Resources

Katelyn Beaty, A Woman’s Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (2016). A terrific, empowering study, not just for women readers!

Jonathan Brooks, Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods (2018). Creating jobs is a big part of workplace discipleship. A Chicago example.

J. Daryl Charles, Our Secular Vocation: Rethinking the Church’s Calling to the Marketplace (2023). A meaty study drawing deeply from Scripture and two millennia of Catholic and Protestant thought. Challenging today’s churches to reform and renewal.

Judson E. “Buddy” Childress Jr., Navigating the Needle’s Eye: Forty Years of Ministry to Business and Professional People (2019). Terrific story of faith at work in Richmond VA.

Bryan J. Dik, Redeeming Work: A Guide to Discovering God’s Calling for Your Career (2020).

David W. Gill, Workplace Discipleship 101: A Primer (2020). An accessible review of twelve practical steps workers can take to follow Jesus in any workplace. Five ways to prepare. Five ways to be present. Two steps beyond the workplace.

Lee Hardy, The Fabric of this World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice, and the Design of Human Work (1990). The history and theology of work (Calvin, Luther, et al).

Matthew Kaemingk & Cory B. Willson, Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy ( 2020). Deep and broad biblical teaching on an essential connection, lost to most pastors and churches.

Timothy Keller & Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting our Work to God’s Work (2012). An excellent introduction to a biblical view of work by New York pastor, Tim Keller, and former Silicon Valley executive and long-time faith at work leader, Katherine Leary Alsdorf.

Kevin Lynch & Julius Walls, Jr., Mission, Inc.: The Practitioner’s Guide to Social Enterprise
(2009 ). Practical teaching with examples of starting small businesses.

Gilbert C. Meilander, ed., Working: Its Meaning and Its Limits (2000). Wonderful collection of essays from Scripture, history, ad contemporary writers.

David W. Miller, God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement (2007). A wonderful account (up through 2005 or so) even though, inevitably, parts of the bigger story are missing.

Wes Moore, The Work: My Search for a Life That Matters (2014). Recently elected Governor of Maryland but this is about his earlier vocational search.

Tom Nelson, Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work (2011). A great book on workplace discipleship and church from a pastor’s perspective. It led to the creation of the Made to Flourish organization.

Nancy J. Nordenson, Finding Livelihood: A Progress of Work and Leisure (2014). A beautiful, even poetic, personal reflection on important life questions.

Michaela O’Donnell, Make Work Matter (2021). A basic intro from the Executive Director of the DePree Center at Fuller Seminary.

Benjamin T. Quinn & Walter R. Strickland II, Every Waking Hour: An Introduction to Work and Vocation for Christians (2016). Very basic.

Svetlana Papazov, Church for Monday: Equipping Believers for Mission at Work (2019). A pastor who “gets it” and whose Real Life church uses its building for business incubation during the week.

Larry Peabody, God Loves Your Work: Discover Why He Sends You to Do What You Do (2022). An excellent introduction by a faith at work pioneer and leader.

John M. Perkins, Beyond Charity: The Christian Call to Community Development (1993). An older classic but no faith at work bibliography is complete without paying attention to the need for jobs, community development, justice and fairness.

Courtney Reissig, Glory in the Ordinary: Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God (2017). A great reflection on the unsalaried but utterly crucial and noble work of home-making.

Charles M. Sheldon, In His Steps: “What Would Jesus Do?” (1896). A classic old best-selling novel about what happens in the workplace and community if people take WWJD seriously.

Amy L. Sherman, Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good (2011). One of the best introductions to the nitty-gritty of workplace discipleship.

Doug Sherman & William Hendricks, Your Work Matters to God (1987). A true classic. One of the first books completely focused on a Christian view of work.

R. Paul Stevens, Aging Matters: Finding Your Calling for the Rest of Your Life (2016). A great book for workers in the “third third” of life.

Shundrawn Thomas, Discover Joy at Work (2019). A bank executive and investment manager gives wise advice on work and career. Limited Scripture references but deeply biblical wisdom, and practical examples.

Sebastian Traeger & Greg Gilbert, The Gospel At Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs (2018).

Gene Veith, God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life (2002). The focus is on calling (vocation) in work and beyond.

Miroslav Volf, Work in the Spirit: Toward A Theology of Work (1991). A fascinating, thoughtful approach that works more from the Holy Spirit than the Creator.

Randy White, editor, The Work of Our Hands: Faith-Rooted Approaches to Job Creation (2012). Not just theory but practice and lots of examples.

Ben Witherington, Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor (2011). A brief, readable, solid introduction to the theology of work and its practical implications.

Michael Barram, Missional Economics: Biblical Justice and Christian Formation (Eerdmans, 2018). A truly outstanding study of God’s mission from Creation through Redemption to Consummation. This is our philosophy of life and history and meaning.

Albert M. Erisman, The Accidental Executive: Lessons on Business, Fait, and Calling from the Life of Joseph (Hendrickson, 2015). An inspiring walk through the life of Joseph’s workplace lessons. A great example of what it means to seek God’s insight about work as we read Scripture.

Clinton W. McLemore, Street-Smart Ethics: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul (WJK, 2003). Most of this book is a set of workplace lessons from Proverbs.

Larry Peabody, Job-Shadowing Daniel: Walking the Talk at Work (Denver: Outskirts Press, 2010). Inviting Daniel to teach us about work.

R. Paul Stevens, Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture (Eerdmans, 2012).  A walk through the whole Bible looking at its workplace lessons.

Theology of Work Project, Theology of Work Bible Commentary (multiple volumes, 2015—). The product of a team studying the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation and crafting a commentary on the workplace lessons of Scripture. A wonderful resource.

David W. Gill, Becoming Good: Building Moral Character (2000). An introduction to the ethics of character and culture based on the Beatitudes and faith, hope, and love. These are the virtues and values that make us the salt of the earth and light of the world.

David W. Gill, Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles (2004). An introduction to the basic principles of Christian ethics based on the Love Commandments and the Ten Commandments. Ten words on life, freedom, justice, and love.

David W. Gill, It’s About Excellence: Building Ethically Healthy Organizations (2008/2011). A general market—but biblically based—study of organizational ethics. How does biblical ethics get “translated” and applied in a business and marketplace context?

Christopher J. H. Wright, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God (2004). An extraordinary exploration of biblical ethics by a leading scholar.

Edward D. Zinbarg, Faith, Morals, and Money: What the World’s Religions Tell Us About Ethics in the Marketplace (2001). In our global, diverse working world it is important to understand the values and ethics of our non-Christian colleagues and competitors.

Kenneth J. Barnes, Redeeming Capitalism (2018). An experienced business leader and theologian seeks (with help from the father of capitalism, Adam Smith) to rescue today’s capitalism from its deformation into naked profit-seeking. Bring back the virtues!

Albert M. Erisman, The ServiceMaster Story: Navigating Tension between People and Profit (2020).  A comprehensive history of the company founded and led for decades by basic Christian values and principles.

Dave Hataj, Good Work: How Blue Collar Business Can Change Lives, Communities, and the World (2020). An inspiring, instructive story from the long-time leader of Edgerton Gear in Wisconsin.

C. Neal Johnson, Business As Mission: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice (2009). Some writers reduce the value of business to making money for charity or as a “front” for evangelism. Not Johnson! This is a massive and solid introduction to all aspects of glorifying God in business.

Gisela H. Kreglinger, The Spirituality of Wine (2016). An extraordinary book not just for those in the wine industry (though they should all read it). Powerful, brilliant, extended insights from Scripture on grapes, vines, wine, and wine-making—and its importance not just for religious ritual but for feasting and discipleship.

Patrick Lencioni, The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business (2012). One of the best from a popular business writer and practicing Catholic.

Nikos Mourkogiannis, Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies (2006). Not specifically or overtly Christian but right on biblical target about this.

Laura Nash & Scotty McLennan, Church on Sunday, Work on Monday: The Challenge of Fusing Christian Values with Business Life (2001).  A careful analysis of the divide between church life and business life, two worlds that don’t often, deeply, or constructively interact. 

Tom Nelson, The Economics of Neighborly Love: Investing in Your Community’s Compassion and Capacity (2017). A workplace-awakened pastor reflects on the local economic values and strategies surrounding and impacted by our work.

Michael Novak, Business as a Calling: Work and the Examined Life (1996).  Novak is a strong Catholic theological voice for free enterprise with a moral conscience.

Michael Novak, Toward A Theology of the Corporation (1990). Some interesting insights.

C. William Pollard, The Soul of the Firm (1996). Legendary ServiceMaster CEO Bill Pollard’s account of the leadership principles and values of an exemplary company.

Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, & Brian Fikkert, Practicing the King’s Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give (2018). A wonderful, biblical philosophy of economics, business, and work.

Gene Sperling, Economic Dignity (2020). It’s not just about maximizing shareholder value.

Max Stackhouse, Dennis McCann, Shirley Roels, & Preston Williams, editors, On Moral Business: Classical & Contemporary Resources for Ethics in Economic Life (1995).  991 pages of readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, New Testament, philosophy, Catholicism and Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other traditions.

R. Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace (2006). A solid theology and spirituality for business ad marketplace.

Jeff Van Duzer, Why Business Matters to God (And What Still Needs to Be Fixed) (2010). An excellent attempt to see business through theological eyes by the former Dean of Seattle Pacific University’s School of Business.

Kenman Wong & Scott B. Rae, Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace (2011). A solid introduction to Christian faith and values in the for-profit business context.

Albert Borgmann, Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology (2003). One of our most insightful philosophers of technology describes our technological culture and shows how the Christian church could (and should) have a significant impact on it.

Heidi A. Campbell & Stephen Garner, Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture (2016). A basic introduction to the intersection of theology, technology, and media.

Greg Cootsona, Mere Science and Christian Faith: Bridging the Divide with Emerging Adults (2018).  Tackles some historic conflicts.

John Dyer, From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology (2011). Maybe the best brief and basic study of technology in a biblical perspective.

Craig M. Gay, Modern Technology & the Human Future: A Christian Appraisal (2018).

Carl Mitcham & Jim Grote, eds., Theology & Technology: Essays in Christian Analysis & Exegesis (1984). Recently reprinted, this is 500 pages of essays by Egbert Schuurman, Jacques Ellul, George Grant, and others. Classic and important.

Quentin J. Schultze, Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age (2002). The focus is on information and communication technologies.

Derek C. Schuurman, Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture, & Computer Technology (2013). How creation, fall, and redemption provide insight.

Felicia Wu Song, Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age (2021). A great essay on captivity to—and freedom from—our devices.

Raymond Downing, Death and Life in America: Biblical Healing and Biomedicine (2008). Downing was a physician with clinical and teaching experience in urban and rural settings in both the USA and Kenya. This is one of the best-ever explorations of biblical healing and disease, Western technological medicine, and folk healing traditions in non-Western cultures. All of Downing’s books are outstanding.

William F. May, The Physician’s Covenant: Images of the Healer in Medical Ethics (1983). Thoughtful reflections on the role of health care providers.

Judith Ann Shelly, Arlene B. Miller, & Kimberly H. Fenstermacher, Called to Care: A Christian Vision for Nursing (2021). Maybe the best comprehensive introduction.

Michael P. Schutt, Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession (2007). An excellent introduction to the integration of theology and the legal profession.

 Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2014). The personal and professional saga of an attorney advocate for justice with mercy.

Sho Baraka, He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life in a Broken World  (2021). Hip-hop artist and Christian social commentator provides solid theology of work and describes his pilgrimage integrating faith with music.

Jeremy S. Begbie, Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music (2007).  Begbie is a musician and musicologist on the faculty at Duke. This and his several other books on theology and music are outstanding.

William A. Dyrness, Visual Faith: Art, Theology, & Worship in Dialogue (2001). A great study of the history, theology, and contemporary terrain.

Makoto Fujimura, Art + Faith: A Theology of Making (2020). One of today’s most influential artists and thinkers.

Robert Gelinas, Finding the Groove: Composing a Jazz-Shaped Faith (2009). A fascinating integration of theology and jazz music. 

Todd E. Johnson & Dale Savidge, Performing the Sacred: Theology & Theatre in Dialogue (2009). Great introduction.

Don E. Saliers, Music and Theology (2007).  Solid reflections.

W. David O. Taylor, editor, For the Beauty of the Church: Casting A Vision for the Arts (2010). A collection of essays on how faith and the various arts relate.

 Steve Turner, An Illustrated History of Gospel (2010). From its roots in slave spirituals to modern Gospel music. Superb. 

Denise Daniels & Shannon Vandewarker, Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work (Hendrickson, 2019).  A wonderful study of ways to work in awareness of the presence of God.  Prayer, meditation, and daily habits.

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Whitaker House, 1982). A wonderful little classic on a work-life in tune with God’s living presence.

Bill Peel & Walt Larimore, Workplace Grace: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work (LeTourneau, 2014).  The best book by far on sharing your faith in the workplace.

Dan B. Allender, Sabbath (2009). A wildly creative and inspiring invitation to a day like no other during the week.

Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now (2014). A slim but powerful biblical-theological case for Sabbath.

Marva Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting (1989). The best of many good studies of the biblical meaning of Sabbath and rest.

Shirl James Hoffman, Good Game: Christianity and the Culture of Sports (2010). Sports and play are important parts of life. Professional, organized, and spectator versions need not just fans and participants but a thoughtful critique.

Pang, Alex Soojung-Kim, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less (2016). A “secular” study by a previously workaholic Silicon Valley techie. Terrific research into the history, biography, and science of rest.