Every Good Endeavor: Linking Your Work to God's Plan

crick: Tim Keller was such a great orator and I'm grateful he has left some of his goodness behind in his books.

United States on Nov 01, 2023

Kindle Customer: As a small business owner, I felt a bit lost as to how faith interacts with work. This book is an encouraging roadmap of self reflection and application of the weaving together of faith and work.

United States on Oct 10, 2023

Erica Woods: This book has vastly changed my view of the meaning and purpose of our work and how our culture has created idolatry in our pursuit of success and self actualization

United States on Oct 02, 2023

Jacob T.: Just finished the book. I found it refreshing and helpful as to how to weave the teachings of the Gospel with work.

It was also useful to see how work is a blessing contrary to the general public impression that work is a necessary evil to make money.

It’s good to see how God uses work as a blessing.

I know that Keller has passed away since I started reading this book, but thank you again Pastor Keller for a practical and thoughtful book on integrating Christ in my work life.

United States on Sep 01, 2023

Amazon Customer: Great Read! Helps one focus on what work is all about!

Canada on Aug 18, 2023

Justin: This is what the church should be doing more of, getting out into the world and influencing people outside of the church, rather than being cowered into silent submission.
This book gives valuable instruction for how to do this in a wise way.
It’s also good because I believe it also helps to break down a label that is currently dividing many in the church from outside the church, and even those of different denominations. While there are some serious issues between the two frames of ideology, I believe this book helps to break down the walls that immediately go up as soon as someone self identifies as either a conservative or a progressive.

Australia on Aug 08, 2023

Daunavan Buyer: This is a great book on a topic that doesn’t get a lot of discussion: the importance of work and the fact that all work can be a part of God’s work (not just ministry jobs or missionary jobs). It’s filled with great stories and ideas, definitely worth the time.

Canada on Dec 09, 2022

Philipp Keller: Meine Erwartung an das Buch war diese: Der Stellenwert von "Arbeit" pendelt bei mir seit jeher zwischen "Götze" (nimmt anstelle von Gott alle meine Gedanken und Erwartungen ein) und Nebensache (muss ich absitzen, bis wieder der wichtige Teil meines Lebens beginnt). Ich erhoffte mir vom Buch Antworten und Rezepte gegen diese Unbalance.

Zum Aufbau: das Buch enthält drei Teile:

Im ersten Teil erläutert Keller verschiedene Betrachtungsweise von Arbeit (Luther, Calvin, ...): Arbeit als Grundbedürfnis, die Würdigkeit von Arbeit, Arbeit als Dienst, etc.

Der zweite Teil geht darum wie Arbeit zum Götzen wurde (da eine hervorragende zeitliche Analyse, insbesonders der Wandel in den 60er-Jahren) und wie sie dadurch sinn- und freudlos wird da sie durchtränkt ist von Neid, Selbstsucht, etc. Dabei erklärt er billiant, wie die Arbeit den Götzen einer Kultur wiederspiegelt (Nationalisms vs. Naturalismus).

Im dritten Teil beschreibt Keller "a new story for work". Für seine Gemeinde (Redeemer Church) ist Arbeit eine wichtige Ministry. Sie haben Arbeitsgruppen, teilen sich auch nach Berufsgattung auf. Von diesen Arbeitsgruppen erzählt Keller. Dies ist meiner...

Germany on Sep 01, 2019

JustinHoca: Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work

In my Southern Baptist circles, I often hear too often "Not enough men go into ministry," or "preaching is the highest form of worship," or "I could do so much more for the Lord as a full-time minister." I believe this often creates guilt among laypeople and sets up a class divide-- either you're "really spiritual" or you're part of "the world." Keller argues that these types of statements lack a proper understanding of a theology of work. This book is a wonderful primer into theology of work, including praxeology. Keller cites from many sources, the bibliography is rich and helpful.

Redeemer Presbyterian has a Center for Faith and Work that seeks to equip individuals in all work spheres with tools to develop a biblical worldview, inspire creative and Gospel-soaked behavior, and help entrepreneurs both start new ventures and revitalize current ones with a view to the Gospel.

Keller's thinking is along the same lines as A.W. Tozer and others before him who saw everything we do as Christians being a reflection of God's work in us, and a way to worship and glorify Him.

"If the God of the Bible exists,...

United States on Apr 02, 2014

Snow Pharoah: As a Christian member in small, suburban church, I have witnessed a gradual transition over the last couple of decades to what is basically a dualistic view of life and faith. In this view, there is a difference between what is required for basic, everyday life - paying the bills, putting food on the table and supporting your family, giving to others, etc. and the sacred professions: preaching in church, being a missionary or otherwise evangelizing others, or being involved in formal "ministry" work in one way or another. Sometimes, this dualism has pervaded into how we should think about our children's schools (should they go to the "good" Christian school or the "secular" public, local school?) or summer camps or how to counsel young adults in their reflexions on future professions. The dualism is sometimes painful for those who make the "wrong" choices - those who believe that Christians ought to be in the world, struggling with right and wrong in their daily lives and in those of their non-christian friends, and not necessarily isolated in their specific institutions.

In this book, Tim Keller addresses these questions by describing, in very readable terms, the...

Canada on Dec 25, 2012