This weekend Bible Society NSW and the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (MCSI) will jointly launch Going to Work with God, the first in a ground-breaking series of Bible studies on the subject of work.
Author Robert Banks is a Senior Research and Development Fellow at MCSI.
His award-winning biblical, theological and practical writings cover a wide field, with a special interest in the relationship between faith and work.
Co-author Linda Banks has a background in Teaching and Christian Education, and was also a staff worker for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
Going to Work with God is the first of a planned series called The Bible@Work and emerges out of a shared concern by the Bible Society NSW and MCSI to show that today's perceived gap between faith and work was bridged in the Bible and can be bridged again.
"We're often led to think that "real ministry' is only conducted by "paid, full-time professionals' who lead the church and the contribution from Christians therefore is to provide funds for the "professionals'," says Rev Daniel Willis, Bible Society NSW CEO, who will launch the book.
“The burning question for Christians should be: "How can my life count for the glory of God in my secular vocation?'” he says.
“This book and others in the series will help Christians in secular employment see that God has called them to be his ambassadors where they spend the majority of their waking hours.”
George Savvides, Medibank Private CEO says the book highlights the truth that the expression of a Christian’s faith was never meant to be divorced from the world of work.
“The Bible@Work study series opens our eyes to the vineyard we have been called to work in where faith and work are not separated,” Mr Savvides says.
Dr Brian Rosner, Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Ethics at Moore Theological College, Sydney, who has also read the studies agrees.
“Too often we think we work just to earn money and have a circle of non-Christian friends to witness to. Going to work with God offers a fuller and more biblical account of the place of work in God's world.”
“Beginning with God the Worker, these interactive studies are a rich and fascinating resource for anyone who wants to think theologically and practically about how to please God at work,” Dr Rosner says.
Going to Work with God will be officially launched at St Stephen's Anglican Church Hall, Mowbray Rd, Willoughby at 6pm on Sunday, August 21st.
Following the launch, Dr Michael Schluter of The Relationships Foundation, Cambridge UK, will speak on Juggling Work and Family.
St Stephen's regularly holds Marketplace Connection meetings on faith and work issues led by MCSI Director Gordon Preece at 6 pm on the second Sunday of the month.
