area of value.
在下图标出你和你的公司目前在每个有价值的领域所产生的影响。
Profiting through Purpose (Session 8) 透 过 使 命 盈 利 （第 8 课）
and upheld Pledge 8 – I will profit through purpose and will be extravagantly
generous with all that I receive.
誓言 8 – 我将透过使命来盈利，并非常慷慨地对待我所得到的一切。
As Christ-like leaders, we must recognise our place in God’s hierarchy. We must remain both under Christ and in Christ. Out of this, we can serve others and prayerfully lead our companies in a spiritual battle that advances the front-line of the Kingdom 使用价值
A Fruitful Ministry (Session 9) 富 有 成 果 的 事 工 （第 9 课）
of God and, when we have done everything, stand. Then our ministry will bear spiritual fruit for the praise of His glory.
作为基督那样的领袖，我们必须认识到我们在上帝等级制度中的地位。我们必须保持既在基督之下又在基督里。由此，我们可以服务他人，并靠着祷告带领我们的企业打一场推进神国前线的属灵战争，在我们成就了一切之后，还能站立得住。这样，我们的事工就会因赞美神的荣耀而结出属灵的果子。
Are there any areas of your business that you are struggling to bring under the authority of Christ? Take a moment to pray into these issues, and stand.
在你的企业里，有没有一些领域你很难把它置于基督的权柄之下？花点时间为这些问题祷告。
我的生意、我的家庭、我的生活、属灵前线的扩展、我教会
Reflection 反 思
Pledge 9 – I will remain both in and under Christ, bearing spiritual fruit
for the praise of His glory.
誓言 9 – 我将保持在基督里和在基督的权柄之下，并为赞美祂的荣耀去结出属灵的果子。
Throughout this course, we have built a vision for how a business can become a fruitful ministry. We need to humbly recognise that the goal is not perfection but direction.
在这个课程中，我们为一个企业如何成为一个富有成果的事工建立了愿景。我们要谦卑地认识到我们的目的不是完美而是方向。
In ‘Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely identifies the dangers for those who set their love and pursuit of a vision of something above their love of the reality of that thing. He writes; ’He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.’ We might rephrase this as; those who love their dream of what a Kingdom Business could be more than they love their colleagues, customers and competitors will become a destroyer of their dream. We must guard against the pursuit of an idealistic vision for our business. This is a humble
venture rooted in grace. We do not believe it is necessary or even beneficial to make our ways ‘law’. Culture is ‘the way we do things around here’ rather than ‘the things you must do around here. A healthy culture has willing participants. All we can do in light of this is what has become our mantra at BizMin.
That is; press on to take hold.
教 导、竭 力 追 求
Dietrich Bonhoeffer 在《共同的生活》一书中明智地写到，那些将自己的爱和对事物愿景的追求置于对事物真实性的热爱之上的人所面临的危险。他写到：“那些热爱自己的社区梦想比热爱基督教社区本身更多的人，将成为基督教社区的毁灭者，即使他个人的意图可能是如此诚实，认真和无私。”我们可以把这段话改写为：那些热爱他们的国度企业之梦想比热爱他们的同事、客户和竞争对手更多的人，将成为他们自己梦想的破坏者。我们必须防止追求企业的理想化愿景。这是植根于恩典的谦卑的探险。我们不认为让自己的方法成为“法律”是有必要甚至有好处的。文化是“这是我们做事的方式”，而不是“这事你必须这样做”。健康的文化有自愿的参与者。鉴于此，我们所能做的就是成为 BizMin 口头禅的：竭力追求。
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider me yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
这不是说我已经得着了，已经完全了；我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的（或译：所要我得的）。弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。
Philippians腓立比书3.12-14
Pledge 10 – I will ‘press on to take hold of my ministry, upholding andrevisiting each of the BizMin pledges.
誓言 10 – 我将“竭力追求”我的事工，坚持并重温每堂 BizMin 课的誓言。
Take a moment to pray for one another. It is important to be commissioned into your new role as a Kingdom Entrepreneur.
花一点时间互相祷告。被委任到国度企业家的新角色是重要的。
Share your reflections on the course.
分享你对本课程的想法。
Write down your plans for the next month, the next year, the next 5 years and beyond.
写下下个月，明年，和未来 5 年及以后的计划。
委 任
Discussion 讨 论
Consider how you might stay connected with other Kingdom Entrepreneurs who can encourage you to press on and take hold…
考虑一下你如何与其他能鼓励你持之以恒的国度企业家保持联系

