Publications

The following publications are available from the Theology of Work Project.

The Theology of Work Bible Commentary, June 2014

If you’ve ever wanted to know what the Bible says about work, this a great place to start. The Theology of Work Bible Commentary is a one-of-a-kind resource: a commentary that examines the entire Bible, exploring work-related topics. A team of 138 respected scholars, pastors and workplace Christians from 16 countries contributed to the commentary. Contributors include Dr. Haddon Robinson, Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Dr. Bruce Waltke, Dr. Alice Mathews, Bill Hendricks and Thomas L. Phillips. Subjects covered include calling and vocation, leadership, ethics, conflict, the meaning of work and the value of work. The commentary is currently available online for free at www.theologyofwork.org. The first volume of the print version will be released in October 2014. It is now available for pre-order at theologyofwork.christianbook.com 

The Bible and Your Work Study Series, October 2014

The following Theology of Work Project Bible studies are available for pre-order:

• Genesis 1-11 and Work
• Proverbs and Work
• Luke and Work
• James and Work
• Phillipians and Work

 Ebook: Calling: A Biblical Perspective, by William Messenger and Gordon Preece, 2013

Calling, or vocation, is the single most popular topic in the theology of work. When people ponder how their faith relates to their work, their first question is often, “What kind of work is God calling me to?” We spend more time at work—whether paid or unpaid— than any other waking activity. If God cares about our lives, he must care about our work, unless he intends to ignore the biggest part of our lives. Calling, therefore, is one of the most practical topics in the theology of work. If you understand God’s calling, it helps you live life more fully and follow Christ more ably every day of the week.

In Calling: A Biblical Perspective, we explore God’s call and guidance to various kinds of work. (We do not explore church and church-related work, as these have been covered extensively by others.) You can find God’s guidance by paying attention to the needs of the world, your gifts and skills, and your deepest or truest desires, brought together in the freedom of Christ. This exploration corrects the unfortunate tendency to regard ordinary work as unimportant to God and unworthy of his calling. But it would be equally wrong to elevate the importance of job or profession to a position of idolatry. Getting the right job does not bring salvation, or even happiness. Moreover, the true aim of work for the Christian is to serve the common good, not to advance his or her own interests. Over a lifetime, serving the common good comes far more from doing each day’s work to the best of your ability in Christ, than it does from finding the best job for yourself.