Resources for a Theology of Work​


​Purpose and Scope: ​

​A theology of work encourages a sense of vocation, whether one’s career is in ministry or not. This guide provides information on resources that apply theological principles of work to the 21st century.
 
​​The selected resources demonstrate the impact faith has within the context of day-to-day work. Material is also included that can motivate and equip others to fulfill their God-given purpose within their work circumstances. ​

The resource guide will be helpful to ministry students, especially those enrolled in the class "Theology of Leadership, Vocation and Work." ​

Up to Date Subject Searches
on Topics of Interest:

Religious aspects of work
Religious aspects of business
Vocation

Open Access Resources:

Unlike electronic resources found through a subscription-based database, open access resources are freely accessible to everyone.
 Website-- https://www.theologyofwork.org/
TOW is an endeavor by over 60 partner organizations* to help Christians fulfill their God-given work purpose. Resources include video clips, devotionals, group Bible studies, bibliographies for further research, curriculum ideas, and more. The website also includes the electronic version of the Theology of Work Bible Commentary mentioned in this bibliography. 
 ​*The High Calling is an example of one of the 60 TOW project partner organizations.  Through their site,  "you'll discover a range of stories that help you think deeply about how your faith relates to your work and the culture you live in." Check out their videos through this link:
   Institute for Faith, Work & Economics Blog-- https://tifwe.org/
​The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) is a Christian organization that combines theological research and economics with practical resources to facilitate the integration of faith to the workplace and to empower stewardship of God-given talent. Subscribe to IFWE's daily blog or a weekly blog digest that highlights the website's featured articles, news, and podcasts.​
 
​Periodical-- https://cbfa-jbib.org​
The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business (JBIB) is an excellent source for scholarly, peer reviewed articles dealing with the theology of work. With a mission to ​link faith, business and scholarship a team of 37 reputable scholars promote "professional growth among Christian business academics and any others who see the Bible as important and relevant to business thinking and practice"(JBIB/about). The journal is produced by the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA).
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  Books 

About My Father's Business: Taking Your Faith to Work
​Regi Campbell, 2005
Campbell brings theory into practice for those who don't have a ministry degree but yearn to have eternal impact in the workplace. This motivational book offers practical, step-by-step mentoring on how to love and serve co-workers and God.  Campbell serves on the board of High Tech Ministries, is a successful businessman, and leader in his local church. 

Available through Amazon in Kindle, hardback or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: About My Father's Business
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection: BV4593 .C26 2005
Doing God's Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace
​R. Paul Stevens, 2006
Stevens has written several books on the subject of the theology of work. This particular title is a good choice for theoretical discussion. Each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading and a set of questions to ponder. As professor emeritus of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Stevens gives a scholarly perspective to the topic. 

Available through Amazon in Kindle or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Doing God's Business
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection: BT738.5 .S74 2006​
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work 
Timothy Keller & Katherine Leary Alsdorf, 2014
This bestselling book provides a sound biblical, practical and motivational base for the theology of work. It also lends a ministerial perspective for what a church can potentially achieve if it embraces the principle that one’s work matters to God.  

Available through Amazon in Kindle, hardback or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Every Good Endeavor
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection, BT738.5 .K35 2014 ​
Everyday Worship: Our Work, Heart and Jesus
​Trisha Wilkerson, 2013

​Wilkerson shows how the theology of work is applicable to women whether they are full time in the home or in the work force. She addresses attitudes that get in the way of worshiping God in one's work. Wilkerson is a biblical counselor and the wife of a minister. 

Available through Amazon in Kindle or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Everyday Worship
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection, BV4817 .W54 2013
 
Faith at Work:
Overcoming the Obstacles to Being Like Christ in the Workplace
Michael Zigarelli, 2000
Dr. Zigarelli, Professor of Leadership and Strategy at Messiah College, successfully brings together both sound theology and practical application.  Zigarelli uses Jesus' teachings in the Beatitudes as a model to overcome obstacles for being Christlike in the workplace. 
​
Available through Amazon in hardcover: Amazon Link
​Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Faith at Work
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection,  ​BT738.5 .Z545 2000
BONUS MATERIAL: The video clip below is based on an illustration given in Dr. Zigarelli's book, Faith at Work.
Faith in Leadership:
How Leaders Live out Their Faith in Their Work--And Why It Matters
Edited by Robert Banks & Kimberly Powell, 2000
Banks and Powell bring together 14 essays by leaders from a wide range of professional backgrounds. This book deals with classic theology of work topics (such as finding eternal purpose in your daily work) as well as unique themes such as vulnerability at work, and how shared power can be a faith builder. 