Close the session with a short time of prayer.
简短祷告后结束会议。

7&8.…

🔊 Listen to this company?”
他问福特：“福特公司的目标是什么？”
“To do as much as possible for everybody concerned,” responded Ford, “to make money and use it, to give employment, and send out the car where the people can use it and incidentally to make money business is a service, not a bonanza.”
“为每个相关的人尽可能多地做事，” 福特回答道，“赚钱并用它提供就业机会，制造汽车给人们使用…顺便赚些钱…，企业是为了服务，不是摇钱树。”
“Incidentally make money?” queried the attorney.
“顺便赚钱？”律师质问道。
“Yes, sir.”
“是的，先生。”
“But your controlling feature…is to employ a great army of men at high wages, to reduce the selling price of your car, so that a lot of people can buy it at a cheap price, and give everybody a car that wants one.”
“但是你的主要目的是…用高薪聘请许多工人，降低汽车的售价，
使许多人能以低价购买它，给每个想要汽车的人一辆。”
“If you give all that,” replied Ford, who must have felt that Stevenson had admirably stated his policies, “the money will fall into your hands; you can’t get out of it.”
“如果你努力这样做，”福特回答道，他肯定以为史蒂文森是以钦佩的心情陈述他的政策呢，“你就会赚钱，你不赚都不行。”
Henry Ford understood the utility of his business. When a business is a ministry, it delivers more than financial value. Its purpose is to deliver utility to society for the common good. It is therefore important to understand how your business is useful to society. This is its utility.
亨利·福特知道他的企业的功用。把做企业当成事工时，它所带来的不仅仅是经济价值，它的目的是为了社会的共同利益起作用。因此，了解你的企业对社会有什么用是很重要的。这就是它的功用。

What is the utility of your business?
你的企业的功用是什么？
A. A Kingdom Business should add value across multiple bottom lines. Listed below are a range of areas in which business can add value. Consider how your business is adding value in each of these areas. Mark on the scales the level to which your business is delivering value in each area.
国度企业应该在多个重要领域增加价值。下面列出了企业可以增加价值的一系列领域。思考你的企业如何在这每个领域中增加价值。在标尺上标出你的企业在每个领域所创造的价值的水平。
Reflection 思 考
Activity 活 动
Impact 影响力
This is a true overview of the value of your business. Overall, how profitable is your business?
这就是你的企业价值的真实概况。总体而言，你的企业盈利状况如何？
Ethical values are promoted and upheld 道德价值得以弘扬和维护
You make financial profit 你赢得财务利润
使用价值, 社会价值, 生态价值, 文化价值, 品牌价值, 精神价值,金融价值,
A Kingdom Business should profit across multiple bottom lines.
国度企业应该在多个重要领域盈利。

