5 Ways to Activate Businesspeople & Professionals into Mission (and Gain Ministry Partners Along the Way!)

January 8, 2026

1. THIS BURGEONING FAITH & WORK MOVEMENT (the history)
1. Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic (ca 1905)
2. David W. Miller, God At Work: The History And Promise Of The Faith At Work Movement (Oxford University Press, 2007).
3. Rerum novarum, or Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor, is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on 15 May 1891.
2 A THEOLOGICAL CASE FOR ITS NECESSITY (the theology)
1. Zenos E. Hawkinson, Anatomy of the Pilgrim Experience: Reflections On Being A Covenanter, ed. Philip J. Anderson and David E. Hawkinson (Covenant Pub, 2000).
3. FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS TO ACTIVATE PROFESSIONALS AND GAIN PARTNERS (the praxis)
1. Redefine “missional”
2. Consecrate the Carpenter
3. Visit them at work
4. Start a Fellows Program
5. Learn to do Public Theology

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 9: Annihilation Vs. The Renewal Of All Things

August 9, 2025

1. What is the vision of work in the New Heavens and the New Earth?
2. What about the fire?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 8: Ephesians and the Summing Up Of All Things

August 8, 2025

1. What is the scope of Ephesians?
2. How does this play out in ethics?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 7: The Texture of Luke and Bearing A Family Resemblance

August 7, 2025

1. What are some examples of this ‘texture’ in Luke that weaves in work and labor realities into its message?
2. What are some principles from the distinctly Lukan narrative that are applicable to how we work today?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 6: Good Carpentry and the Work of our Hands

August 6, 2025

1. What was Jesus “job”?
2. How does the theology of the incarnation affect our work today?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 5: OT Prophetic Passages on Justice & Jesus’ Fulfillment

August 5, 2025

1. What is the underlying tension between the OT and the NT as it pertains to work?
2. How does Jesus fulfill the prophets’ vision of economic justice?
3. How does the prophetic voice influence our work today?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 4: Women in the Bible and Work

August 4, 2025

1. Deborah the Judge
2. The “Proverbs 31 Woman”
3. Ruth
Dr. Julie Chung is a pastor, teacher, and practical theologian with over 20 years of church ministry experience and served at Saddleback Church for the last 9 years. She holds a doctorate from Fuller Seminary and is the author of the forthcoming book Find and Focus: Purpose in Seasons of Transition. Julie is passionate about helping people connect their faith to everyday work, especially in life’s in-between moments. Julie has been married to her best friend, Sam, for nearly 30 years. Together, they love parenting their three adult children.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 3: Work in the Ten Commandments + Bezalel and Oholiab

August 3, 2025

1. Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments and Work
2. Bezalel and Oholiab
- Exodus 31:1-6
- Exodus 36-39
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 2: Spreadsheets, Gardening, & Work Before The Fall

August 2, 2025

1. Did work exist before the Fall?
2. What changed in the nature of work after the Fall?
3. How should we understand the language of “subdue”, “rule”, “fill the earth” in the opening chapters of Genesis?
Dr. Ryan Gutierrez has a PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his dissertation explored the relationship between people and land in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He is also the Senior Director at Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he oversees the development and implementation of organizational systems, processes, and workflows. He previously worked as the Director of Operations for the Office of Vocation Formation at Fuller.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional Life for Leaders and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the executive director of the De Pree Center, and prior to that, the senior director of Laity Lodge in Texas. With a PhD in New Testament from Harvard, Mark has written extensively on faith and work integration.
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

FWaMM! Ep. 1: Introduction & Overview of our Doctoral Cohort

August 1, 2025

1) COURSE PHILOSOPHY
1. Integrative, in-context learning & reflection (lest we become Matt 23:15)
2. Flipped classroom (and Tolstoy’s bishop)
2) COURSE STRUCTURE
1. 10-week quarter
2. Hybrid / intensive
3. Canvas
4. Grading
3) COURSE CONTENT
1. Biblical focus this first year
Cover image: Vincent van Gogh, Sower at Sunset
Music credits: Aleksey Chistilin

Comment

SF506: Empathy, Imagination, and Risk as Spiritual Practices (Ep. 19)

February 10, 2024

If you find yourself stuck and hitting a Wall, I encourage you to explore the Road Ahead on the Houston campus of Fuller Theological Seminary. There is an entrepreneurial path forward. It involves knowing your true value and worth. It involves empathy and imagination. And it involves Risk. May new entrepreneurial initiatives spring up from your reflections on entrepreneurial vocation.

Comment

SF506: Cheap Grace, Tiers of Value and Counting the Cost (Ep. 18)

February 8, 2024

1. LUKE 14:25-35
2. A SELF-INVENTORY OF VALUE & WORTH
3. THREE CLOSING PRINCIPLES:
1. Without value, we cannot become disciples, because we cannot count the cost.
2. When we understand value, we become worth our own weight in salt.
3. Weighty people make solid disciples.

