Welcome to this web-resource. It is offered to you in order to supplement the content in our Foundations Court in Old Testament for business and management students. It offers links to relevant resources that go with each of the chapters in ‘Understanding the Old Testament.’ We trust that you will benefit from the linked materials.
Chapter 1: Getting Our Bearings
The Theology of Work Project is great resource on matters of work and vocation. Excellent materials are posted on the Project’s website at http://www.theologyofwork.org/
This website will be the primary source of our supplementary web content in this course.
The theology of work as it appears in Genesis 1-11 is discussed here: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-1-11-and-work
Chapter 2: Forming the Biblical World View
This week we will continue to explore the implications for work as established in the first chapters of Genesis.
For an excellent article about the Christian theology of vocation and God’s call for people to work click here: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/vocation-overview-article/
For an article concerning the dominion of God in the world and the implications of that dominion for work click here http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-1-11-and-work/god-creates-and-equips-people-to-work-genesis-126-225/dominion/
Chapter 3: Promise and Deliverance
One of the major themes in this chapter is the importance of planning and patience in the history of the patriarchs. Another theme is the importance of a solid foundation in terms of founding leadership.
Here is an excellent piece on the importance of planning that compares and contrasts Abraham with his contemporaries: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-12-50-and-work/abraham-genesis-121-2511/abrahams-faithfulness-contrasted-with-the-faithlessness-of-babel-genesis-12/
One important aspect of planning concerns finance. Here is a piece about taking a biblically informed approach to finance: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/finance/
Here is a piece about the recently departed founder of an American fast food restaurant chain called Chick-fil-a: http://www.cathyfamily.com/truett/about.aspx
Chapter 4: God Commanded Us a Law
The Theology of Work page offers a number of excellent articles based on different commandments. Here are three for you to sample:
Thou Shalt not have any other God’s before me: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/deuteronomy-and-work/gods-law-and-its-applications-deuteronomy-4442868/the-ten-commandments-deuteronomy-56-21/you-shall-have-no-other-gods-before-me-deut-57-ex-203/
Thou Shalt not Steal: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/deuteronomy-and-work/gods-law-and-its-applications-deuteronomy-4442868/the-ten-commandments-deuteronomy-56-21/you-shall-not-steal-deut-519-ex-2015/
Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/truth-deception/truthtelling-in-the-bible/truthtelling-is-the-norm-in-the-bible/
Chapter 5: Consummating the Covenant:
The Theology of Work Webpage features an excellent series on the prophet Joshua that can enhance your reading and life application of the material in Chapter 5.
Joshua and Conquest: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/joshua-judges-and-work/conquest-joshua-1-12/
Joshua and Coordination: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/joshua-judges-and-work/coordination-joshua-13-22/
Joshua and Covenant: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/joshua-judges-and-work/covenant-joshua-23-24/
Chapter 6: Leadership in Crisis
There are a number of thoughtful pieces on leadership on the Theology of Work site. Here are a few of them that are relevant to the content covered in Chapter 6. Please feel free to explore beyond the links referenced below!
The Leadership of the Judges: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/joshua-judges-and-work/chaos-judges-1-21/the-judges-judges-3-16/
On Choosing a King: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/from-tribal-confederation-to-monarchy-1-samuel/the-task-of-choosing-a-king-1-samuel-9-16/
Assessing David’s Reign: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/the-golden-age-of-the-monarchy-2-samuel-1-24-1-kings-1-11-1-chronicles-21-2/assessing-davids-reign-1-kings/
Chapter 7: The Messianic Kingdom
Chapter 7 continues with the practical theme of lessons in leadership. Here are some articles from the Theology of Work site discussing the same.
