Spiritual Disciplines for Business Leaders Kent Humphreys

Choosing the Best! • Psalms 25:12-14 (Living) “Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best. He shall live within God’s circle of blessing and his children shall inherit the earth; friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. With them alone He shares the secrets of His promises.”

Question: • What are the practical disciplines that are needed in our lives as business leaders? • So that we may not only be successful in business, but in life in general and particularly in our walk with God

Success • My definition of success is NOT: – Having the largest business – Having the fastest growing business – Making the most money – Creating a huge retirement account – Fame and power

Success (cont.) • Simply defined: – Success is walking in God’s pathway.

– Real success has more to do with family, friendships, loving God, and loving and serving people.

My Own Journey • Started working at age 10 • Worked in family business as a teen • Prepared for ministry; switched to business major

• 70’s – learned to integrate my faith and work • 80’s – used business as a platform for ministry • 90’s – shared the principles with other leaders

Examples from God’s Word • Daniel • Jesus • Paul

• Priscilla and Aquila

Daniel • What was the age of Daniel as he was taken into captivity?

• What was the age of Daniel when he was thrown into the Lion’s Den?

1) Become a Student of God’s Word • Daniel 1:8-9 (NASU) – 8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. –

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Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials… “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

1) Become a Student of God’s Word (cont.) • Daniel 1:10-21 (NASU) –

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the end of ten days their appearance seemed better… gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom;

…not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better…

And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.

1) Become a Student of God’s Word (cont.)

• Teach a Sunday School Class • Be involved in an Inductive Bible Study

• Get under excellent Bible Teaching

1) Become a Student of God’s Word (cont.)

• Do Right! • Example: loss of family business due to bribery by competitor • Treat people right, and results may be seen 15 to 25 years later.

• Employees, customers, vendors

2) Become a Prayer Warrior

• Daniel 2:17-18 – 17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, about the matter, 18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

2) Become a Prayer Warrior (cont.)

• My weakness • Most business leaders are not people of prayer • You will fail if you depend on your own strength

• 3x5 cards

2) Become a Prayer Warrior (cont.)

• Example • Loss of Wal-Mart business – $10 million

• Thank God

• Next 18 months • Dennis-15 years later

3) Understand the Character of God

• Daniel 2:20-21 – 20 Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever; for wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.

3) Understand the Character of God (cont.)

• Daniel 2:22-23 – 22 It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. 23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king’s matter.”

3) Understand the Character of God (cont.) • • • • • •

Omnipotent (powerful) Omniscient (knowledge) Omnipresent Sovereign • Absolute Righteousness Love • Justice Eternal • Truth • Immutable • Grace • Mercy • Holy, Holy, Holy

3) Understand the Character of God (cont.)

• Example • Starting new medical business • Learning to trust God’s provision

4) Spend Time Daily with God • Daniel 6:10 – Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

4) Spend Time Daily with God (cont.) • Mark 1:35 – In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

4) Spend Time Daily with God (cont.) • Example

• Business growing 50% a year for 7 years • Acquisitions: 23 in 23 years • Losing a major customer most years in a declining industry

5) Have an Inner Circle • Mark 14:32-33 – 32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.

5) Have an Inner Circle (cont.) • Personally and professionally

• Counsel of advisors • Most leaders do not have one • Crises of life or business

5) Have an Inner Circle (cont.) • Example: company in bankruptcy • Got counsel and financing • Every creditor paid as promised

6) Be in a Small Group • Matthew 10:1-5 – 1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority… 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these… 5 These twelve Jesus sent out

6) Be in a Small Group (cont.) • Twelve used 45 times in the four Gospels • Disciples used 215 times normally referring to the twelve disciples • We have small groups of business leaders across the U.S. and around the world.

6) Be in a Small Group (cont.) • • • • •

Accountability Peer Group Wise Counsel Biblical Teaching Prayer Together

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Intimate Sharing Encouragement Modeling Safe Place Mentor Availability

7) Your Business is the Ministry • Acts 18:2-3 – 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila,…with his wife Priscilla… 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.

7) Your Business is the Ministry (cont.) • Your work is your primary ministry next to your family • You will model Christ to believers and non-believers as you work • If you cannot model Christ in your work, do not try to do it elsewhere • Your work will provide income and open doors for ministry

7) Your Business is the Ministry (cont.) • Your work will be a platform for evangelism and discipleship

• Example: chaplains • Broader ministry at top vs. deeper ministry at the lower levels

• Show and Then Tell (100 stories) • Centurion (Matt. 8, Mark 15, Luke 7) • Zaccheus (Luke 19)

7) Your Business is the Ministry (cont.)

• Example: Korean Convention • Henry 25 years later

8) Multiply Ministry with Spouses • Acts 18:26 – But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

8) Multiply Ministry with Spouses (cont.)

• Do it Together – Aquila and Priscilla or “Prisca” – Acts 18 – Romans 16 – 1 Corinthians 16 – 2 Timothy 4

• Their home and business and ministry were integrated!

8) Multiply Ministry with Spouses (cont.) • Listen to your spouse for business • Listen for protection and discernment • Complement your gifts • Example: writing, editing, key decisions

• Ministry starts at HOME • Business success is based on a solid marriage and home life

9) Giving as a Steward • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

9) Giving as a Steward (cont.) • 2 Corinthians 9:10, 11, 13-15 –

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Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God… 13 for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God.

9) Giving as a Steward (cont.) • We are all stewards-exp. Malaysia • God owns it all

• A tithe of 10% is a start • Decide early in the year a %

• God will determine your income

9) Giving as a Steward (cont.) • Save in order to invest and build a business • Spend with a plan

• Watch student loans and credit card debt • Determine to be financially free (Crown) • Be a channel of blessing of His grace to others

10) Pass it on! • 2 Timothy 2:2 – The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also

10) Pass it on! (cont.) • Examples – Brian – Jeremie – Lunches

How may we serve You? • • • • • • • •

Books and audios DVDs teaching materials Small Groups Web site Mentoring Tools for taking to the nations Business Schools Pastors and Churches

This content is the creation of Kent Humphreys and owned by him. You are welcome to use this power point and teach from it. Please do not publish this material without the permission of the author. You may contact Kent at [email protected] or visit his web sites of www.lifestyleimpact.com or www.fcci.org. May God bless you as you equip many others. Copyright, 2006, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.