Is God’s Will Collaboration?

In John 17:21, Jesus said, "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

Before his crucifixion, this is what Jesus prayed for; this is what he deemed absolutely essential to the spread of the gospel, and what he asked for according to the will of the God the Father: unity within all believers.

Do you think that the body of Christ currently exudes such incredible oneness that there is no doubt the Almighty dwells among us? Friends, I think we have some work to do.

For years, I read John 17 and wondered where the collaboration and cooperation among believers was. Everywhere I looked, I found ministries and churches rivaling one another for attention, financial support, and recognition; I saw an attitude of individualism become pervasive among Christ-followers and lead to a culture of competition rather than cooperation. It was about this time, I asked God to show me what true unity and collaboration looked like among believers so that I could reproduce it, and I heard God say, "Jim, you show them!"

Since then, Martha and I have been working to demonstrate unity in all of our pursuits. From its inception, iWork4Him has been dedicated to unparalleled collaboration, strategic connection, and workplace transformation. It is all about the Faith and Work Movement and how God is showing up in everyday believers' workplaces. So, let me ask you, what are some ways to turn competition into collaboration in your workplace today?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

-           Lighten a coworker's load by offering to help with some of their tasks

-           Use your giftings/skillsets to go above and beyond your expected work duties

-           Consider forming a common goal for your team to move towards

-           Find good qualities in those you work with and tell them what you see

-           Look for ways to lift up and honor the work of those around you

-           Think of new ways to convey employee appreciation / staff recognition

-           Don't forget to say thank you to your coworkers/employees/bosses

For more ideas and encouragement about living your faith out at work, check out the brand new Awaken Podcast Network - one place with all the podcast voices of the Faith and Work Movement. It's easy to find a voice that will resonate with you as you seek out God's purpose for you in your work! If you prefer watching videos to listening to podcasts, head over to our YouTube Channel - one place where all our broadcasts/Interviews/short clips/short visits are captured as we seek out Christ-followers working with the Lord every day.

These are just two places where collaboration and cooperation are demonstrated in our work today; two places where you can get access to other people sharing from their heart about God's purpose for you in your work today.

Jim 

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Unity - finally

John 17:23 The Message (MSG) 20-23 I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they’ll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you’ve sent me and loved them In the same way you’ve loved me.

Jesus prayed the passage in John 17:20-23 out loud in front of a crowd. He was driving home a point. Unity among Christ Followers would demonstrate the reality of His presence in the world. Martha and I have made a marketplace observation, Christ Followers at work are unified in a common cause – to live out their faith in their work because Jesus changed them 100%.  It’s amazing that God chose the Marketplace to show unity, but Jesus prayed this for us almost 2000 years ago.  2000 years.  That is a long time. 

Present day, the Church is now unified as well. Since the Corona virus has torn down the walls of the Church and spread the Church all over the world, we are operating as one for the first time since Christianity overtook the Roman empire 1700 years ago.  What does this all mean to the Christ Following today?

It means that your workplace is your mission field and in that mission field, you and me may be the only Jesus our co-workers or employees may ever meet. Your workplace, however different it now looks, is a place of ministry and you have been called there. It’s not about the money or the prestige but it is about the people God has allowed you to be surrounded with each and every day – whether it is in person or on video conference.

Today, recognize the unity in the Church and see your part in it. Keep it going and see how a world can transform when it sees the reality of Jesus at work in your life and mine.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am often asked how I can possibly work with my spouse every day.  Well, in my world, I can’t imagine it any other way and I’m not alone.  Here’s a story of our friends from the West Coast that are running a business together as a married couple. 

I get up every morning and pray to the Lord to be the best of what He wants me to be for the day. 

~ Dre Truitt, Office Pride Franchise Owner

Is it possible to have a business with your spouse without blowing up the marriage?  Is it possible to have a shared vision, where you both hear from the Lord and get the same message about starting a business?  Is it possible to actually build and improve your family and marriage with starting and running a franchise?  It ALL sounds impossible to me, but some are actually living it.

Dre and Karie Truitt, one of a hundred and thirty-four franchisees in 24 states for Office Pride knew that God needed them to “be still”, so they could hear His call on their lives.  And now they are doing their business “God’s way”.  To listen to their interview on the iWork4Him PowerPod click HERE.

“The beauty of being a business owner is the ability to live by our priorities. God first, then marriage, then kids, then work.” 

~ Karie Truitt

Priorities.  I love how clear Karie Truitt’s priorities are. I bet her life (personal and professional) is a lot easier than most people’s, even other people of faith. Being clear on our priorities makes decision-making clear, quick and easy.

Have you ever thought about if you’re REALLY living your priorities?  Are they God-aligned?

When’s the last time you stopped and did an inventory of WHERE you’re spending your time? 

Where we spend our time is the surest barometer of where our heart and priorities lie. Webster’s defines priorities as something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives.  As Christ followers, we’re given our priorities by our Lord, not the world. But are we living like it?

Are YOU disciplining and prioritizing yourself, and your work, in God’s direction today? 

Jeremiah 29:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Words We Just Don’t Use Any More: Parachurch

Since the beginning of the church, the Body of Christ has struggled with unity.

“I follow Paul”

“I follow Apollos”

“I follow Jesus”.

In the early church they struggled with division and taking sides, and many still struggle today.

Until now. Inside the religious institution of the 4 walls church, there are 45,000 denominations worldwide. 45,000! How does that match up with John 17:20-23? Jesus wanted us to move towards complete unity. This unity hasn’t happened, until now. No longer are there “churches” and “para church ministries”, those are diving words. Everywhere the body of Christ is scattered around the globe, it is THE Church. It is free from division and making an impact.

How do I know…Martha and I have been experiencing it.

Since 2006 I have been studying the Faith and Work Movement and for the past 6 ½ years we have been the Media mouthpiece for it. So much time invested in highlighting what God is doing in the workplaces of our country.

What have we seen?

When the Body of Christ is outside the 4 walls church the body of Christ is unified in reaching the workplaces of this country. There are over 3000 Faith and Work Ministries in this country and all of them are unified with the sole task of discipling Christ Followers to live out their faith in their work. Not one person is in charge of this movement. The Holy Spirit is in charge and He is raising up men and women from every occupation to speak Truth into work and redeem work from the enemy. Work was God’s idea and He is out to transform the workplaces of our country.

So let’s not bring division into the Body of Christ. Stop thinking there is a little “c” church or parachurch, we are THE Church and it was Jesus’ idea.

Have fun in your mission field this week.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

It’s Just Not Funny Anymore

It used to be funny when the people our culture complained about the most were the Christians. Now when Christians are being blamed for all the ills in society, it’s just not funny anymore. People following Jesus, us, were supposed to be the solution to the problem, not the causes of problems.

Jesus said in John 17:20-23 (NLT)

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

Jesus prayed for us, you and me.

We are the ones who believe the disciples message. He prayed we would be one (unified).

The other day, a listener called into the show to say that he feels alienated as a believer in his office because of his political views. The “Christians” in the office were bickering over politics instead of being unified for the sake of the LOST.

Enough of the stupid. We all follow Jesus. Let’s find commonality with those who also claim to follow Jesus in your workplace. Forget about your differences and focus on your UNITY for the sake of eternity.

I don’t believe Jesus would have been a registered party member in this country. He was not a politician, He was our Savior. So often we confuse our politicians with our Savior.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!