Assessing Solomon’s Golden Age: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/the-golden-age-of-the-monarchy-2-samuel-1-24-1-kings-1-11-1-chronicles-21-2/assessing-solomons-golden-age-1
Preparing for a Successor: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/the-golden-age-of-the-monarchy-2-samuel-1-24-1-kings-1-11-1-chronicles-21-2/preparing-for-a-successor-to-israels-throne-1-kings-1-1-chronicles-22/
One of the tragic tales of bad leadership in this chapter is the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Here is a treatment of that passage: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/from-failed-monarchies-to-exile-1-kings-11-2-kings-25-2-chronicles-10-36/ahab-and-jezebel-murder-naboth-to-get-his-property-1-kings-21/
At the core of Ahab’s wrongful act was the sin of covetousness. Here is an article from the theology of work on the prohibition against coveting: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/deuteronomy-and-work/gods-law-and-its-applications-deuteronomy-4442868/the-ten-commandments-deuteronomy-56-21/you-shall-not-covet-anything-that-belongs-to-your-neighbor-deut-521-ex-20/
Chapter 8: The Covenant Community Broken and Restored
The Theology of Work Site has a very instructive series based on the books of Ezra, Esther and Nehemiah: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/ezra-nehemiah-esther/introduction-to-ezra-nehemiah-esther/
Here are links to few of pieces in that series:
On good lending practices: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/ezra-nehemiah-esther/restoration-of-the-wall-of-jerusalem-nehemiah-11-773/connecting-lending-practices-to-the-fear-of-the-lord/
On how Esther managed to work effectively within a fallen system: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/ezra-nehemiah-esther/working-within-a-fallen-system-esther/
Chapter 9: The Prophet’s Word: A Two Edged Sword
Some time it can be difficult to speak the truth in the business environment.
The ‘Theology of Work’ Website offers an excellent series on the 12 minor prophets. Here is a link to the series: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/the-twelve-prophets/introduction-to-the-twelve-prophets/
Highlights from the series include:
Lessons emphasising the importance of justice and work from Amos, Hosea, Micah: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/the-twelve-prophets/faith-and-work-before-the-exilehosea-amos-obadiah-joel-micah/
Lessons about the importance of blessing others through our work from the story of Jonah: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/the-twelve-prophets/jonah-and-gods-blessing-for-all-nations/
Chapter 10: The Kingdom’s of the World and the Kingdom of God
Can we be in the world and yet distinct from the world? How can we be salt and light in the workplace?
This content from the ‘Theology of Work’ Website stresses the importance of being a blessing to the community that we live in through work: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/provision-wealth/redeeming-the-economic-sphere/we-are-to-change-the-organizations-and-structures-of-society/
Even something as seemingly technical and dry as finance can be a means of bringing justice and showing love: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/finance/gods-purposes-for-finance/finance-can-be-a-means-of-justice-and-love/
Chapter 11: Get Wisdom
Wisdom is a crucial aspect of business leadership. Here are some links to materials on Biblical wisdom and business.
Proverbs is a great practical source offering valuable wisdom for business matters. The ‘Theology of Work’ website has a full study on Proverbs: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/proverbs/introduction-to-proverbs/
A piece on the importance of time and finance: http://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/finance/the-foundations-of-finance-are-created-by-god/we-are-timebound/
A lesson about women in the workplace based on Proverbs 31: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/proverbs/what-do-the-proverbs-have-to-do-with-work/the-valiant-woman-proverbs-3110-31/
Chapter 12: The Psalms: Biblical Prayer and Praise
Thinking about Psalms can get us thinking about the liturgy of work. Is it possible to foster and build a Christian work environment?
The “Theology of Work” website also offers a rich series of lessons from Psalms: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work/introduction-to-psalms/
Highlights of the series include:
A lesson on business ethics based on Psalms 15, 24 and 34 : http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work/book-1-psalms-141/business-ethics-psalms-15-24-34/
How to deal with the challenge of seeing unscrupulous people succeed: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work/book-2-psalms-4272/anxiety-when-unscrupulous-people-succeed-psalms-49-50-52-62/
A lesson on producing true value at work from Psalm 127: http://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work/book-5-psalms-107150/producing-true-value-at-work-psalms-127/
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