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November 2015 Listening Guide Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Every client is made in the image of God. It is tainted by sin, but it is not completely lost. Deep down, every client has an inclination to think beyond himself or herself. Vocational Stewardship: The intentional and strategic deployment of all the dimensions of our vocational power—our skills, knowledge, networks, platforms, influence, reputation, and entrée—to advance foretastes of the Kingdom of God. Challenge #1: How well do you feel that you are doing with stewarding your vocational power? Challenge #2: To what extent do you discuss the idea of vocational power and vocational stewardship with your clients? The Renewal of All Things: Colossians 1:15-20 repeats the phrase “all things” five times. Jesus came to renew us and to renew all things. He came to restore “shalom” – peace with God, peace with self, peace with one another, peace with creation. The fall damaged all four of these foundational relationships, but the redemptive work of Christ brings healing and reconciliation in each area. Jesus and the Kingdom: When Jesus inaugurated His mission on earth in Luke 4, He used Kingdom language. He said His mission was to preach Good News, to heal the blind, and to rescue the oppressed. One of the most amazing things that Jesus said was that in Him, the Kingdom of God had come to earth. Jesus’ miracles were signs and demonstrations of the truth of that claim.
“If I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” - Luke 11:20
“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” - Matthew 11:4-5 Jesus was a Kingdom-foretaste-bringer! He brought foretastes of:
• • • • • • • • •
Perfect justice Perfect peace Perfect beauty Perfect wholeness Perfect intimacy with God Restored creation Joy Rich, diverse, unified community Absence of violence, insecurity, fear
We are called to be “pink spoons” in the world, offering foretastes of the Kingdom of God.
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
1
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Talking with Clients: Talk to Christian clients and encourage them to invest their whole selves in God’s Kingdom – their lives beyond just their money. Talk to non-Christian clients about what they understand about their purposes in this world. Ask them whether they think the world is in good shape. Ask them what their burden is to “do their part” in making the world a better place. You can use language of “promoting the common good” with non-Christian clients. Making an Inventory: There are seven important dimensions of vocational power:
• • • • • • •
Knowledge Platform Networks Influence Position Skills Reputation
Many people struggle to connect their Mondays with their Sundays. God does not exclusively care about our souls. He cares about us as whole people, living in whole cultures and civilizations, on the earth that He handmade. He cares about our bodies and He cares about the culture we make. He cares about lawyers, and He cares about law. He cares about businesspeople and He cares about business. He cares about financial advisors, and He cares about the field of work called “financial advising.” And He is redeeming all these spheres of human endeavor. They are very much part of the “all things” that Jesus is renewing! Traditionally we have understood the Great Commission in geographic terms – that “go into all the world” means go to China, go to Russia, go to Harlem and to Haiti, to Uganda and Uruguay. But Hunter suggests that it can also be understood in sociological terms: that is, to go into all the sectors of the world and work there for transformation; to go into medicine and the arts and business and the media and politics and finance and bring the Good News to bear there. (Idea taken from To Change the World by James Hunter) Key Questions: 1. How do you see your work as participating in creating healthy prosperity in the world? 2. Who is helped by the work that you do, and that your sector is focused on? 3. What human problems or needs does work in your field try to address? 4. Where in your work do you feel like you are contributing to “making the world a better place”? 5. Does effective work in your sector help to make communities safer? To make them healthier? To make them more livable or sustainable? To make them more just?
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
2
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Making Vocational Stewardship Three Dimensional: Doug Wilson: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of wholeness at work
Paul Herbert: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of restorative justice
Gloria Neland: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of economic prosperity
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
3
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Discussion: Spend time in your group discussing the following questions. 1. Dr. Sherman issued two challenges at the start of today’s teaching. Discuss each of them together, in general terms, before you dive into this topic more deeply in the next questions. Challenge #1: How well do you feel that you are doing with stewarding your vocational power? Challenge #2: To what extent do you discuss the idea of vocational power and vocational stewardship with your clients? 2. Spend some time talking about what it means to be a “pink spoon” in the financial services industry. What does it look like to bring a foretaste of the Kingdom via your work as a financial advisor? 3. Reflect together on what it means that God makes “all things” new. How does Jesus’ ministry of bringing the Kingdom continue today via His followers? 4. Discuss the seven aspects of vocational power. How does a greater understanding of these elements help you (and clients) more effectively bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday? 5. How does viewing the Great Commission as being a call to bring the gospel into all sectors of the world change your thinking of your own work and life? 6. Discuss Dr. Sherman’s “Key Questions” in light of the financial services industry and the work that you do each day.
Coming Next Month December: Engagement Fully engaged people are contagious leaders. Learn how to be more fully engaged for Kingdom purposes in your life and in your work. tudy Group: S Fully Engaged Practice with John Busacker, Life-Worth Accepted for CE
National Teleconference: Andy Andreas, National Christian Foundation
Tools and Resources: • Sounding Board Tool from John Busacker • “Don’t Go It Alone” Article
Monthly Focus Resources Available at: kingdomadvisors.com/members If you would like to become a member of Kingdom Advisors, please see your Study Group leader for an application. For more information about Kingdom Advisors, please visit www.KingdomAdvisors.com. Join us for our December Study Group!
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
4
November 2015 Listening Guide Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Every client is made in the image of God. It is tainted by sin, but it is not completely lost. Deep down, every client has an inclination to think beyond himself or herself. Vocational Stewardship: The intentional and strategic deployment of all the dimensions of our vocational power—our skills, knowledge, networks, platforms, influence, reputation, and entrée—to advance foretastes of the Kingdom of God. Challenge #1: How well do you feel that you are doing with stewarding your vocational power? Challenge #2: To what extent do you discuss the idea of vocational power and vocational stewardship with your clients? The Renewal of All Things: Colossians 1:15-20 repeats the phrase “all things” five times. Jesus came to renew us and to renew all things. He came to restore “shalom” – peace with God, peace with self, peace with one another, peace with creation. The fall damaged all four of these foundational relationships, but the redemptive work of Christ brings healing and reconciliation in each area. Jesus and the Kingdom: When Jesus inaugurated His mission on earth in Luke 4, He used Kingdom language. He said His mission was to preach Good News, to heal the blind, and to rescue the oppressed. One of the most amazing things that Jesus said was that in Him, the Kingdom of God had come to earth. Jesus’ miracles were signs and demonstrations of the truth of that claim.
“If I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” - Luke 11:20
“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” - Matthew 11:4-5 Jesus was a Kingdom-foretaste-bringer! He brought foretastes of:
• • • • • • • • •
Perfect justice Perfect peace Perfect beauty Perfect wholeness Perfect intimacy with God Restored creation Joy Rich, diverse, unified community Absence of violence, insecurity, fear
We are called to be “pink spoons” in the world, offering foretastes of the Kingdom of God.
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
1
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Talking with Clients: Talk to Christian clients and encourage them to invest their whole selves in God’s Kingdom – their lives beyond just their money. Talk to non-Christian clients about what they understand about their purposes in this world. Ask them whether they think the world is in good shape. Ask them what their burden is to “do their part” in making the world a better place. You can use language of “promoting the common good” with non-Christian clients. Making an Inventory: There are seven important dimensions of vocational power:
• • • • • • •
Knowledge Platform Networks Influence Position Skills Reputation
Many people struggle to connect their Mondays with their Sundays. God does not exclusively care about our souls. He cares about us as whole people, living in whole cultures and civilizations, on the earth that He handmade. He cares about our bodies and He cares about the culture we make. He cares about lawyers, and He cares about law. He cares about businesspeople and He cares about business. He cares about financial advisors, and He cares about the field of work called “financial advising.” And He is redeeming all these spheres of human endeavor. They are very much part of the “all things” that Jesus is renewing! Traditionally we have understood the Great Commission in geographic terms – that “go into all the world” means go to China, go to Russia, go to Harlem and to Haiti, to Uganda and Uruguay. But Hunter suggests that it can also be understood in sociological terms: that is, to go into all the sectors of the world and work there for transformation; to go into medicine and the arts and business and the media and politics and finance and bring the Good News to bear there. (Idea taken from To Change the World by James Hunter) Key Questions: 1. How do you see your work as participating in creating healthy prosperity in the world? 2. Who is helped by the work that you do, and that your sector is focused on? 3. What human problems or needs does work in your field try to address? 4. Where in your work do you feel like you are contributing to “making the world a better place”? 5. Does effective work in your sector help to make communities safer? To make them healthier? To make them more livable or sustainable? To make them more just?
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
2
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Making Vocational Stewardship Three Dimensional: Doug Wilson: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of wholeness at work
Paul Herbert: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of restorative justice
Gloria Neland: Advancing the Kingdom foretaste of economic prosperity
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
3
Kingdom Calling
Dr. Amy Sherman
Discussion: Spend time in your group discussing the following questions. 1. Dr. Sherman issued two challenges at the start of today’s teaching. Discuss each of them together, in general terms, before you dive into this topic more deeply in the next questions. Challenge #1: How well do you feel that you are doing with stewarding your vocational power? Challenge #2: To what extent do you discuss the idea of vocational power and vocational stewardship with your clients? 2. Spend some time talking about what it means to be a “pink spoon” in the financial services industry. What does it look like to bring a foretaste of the Kingdom via your work as a financial advisor? 3. Reflect together on what it means that God makes “all things” new. How does Jesus’ ministry of bringing the Kingdom continue today via His followers? 4. Discuss the seven aspects of vocational power. How does a greater understanding of these elements help you (and clients) more effectively bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday? 5. How does viewing the Great Commission as being a call to bring the gospel into all sectors of the world change your thinking of your own work and life? 6. Discuss Dr. Sherman’s “Key Questions” in light of the financial services industry and the work that you do each day.
Coming Next Month December: Engagement Fully engaged people are contagious leaders. Learn how to be more fully engaged for Kingdom purposes in your life and in your work. tudy Group: S Fully Engaged Practice with John Busacker, Life-Worth Accepted for CE
National Teleconference: Andy Andreas, National Christian Foundation
Tools and Resources: • Sounding Board Tool from John Busacker • “Don’t Go It Alone” Article
Monthly Focus Resources Available at: kingdomadvisors.com/members If you would like to become a member of Kingdom Advisors, please see your Study Group leader for an application. For more information about Kingdom Advisors, please visit www.KingdomAdvisors.com. Join us for our December Study Group!
Copyright 2015 © Kingdom Advisors • All Rights Reserved
•
4