Comment

SF506: The Experience of Being "Stuck", Entrepreneurialism, and the Critical Journey Stages (Ep. 17)

February 6, 2024

The Critical Journey stages (Figs. 1-4)
Also: if you are interested in finding out more about the Road Ahead cohort, click here.

Comment

SF506: Work and the Preferential Option for the Poor (Ep. 16)

February 4, 2024

1. WORK for the POOR
2. WORKING for the POOR
followed by 3 principles:
1. The poor come first.
2. The best way to serve the poor is to create wealth.
3. Therefore, the pursuit of wealth is appropriate and reasonable if the primary motivation is to serve the poor.

Comment

SF506: Homer Simpson, the Walking Dead, and the Economics of the Kingdom (Ep. 15)

February 2, 2024

1. GETTING THE KINGrichDOM
2. THE ECONOMICS OF THE KINGDOM
  1. The Preferential Option for the Poor
  2. We become what we consume

Comment

SF506: Recapitulation Theory, the Multiethnic Church, and Ender's Game (Ep. 14)

January 31, 2024

1. THE SCOPE OF WORK
  1. Ephesians 1:10 “the summing up of all things (ἀνακεφαλαιόω) in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth“
  2. Irenaeus of Lyons “recapitulation theory”
2. THE ADMINISTRATION OF WORK
  1. Ephesians 3:9 “to bring to light what is the administration (οἰκονομία) of the mystery“
  2. oἰκονομικά = the science of household management (or, economics: Aristotle)
  3. “The way we win matters” -Ender Wiggin

Comment

SF506: Tim Keller, Leaf by Niggle, and "Truly Spiritual" Vocation (Ep. 13)

January 29, 2024

1. THE FUTILITY OF WORK
  1. Tim Keller, Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Every Good Endeavor
  2. Theology of Work project
2. THE HOPE OF WORK
  1. Gnosticism: the great antagonist of Scripture?
  2. What is on the other side of the Wall?

Comment

SF506: Jim Manney's "A Simple Life Changing Prayer" - PART 2 (Ep. 12)

January 27, 2024

Jim Manney teaches the Ignatian Prayer of Examen, a vital tool in vocational self-awareness. Without self-awareness and the ability to see God’s manifold graces to us, we are apt to fall into what Ignatius considered the deadliest of all sins: ingratitude.

Comment

SF506: Jim Manney's "A Simple Life Changing Prayer" - PART 1 (Ep. 11)

January 25, 2024

Jim Manney teaches the Ignatian Prayer of Examen, a vital tool in vocational self-awareness. Without self-awareness and the ability to discern our own desires we are liable to become not only unhealthy, but unsafe for spiritual leadership. The Prayer of Examen is an important tool for honesty and clarity.

Comment

SF506: Eugene Peterson and the Unpredictable Plant (Ep. 10)

January 23, 2024

Ministry is the unpredictable plant. Therefore, the formation of the minister is just as important as the ministry itself. God is interested not only in Nineveh’s salvation, but Jonah’s as well. “Do you have good reason to be angry?…”

Comment

The Oikonomiks podcast

This week we conclude this first class of the Faith, Work, and Marketplace Ministry DMin cohort looking towards the renewal of the heavens and the earth, “even as through fire!”

The Epistle to the Ephesians contains a cosmic vision of redemption that is so expansive in scope, that it provides a new motivation and fire for work, summing up all things under Christ’s headship.

The Gospel of Luke contains a ‘texture’ characterized by fishing, harvesting, tax-booths, banquets, wages, soldiers… it portrays a dusty, earthy, agrarian marketplace quality that speaks to labor and work realities today.

What was Jesus’ ‘job’ and how does it influence our view of work today?

How does Jesus fulfill the prophets’ vision of economic justice? And how are the ethics of work being redefined as law is being reinterpreted?

This week we look at 3 “Women of Strength” in the Old Testament and in particular their work within their social contexts.

This week we take a look at a theology of work in the Ten Commandments as well as in the characters of Bezalel and Oholiab.

Is work the result of sin, or could it be possible that work existed in a good form even before the Fall?

This week we begin the Faith, Work, and Marketplace Ministry DMin cohort with an introduction and overview of this course.

Today we talk about the journey from stuckness and hitting the Wall, to empathy, imagination, and your next doable risk.

Today we talk about value and its role in forming entrepreneurs with capacity, capability, and competency:

Today we talk about entrepreneurial vocation and the experience of “hitting the wall” as a necessary path towards spiritual growth. We refer to the following diagrams:

Is there a way to work that prioritizes the poor but also creates wealth? Today we talk about work and the preferential option for the poor along two headings:

I mean really, can the kingRICHdom? Today we talk about the “WALK and DEAD” and an alternative economics of the kingdom along two headings:

What is the scope of the Gospel's redemptive vision? How far does it go? Today we talk about Paul’s vision of the summing up of all things in Christ in Ephesians 1:10:

Work can be pointless, futile, and painful. But Christian theology presents us with an alternative vision. Today we talk about Gnosticism, Agent Smith squeezing codes out of Morpheus, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Leaf. There is hope for something on the other side of the Wall: