Marketing Ministry II– Influence & Impact #dumc #fb

Lim Kah Hui, Head of Marketplace Ministry19/02/2011

Overcoming Myths

Luk 13:18-21  He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  (19)  It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  (20)  And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  (21)  It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."



A survey in Switzerland suggests the suicide rate is highest on a Sunday. A survey in Japan suggests that the heart attack rate is highest on a Monday,

A myth is something that sounds like truth on the surface but upon closer examination it is revealed to be not true.

Many are turning away from the truth.

2Ti 4:3-4  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  (4)  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

The Five Big Myths

Myth #1 – Success

• God wants me to be successful in the workplace.

The truth is faithfulness.

• God wants me to be faithful in all the things I do in my workplace.
• Success comes from God as a result of my faithfulness.

A video is played. It’s the Senior VP of Intel talking about Success and Significance. Significance has to do with relationship and it’s long lasting.

Commendation for Faithfulness

Mat 25:21  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Rev 2:10b  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Myth #2 – Better Than

• God wants me to be better than others in my workplace.
• To be the best and the first.

The truth is x.

• God wants me to be different than others in my workplace.
• To be the light and the salt.

If we aim to be better, one day someone will be better than us. The standard of the world degrades us to be more and more like the animals.

We pray for our boss, subordinates, peers, customer and suppliers. But the one who pray for competitors probably pray for them to go bust. We want to win so much.

Not just different but radically different
Mat 5:33-34  "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'  (34)  But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,


Mat 5:41  And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Myth #3

• I need to segregate the different aspects of my life in order to have a purposeful life.

When we segregate our lives, we find our life being drawn in many different directions and we soon need to take time management courses.

When we have an integrated life focused on God, Jesus comes first. Everywhere we go, it becomes natural for us to talk about Jesus.

The truth is

• I need to fully integrate every aspect of my life in order to have a purposeful life.

We need to examine why we do vs. what we do.

Some practical ways to live an integrated life at the workplace.

• Offer to pray for someone who has a need.
• Always bring the presence of God wherever you go.
• Preach Christ, and only if necessary, use words – St Francis of Assisi

How do you preach Christ without using words? The Bible reminds us to season our words with salt. Let our actions be full of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Myth #4 – Few and Insignificant

• Christians are so few and a insignificant in the marketplace.
• We cannot make any difference in the marketplace.

Do we know the Christians in our company or school? We cannot tell if we ourselves are submarine Christians.
The truth is chosen and called.

• God has chosen and called believers into the marketplace.
• In God’s Kingdom we are the mustard seed and the yeast, we can make a significant difference.

Do you know your Calling?
Eph 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

“Monastic vows rest on the false assumption that there is a special calling, a vocation, to which superior Christians are invited to observe the counsels of perfection while ordinary Christians fulfil only the commands; but there simply is no special religious vocation since the call of God comes to each at the common tasks.” ~Martin Luther

If it’s a call of God, it’s a worthy call. It doesn’t matter where the call brings us. How is what you are doing everyday making somebody’s life better?

The public is going to be better or not so good because of you.

Called to make a difference

• Esther in the King’s palace amongst hostile enemies

Est 4:14  And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

• Joseph in managing the estate of a rich man

Gen 39:4-5  So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.  (5)  From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.

• Jacob in his uncle’s farming business

Gen 30:27-28  But Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.  (28)  Name your wages, and I will give it."

Myth #5 - Resignation and Condemnation

• This fallen world has been condemned by God.
• I am resigned to the fact that there is nothing I can do.

The truth is Redemption and Transformation

• This fallen world has been redeemed by God. I am convinced that God wants me to reclaim everything back through the process of transformation.

God’s Purpose
Luk 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Col 1:19-20  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  (20)  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Transformation

• Transformation in my workplace begins with me.

Rom 12:1-2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  (2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.


DUMC will start Maestro work life coaching soon.