How does the gospel influence the work of Mere Christians—those of us who aren’t pastors or religious professionals, but who work as entrepreneurs, baristas, and accountants? That’s the question this podcast explores every week as Jordan Raynor interviews guests across the widest variety of vocations.
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The significant role Christian professionals played in making Christianity credible to her sons, why sometimes “the worst thing God can do for you is to let you be happy,” and how to die wishing you had spent more time at the office. Links Mentioned: Kathy Keller The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God …
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The dangers of feeling entitled to a calling, how to think “Who Not How” in prayers for your work, and a simple way of thinking about “sowing eternity into the world.” Links Mentioned: Justin Matthews on LinkedIn PwC ‘Strategy in Life Principle #2: Purpose unlocks fulfillment’ Quarter-Life Calling Every Good Endeavor Who Not How Soul Care The Gotha…
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How Forte is providing “soul care as a service” for some of the world’s largest companies, how to practically stop working for love and start working from love, and why we should praise God for giving us more than we can handle. Links Mentioned: Vineet Rajan on LinkedIn Vineet Rajan on X The Marine Monk Newsletter Forte Forte for Faith Organization…
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How to cultivate humility and a Jesus-like others-obsession, why multiple pastors have quit ministry to work at Southeast, and the spiritual benefits of sticking with a job for many years. Links Mentioned: Jeremy Swafford on LinkedIn Southeast Restoration Lighthouse Ministries Episode: Audiobook excerpt of The Sacredness of Secular Work Episode: Ti…
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Why the wine industry is in trouble and why Christians should be the ones to help, how to show everyday hospitality to those you work with, and how the gospel can shape not just your work but also the work of others that you consume. Links Mentioned: Dr. Gisela Kreglinger Dr. Gisela Kreglinger on Facebook Dr. Gisela Kreglinger on Instagram Dr. Gise…
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Ricky’s spiritual disciplines during the listeria crisis at Blue Bell, how to accept critical feedback humbly and winsomely, and how a college paper on Blue Bell landed him his career. Links Mentioned: Ricky Dickson Ricky Dickson on LinkedIn One Scoop at a Time Blue Bell Creameries International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Chase the Lion If ‘Lea…
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How Shane discerned whether to pivot or persevere after 4 rejections from NASA, how “asking the right questions in the right way” led to NASA approving him reading Scripture from the ISS, and why he counts “consistency” during his time on earth as “worship." Links Mentioned: Shane Kimbrough Shane Kimbrough on LinkedIn Shane Kimbrough on X Shane Kim…
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5 things Christian leaders can do to fire their neighbors as themselves, the spiritual and business benefits of investing in employees after you lay them off, and the sign I hung in my office to help me stop working like an orphan. Links Mentioned: Jena Viviano Dunay on LinkedIn Jena Viviano (Career Strategist) New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel D…
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William’s biblically informed vision of “zero waste” on the New Earth, the new question I’d encourage anyone to ask when making vocational decisions, and why William chose to work as an employee rather than an entrepreneur. Links Mentioned: William Winchester on LinkedIn Berg Mill Supply Mere Christians Community John Bevere The Me I Want to Be: Be…
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How to be content with what you have and strive for what’s next at the same time, the 4 questions Ruth asks to help her see her circumstances the way God does, and how she is currently processing the disappointing slowdown in her once rapidly growing business Links Mentioned: Ruth Chou Simons Ruth Chou Simons Books Ruth Chou Simons on Instagram Rut…
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What it means to Stephen that Satan had no idea what Nate Bargatze would become, how magic can create awe and wonder that leads to belief in God, and the gospel-centered mental shift he credits for the salvation of his mom on her deathbed. Links Mentioned: Stephen Bargatze Stephen Bargatze on Instagram Stephen Bargatze on YouTube Nate Bargatze The …
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The dangers in the Church’s culture of giving, what Christian peer groups might have looked like in the first century, and how to create “mini Bema Seat moments” to judge your work before God does. Links Mentioned: Mike Sharrow on LinkedIn Mike Sharrow on X C12 Business Forums C12 Business Forums on YouTube CURRENT25 Walgreens Unoffendable The Sacr…
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How God is using ballets about faith to reach non-Christians, how to not undersell the power of the Holy Spirit at work, and Jordan’s favorite This Is Us scene that powerfully illustrates the gospel. Links Mentioned: Julianna Rubio Slager Julianna Rubio Slager (5:8 Ballet) Julianna Rubio Slager on LinkedIn Julianna Rubio Slager on Instagram Juliann…
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How to discern what God wants to renew in your workplace, 3 positive things boasting in weakness produces, and Jordan’s new vocational dream for the New Earth. Links Mentioned: Jenna Barret on LinkedIn Jenna Barret on Instagram Choice Hotels Jenna Fortier (Student & Founder of PASTA) (Episode 61) Jordan Raynor (Host of Mere Christians) (Episode 100…
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5 practices for ensuring your work doesn’t become an idol, why “gratitude is the on-ramp to adoration” of God, and why Jesus said he is the “bread of life” and not the “grain of life.” Links Mentioned: Joe Rigney Joe Rigney on X Joe Rigney on LinkedIn Strangely Bright Live Like A Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis's Chronicles The Sacredness …
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What Jen envisions her work looking like on the New Earth, how the “dangerous light” in you makes every Christian’s work sacred, and why it’s significant that gold will be trampled on for eternity. Links Mentioned: Jen Wilkin Jen Wilkin on Instagram Jen Wilkin on X Revelation - Bible Study Book with Video Access: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom J…