Is your business financially profitable?
你的企业在财务上是否有盈利？
Give examples of how your business uses its profit in the following areas:
举例说明你企业的利润如何使用在以下领域：盈 利的目的
活 动 % Examples 举例
Take a moment to reflect on the largest donation you have ever made.
花点时间回想一下你有史以来最大的一笔捐款。
T Warren Buffet reportedly pledged the largest single donation in history when he gave $37 Billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. After receiving the inaugural Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy he is quoted as saying:
Reflection 反 思
Teaching 教 导
开支, 保存, 分享, 播种,
据报道，历史上最大的一笔一次性捐款是沃伦·巴菲特向比尔和梅琳达·盖茨基金会捐赠的 370 亿美元。在福布斯 400 慈善终身成就奖的颁奖典礼上，他说：
Warren Buffet 沃伦·巴 菲特
“The truth is I have never given a penny away that had any utility to me,” Buffett told the 150-plus billionaires and near billionaires, who gathered at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room. “I am very grateful for this award, I accept this award. But I’d like to accept it not only for myself but for those millions of people who really give away money that’s important to them because they see somebody else where they think they can do more good.”
“事实上我从来没有捐出过对我有用的任何一分钱。”巴菲特告诉聚集在联合国代表餐厅的 150 多位亿万富翁和接近亿万富翁者。“我非常感谢这个奖，我接受这个奖。但我接受它不仅仅是为我自己，而是为那成千上万的因为看到别人而觉得自己可以做得更好的，捐出对他们很重要的金钱的人。”
Reflection 反 思
How much did your ‘largest donation’ really cost you?
你的“最大捐款”实际上让你付出了多少？
A Kingdom Business needs a mature attitude to the use of money. God challenges us to honour Him with our profit and steward our money wisely. He wants joyful givers who honour Him with their profits.
国度企业需要对金钱的使用有成熟的态度。上帝挑战我们用我们的盈利来荣耀祂，并明智地管理我们的金钱。祂想要的是用他们的盈利来荣耀祂的快乐捐献者。
‘Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty.
人岂可夺取神之物呢，你们竟夺取我的供物。你们却说：“我们在何事上夺取祢的供物呢？”就是你们在当纳的十分之一和当献的供物上。因你们通国的人都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上。万军之耶和华说：你们要将当纳的十分之一全然送入仓库，使我家有粮，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户，倾福与你们，甚至无处可容。万军之耶和华说：我必为你们斥责蝗虫（原文是吞噬者），不容它毁坏你们的土产。你们田间的葡萄树在未熟之先也不掉果子。万军之耶和华说：万国必称你们为有福的，因你们的地必成为喜乐之地。
Malachi玛拉基书3:8-12
What is God asking us to test Him in?
上帝要我们用什么考验祂？
Discussion 讨 论
What does God promise the three outcomes will be if we test Him in this? Reflect on how they directly address common business concerns.
如果我们在这方面考验祂，上帝应许哪三个结果？思考这三个应许是如何直接解决经商中常见的顾虑的。
What does the passage say is the long term outcome of this behaviour?
这段经文表明这种行为的长期结果是什么？
When a Kingdom Business tithes, it has the opportunity to channel significant amounts of money to good causes through what we call ‘Power Giving’. This is illustrated below.
当国度企业缴纳十一奉献，它就有机会通过被我们称为“有力的奉献”的方式，将大量资金用于善事。如下图所示。
Power Giving
Has your business made a commitment to ‘Power Giving’? Discuss how this approach might have a positive impact on both society and the ministries of the Church.
你的企业是否承诺过做“有力的奉献”？讨论这样做会对社会和教会的事工产生怎样的积极影响。

Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the passage in Malachi promises that those who honour God through these actions will be recognised as blessed and distinct, creating the foundation for a Christian witness both at home and abroad. Malachi 3:18 says; ‘And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.’ Ultimately, this approach to the use of profit brings a blessing to all nations, ‘until there is no more need’.
最后或许也是最重要的一点，玛拉基书的经文应许那些通过这样的行为尊崇上帝的人，将被人们视为有福和不同的人，为基督徒在本地和万国做见证奠定了基础。玛拉基书 3:18 说：“将善人和恶人，事奉神的和不事奉神的，分别出来。”最终，这种使用盈利的方法为万国带来祝福，“直到不再有需要”。
Teaching 教 导
有力的奉献, 我的企业, 我的家庭, 薪金, 捐赠 我的教会, 事工, 十一奉献, 捐赠,
‘You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”’
我这两只手常供给我和同人的需用，这是你们自己知道的。我凡事给你们作榜样，叫你们知道应当这样劳苦，扶助软弱的人，又当记念主耶稣的话，说：“施比受更为有福。”
Acts使徒行传20:34-35. Mark马可福音8:36
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？
To be effective in doing business as a ministry, the use of money must be right. It requires correct priorities. Above all, we must guard our souls. When we pursue good works and a God-given higher purpose before profit, we will achieve meaningful and lasting impact. The profits will likely follow. This approach and priority are essential if we are to do business as a ministry.
为了有效地将商业经营做为事工，金钱的使用必须正确，它需要正确的优先次序。首先，我们必须守护我们的灵魂。当我们把追求做善工和上帝赋予的更高的使命放在获利之先时，我们将取得有意义和持久的影响，而利润则可能随之而来。如果我们要将商业经营做为事工，这种做法和优先次序是必须的。
When we have mastered our attitude to the money we will be ready to pursue profit through purpose.
当我们掌握了我们对金钱的态度后，我们就准备好了
透过使命来盈利。
Close the session with a short time of prayer. Ask God to help you master money and help your company’s purpose so that it profits through good works.
短暂祷告后结束会议。祈求上帝帮助你掌控金钱，并赐使命给你的公司，使你的公司能透过做善工来盈利。