​Available through Amazon in hardback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Faith in Leadership
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection: BV4597.53.L43 F35 2000 ​​
Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job
Dennis W. Bakke, 2005
​What happens if a businessman applies the theology of work to an entire company? Bakke's inspirational story brings you through his personal experience of doing just that.  You can listen to a sample of the audio book through Amazon. The narration is done by the author.

​​Available through Amazon in Kindle, audio book, book, and CD: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Joy at Work 
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection: HD57.7 .B348 2005
Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul
​John Beckett, 2006
Beckett, a successful CEO, discourages the common attitude of surviving the work week to live for the weekend. He shows how integrating his Christian beliefs with work leads to finding fulfillment every day of the week. Originally written in 1998, but updated and expanded in 2006, this title is often cited by other authors writing on the topic of the theology of work. The expanded version includes a study guide.

Available through Amazon in Kindle, hardcover or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Loving Monday
Find 1st ed. at Crown College in the General Collection: HF5388 .B43 1998 
For Crown patrons, an ebook is also available: EBSCO ebook
Theology of Work Bible Commentary
​Edited by William Messenger, 2016
This one-volume print version of the TOW Project Theology of Work Bible Commentary expounds upon nearly 900 Bible passages from Genesis to Revelation that relate to work. The commentary is ecumenical in scope, with 58 contributors representing multiple denominations and academic institutions. 

Available through Christian Book Distributors: CBD link
​Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: TOW Bible Commentary
Find it at Crown College in the General Collection: BT738.5 .T456 2016 
Picture
Find the electronic version on the TOW site--Click on the image:
Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor
​Ben Witherington, 2011
As professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, Witherington writes with a sound biblical base. This work gives a thorough overview of the theology of work in an easy-to-read style.

Available through Amazon in Kindle, hardcover or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Work: A Kingdom Perspective
Find 1st ed. at Crown College in the General Collection: BT738.5 .W58 2011
Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work
​Miroslav Volf, 2001
Volf's scholarly book develops a theology of work that explores capitalist and socialist societies. Volf does not view man's work as vocation, but rather as cooperation with God. Volf is a professor of theology at Yale, and a member of the evangelical church of Croatia. 

​​Available through Amazon in Kindle, hardcover or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Work in the Spirit
​    
Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work
​Tom Nelson, 2011
Tom Nelson debunks the myth that only church ministry is sacred work. He convinces the reader that the work we do not only matters for today, but also for eternity.  Each chapter ends with a prayer and discussion questions making it a great book for small group studies. ​Nelson holds a DMin from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has been a pastor for over 20 years.

Available through Amazon in Kindle or paperback: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat: Work Matters
Find 1st ed. at Crown College in the General Collection: BV4593 .N45 2011​​
Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work
Denise Daniels, Shannon Vandewarker, 2019
The fusion of spiritual disciplines into the fiber of one's work day is practically examined through Daniels' and Vandewarker's book.
Daniels is a professor of management at Seattle Pacific University. Vandewarker  received her MDiv through Bethel Seminary. She designed an integrated discipleship program at Fuller Seminary combining practical exercises with theological studies.

Available through Amazon in Kindle or hardcover: Amazon link
Find it in your nearest library through Worldcat:
Working in the Presence of God
GLOSSARY
Theology:  The study of God or his nature as it pertains to a specific theme .
Bible commentary: A scholarly book written to help understand biblical passages.
Vocation: Basically one's career, but with a sense of calling.
Laity: Parishioners, or people who attend a church, but are not church staff.
Sacred:  Something that is seen as holy, or set apart, religious in nature.
Secular: Something that is seen as non-religious in nature