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How Christ redeemed Anne after horrific trauma and abuse, how her trauma gave her purpose and ambition for Auntie Anne’s, and how to stop overcomplicating the presence of God. This episode originally aired on August 23, 2023. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our Fan Fave Flashbacks series this summer! Would you …
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What the “dirty jobs” of God mean for you and me, the power of dwelling on what God has saved you from, and how to “choose joy” in a job you don’t love. This episode originally aired on July 19, 2023. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our Fan Fave Flashbacks series this summer! Would you like to be a guest on the…
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How the truth that “God’s will is much more a way than a thing” leads to a radical freedom in life and work, the difference between “justifying your legitimacy” and “expressing your belovedness” through your work, and the most brilliant interpretation of Ecclesiastes I’ve ever heard. This episode originally aired on July 5, 2023. Because you all lo…
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Why common grace is the key to worshiping more while you work and experience the work of others, how calling out the work of non-Christians as God’s work can build bridges for sharing the gospel, and how Jordan explained to his kids how God protected them on a recent road trip. This episode originally aired on June 14, 2023. Because you all loved i…
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How to shift from “playing not to lose” to “playing to win,” why acknowledging that you’ll never have a pure motive is unbelievably empowering, and how to take your Christian community with you mentally as you do hard things. This episode originally aired on March 15, 2023. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our F…
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How to speak up for the powerless in your office, how to take a stand for God’s way in a God-honoring way at work, and why we need Christians rushing INTO “secular” workplaces in order to claim them as sacred. This episode originally aired on December 7, 2022. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our Fan Fave Flashb…
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Why Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday and what it means for your work, how a biblical view of heaven assigns untold dignity to the work you do today, and how to use everything from Altoids to doorframes to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence at work. This episode originally aired on September 28, 2022. Because you all loved it so much, we a…
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How Jodi has responded to criticism of Disney from Christians, why Jodi thinks of ministry as less of what she does for a living and more of who she is while she’s doing what she’s doing, and how to spot where the Spirit is moving as you work. This episode originally aired on September 14, 2022. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing…
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How Ron “made love visual” through the Apple Store, his final conversation with Steve Jobs while Jobs was on his deathbed, and why he chose to “start at the bottom” of the career ladder when he had every opportunity not to. This episode originally aired on June 22, 2022. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our Fan …
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The first 3 things Joni plans to do when heaven comes to earth, how everything we do in this life either increases or decreases our capacity for leadership on the New Earth, and how our work can be “ingredients in God’s happiness.” This episode originally aired on June 15, 2022. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of …
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The incredible impact of Antique Candle Co.'s “Prayer Committee," how Brittany’s faith compelled her to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a “non-essential” company perk, and what heaven might smell like. Links Mentioned: Brittany Whitenack on LinkedIn Brittany Whitenack on Instagram Antique Candle Co. Sign Up for the Antique Candle Co. Newslett…
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The 8-step process to landing your dream job in a God-honoring way, the “half-baked theology” keeping Christians stuck professionally, and 3 things that should set apart how Christians search for jobs while employed. Links Mentioned: Kelsey Kemp on LinkedIn Kelsey Kemp on X Kelsey Kemp on Instagram Kelsey Kemp on Facebook The Called Career Job Dict…
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How liturgies can help you see and respond to the holiness of every mundane moment at work, what quantum physics can reveal about why God might choose to work through you and me, and how “rehearsing for the new creation” shapes Doug’s science fiction writing. Links Mentioned: Every Moment Holy Douglas Kaine McKelvey on Instagram Douglas Kaine McKel…
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What a Christ-like view of competitors looks like practically, whether or not it's biblical to set goals about “winning” and “beating” competitors, and how Peter practically cultivated joy amongst his team during the COVID crisis Links Mentioned: Peter Demos Peter Demos on Facebook Peter Demos on X Demos’ Restaurants Angus Buchan Faith like Potatoe…
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The vocational dream Jamie is afraid to say out loud, how to work hard with your hands but not with your soul, and why Jesus was so good at saying “no” to requests for his time. Links Mentioned: Jamie Ivey Jamie Ivey on Instagram Jamie Ivey on Facebook Jamie Ivey on YouTube Jamie Ivey Blog The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey Podcast Why Can’t I Get It T…
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Why faithfulness requires focus and killing things that are working, how dreaming about work on the New Earth makes it easier to focus today, and why you should stop asking, “What can I learn from this person?” and start asking, “What is God teaching me through this person?” Links Mentioned: Noah Sanders on LinkedIn Noah Sanders on Instagram Redeem…
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The impact of knowing that God cares about your work and not just how you spend your lunch break, how to use Show & Tell for grown-ups to move from Surface > Serious > Spiritual, and how to practically make people feel valued beyond their productivity. Links Mentioned: Candice Levert on LinkedIn Mere Christians: Sean Kouplen (CEO of Regent Bank) Me…
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Why “losing your life” for Christ is less about moving overseas and more about losing control, what Scripture’s focus on Jesus’s “one-off” miracles and engagements means for your unseen work today, and how to practically “number your days” so that you may grow in wisdom. Links Mentioned: NOD & Grow The Sacredness of Secular Work A Praying Life When…
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Why viewing sports as trivial diminishes God’s sovereignty, why we’re tempted to assign priority where God does not, and how Christians should think differently about free enterprise. Links Mentioned: Scott Sonju on LinkedIn Scott Sonju Email TrailRunner Int TrailRunner Int Sports Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller Praxis Labs Fault Lines: The Social J…
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How superheroes can show us how to follow Jesus, why Christians should pursue cultural literacy as a means of evangelism, and what we should do with the fact that our Heavenly Father has more fun working than we do. Links Mentioned: Mike Maihack on X Mike Maihack on Instagram Mike Maihack on Linktree Spider-Man: Animals Assemble! (A Mighty Marvel T…
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How to honor employers you leave, how feelings of inadequacy often mask an arrogance toward God, and how to obey God when you have no idea what his purposes are. Links Mentioned: Christy Wright Christy Wright on Instagram Christy Wright on X Christy Wright on YouTube Christy Wright on Facebook Get Your Hopes Up Podcast Business Boutique Take Back Y…
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How caring about ALL that God cares about will change how we work, how to think about evangelism and social action as two elements of an interconnected flywheel, and why Christians should never outsource their discernment (and how we frequently do). Links Mentioned: Jon Houghton Jon Houghton on LinkedIn Jon Houghton on Instagram Jon Houghton on X T…
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How Paul’s example of boasting in weaknesses compelled him to “hand over his small story for a greater story,” 2 ways Christian “self-care” should differ from the world’s, and how winning at home first leads to bigger wins at work. Links Mentioned: Cory Carlson Cory Carlson on LinkedIn Cory Carlson on Instagram Cory Carlson on X Win at Home First: …
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How to get unstuck professionally by mining the depths of Scripture, why comparison is a thief of joy AND a helpful teacher, and how to replace the world’s call to “confidence” with the biblical call to “courage.” -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “secular” w…
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What the nail scars in Jesus’s hands mean for the work of your hands, why the eternal value of your “secular” work depends upon the value of creation, how we got to the place of overemphasizing heaven v. the “renewed earth.” -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your …
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How good jobs are saving the lives of 20-somethings at his company, why our definition of “kingdom work” needs to expand beyond saving souls, and how to plant a desire for goodness and truth that ultimately leads to Christ. -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “…
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The 7 stages everyone goes through when creating with God, why failure may be a sign of God’s favor, and how to journal well in just 11 minutes. -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “secular” work in a castle, vineyard, cathedral, and more! Entering to win is si…
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How Linda was freed from analysis paralysis about discerning “God’s will” for her work, the biblical evidence that God cares about your work and not just what your work does “for the kingdom,” and how a proper theology of the New Earth has made Linda feel more alive and much more likely to share her faith -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work…
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Get the full audiobook here: https://amzn.to/4aY34Fv -- Order The Sacredness of Secular Work before February 3 and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “secular” work in a castle, vineyard, cathedral, and more! Entering to win is simple: Step 1: Pre-order the book on Audible, Amazon or one of these other retailers …
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5 easy ways for your pastor to encourage Mere Christians in their work this Sunday, how to better understand your biblical call to be a “priest” at work, and 5 circles of influence to pray through in your job. -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “secular” work …
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How to stop viewing your co-workers as “salvation projects,” the #1 thing pastors can do to free the mere Christians in their pews from feeling like “JV Christians,” and how the gospel compels us to market in ways that serve always—even while selling. -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebr…
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Why heaven being on earth matters so much to your work, how to not sacrifice the way of Jesus for the mission of Jesus, and where Skye sees himself professionally in five million years. -- Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work today and you could win an epic trip for two to celebrate the sacredness of your “secular” work in a castle, vineyard, c…
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Which of the 5 languages are most popular in the workplace, 3 ways to discover your co-workers’ language without asking, and what Jesus said gives non-Christians the right to judge Christians. Links Mentioned: Love Languages The 5 Love Languages The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Dr. Gary Chapman on X Dr. Gary Chapman on Facebook Dr. …
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How Jesus-like mentors “show you what life can be like,” what Maina learned about discerning calling from CBS’s James Brown, and why you should serve at the worst times of life. Links Mentioned: Maina Mwaura Maina Mwaura on Facebook The Influential Mentor How to Know a Person The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Urban Faith Grace Snellville Ja…
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