Session 1 - Our Call to Create

Summary

The video series 'Faith Driven Entrepreneur' explores how faith shapes the entrepreneurial journey. Hosted by Henry Kaestner and JD Greear, the series invites Christian entrepreneurs to embrace their God-given call to create. It highlights how business and faith intersect, encouraging entrepreneurs to view their work as a form of worship and co-creation with God. The script also features Dave Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather, sharing how his faith-driven business reflects God's values of quality and service. The series offers tools and community support for faith-driven entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Entrepreneurs are called to create in the image of God, reflecting His creative nature through their work.
• 🌍 Faith Driven Entrepreneur is a community that helps Christian entrepreneurs and investors find purpose and fulfillment in their God-given callings.
• 🤝 Community is essential for faith-driven entrepreneurs to grow and thrive. The series encourages people to join groups for support and shared experiences.
• 📚 Entrepreneurs can use resources like the Faith Driven Entrepreneur book and app to deepen their understanding and spread the message to others.
• 💡 Henry Kaestner shares how meeting Jesus transformed his entrepreneurial journey, aligning his business purpose with his faith.
• 👨‍🏭 Dave Munson's story highlights how he built Saddleback Leather as a way to reach people for God, combining quality craftsmanship with faith-driven purpose.
• 🔨 God values quality and beauty in work, and faith-driven businesses should reflect these attributes by creating products that honor God and serve people.
• 🎨 Entrepreneurship is a form of worship and a way to co-create with God, using raw materials to develop and improve the world for His glory and human benefit.
• 🏛 Entrepreneurs fulfill God's creation mandate to take dominion and multiply resources, making them cultural change agents through business.
• 💼 The Bible teaches that work and entrepreneurship are divine callings, not just opportunities for evangelism, but ways to serve God through excellent work.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the 'Faith Driven Entrepreneur' series?

The series aims to help Christ-following entrepreneurs and investors find community and fulfill their God-given call to create, by exploring how the gospel shapes their work and calling.

Who are some notable guests mentioned in the 'Faith Driven Entrepreneur' community?

Notable guests include Tim Keller, Lecrae, Donald Miller, Anthony Tan, Ally Davidson, Cathie Wood, and Coby Cotton from Dude Perfect.

What does Henry Kaestner emphasize about the connection between entrepreneurship and faith?

Henry Kaestner highlights how his journey as an entrepreneur, combined with his faith, has shaped his identity and entrepreneurial trajectory. He emphasizes that entrepreneurship can be a form of worship and service to God.

What is a key lesson that Henry Kaestner hopes to convey through the series?

Henry Kaestner hopes entrepreneurs will come to understand that they are creating in the image of a God who works and continues to work, and that entrepreneurship is a way to honor God and bring about His kingdom.

How does the series define 'success' for a Christian entrepreneur?

Success for a Christian entrepreneur is defined by drawing people closer to God through their work and life, using their business to reflect God's glory.

How does Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather integrate his faith into his business?

Dave Munson sees his business as a ministry opportunity, using quality products to open conversations about God and caring for his employees by providing services like a daycare to support their families.

What biblical principles does JD Greear mention regarding entrepreneurship?

JD Greear references the creation mandates from Genesis, where God called Adam to work and take dominion over the earth, emphasizing that entrepreneurship aligns with being a co-creator with God.

Why is entrepreneurship described as a form of worship in the series?

Entrepreneurship is considered worship because it involves taking the raw materials of creation, developing them for the benefit of others, and glorifying God through excellent and productive work.

What does the series suggest about the role of Christians in the workplace?

The series encourages Christians to view their work as part of their spiritual calling, being cultural change agents in their communities by using their businesses to serve God and others.

What is the significance of the Hebrew word 'avodah' mentioned in the series?

The Hebrew word 'avodah,' which means both work and worship, underscores the idea that entrepreneurship and labor are ways to honor and serve God, reflecting His image through creative and productive efforts.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to Faith Driven Entrepreneur

The video introduces the Faith Driven Entrepreneur movement, led by Justin, the executive director. The ministry supports Christ-following entrepreneurs and investors in finding community and fulfilling their God-given call to create. It mentions various high-profile participants such as Tim Keller and Lecrae, and invites viewers to join the community through the website, emphasizing that content is best experienced in groups for greater impact. The introduction also highlights the tools available, such as the Faith Driven Entrepreneur book and app, before transitioning to Henry Kaestner's entrepreneurial journey.

05:02

📈 Henry's Journey and Entrepreneurial Passion

Henry Kaestner, co-founder of Bandwidth and Sovereign's Capital, shares his entrepreneurial background, from selling t-shirts in college to launching a successful business. He talks about his faith journey, meeting Jesus at age 28, which profoundly transformed his personal and professional life. He introduces the purpose of the video series, designed to help entrepreneurs align their work with their faith. Henry discusses how the series will cover topics like identity, money, and global impact, and hopes viewers will engage with the Faith Driven Entrepreneur community.

10:03

🌍 Called to Create - Session Introduction

This section introduces the series' first session, 'Called to Create,' aiming to help entrepreneurs recognize their role as co-creators with God. The narrative sets the stage for an upcoming video and teaching by JD Greear, emphasizing that just as God works, humans are called to create. Dave Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather, shares his experience designing products for God's glory, showing that entrepreneurship can be a form of ministry and worship.

15:04

👜 Dave Munson's Entrepreneurial Journey

Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather shares his story of founding the company. His journey began with designing a bag in Mexico, asking God to make it the 'coolest bag ever.' He reflects on the unexpected success that followed, eventually realizing he could merge ministry with business. Munson speaks about using high-quality materials and how the business has opened doors to influence and share God’s love. The company also supports employees with a daycare, reflecting Munson’s mission to impact lives through business.

20:05

💼 Integrating Faith and Business

Munson continues sharing his experiences in business, from social media interactions to opening a daycare for workers. He discusses how his faith informs his entrepreneurial decisions, focusing on loving people and showing them God's care through business practices. Success for Munson is defined by drawing people closer to God through his life and work, emphasizing the idea that business can be a platform for ministry.

✝️ Common Christian Entrepreneur Misconceptions

JD Greear discusses common misconceptions about integrating faith with business, challenging the idea that Christianity is only practiced within the church. He humorously describes misguided attempts at evangelizing through businesses. Greear emphasizes that the Bible offers significant insights into entrepreneurship, with many of Jesus' teachings centered around workplace settings. The message reassures Christian entrepreneurs that their work matters and is an important part of God's plan.

🌿 Biblical Foundations of Entrepreneurship

Greear explains the biblical roots of entrepreneurship, tracing it back to God's creation mandates in Genesis. He describes how Adam was tasked with cultivating the earth, positioning work and entrepreneurship as part of God's original design. Entrepreneurs act as co-creators with God by developing the earth’s resources, creating products and services that glorify God and benefit society. The section highlights how work, creativity, and entrepreneurship are forms of worship, rooted in the same Hebrew word for 'work' and 'worship.'

🏗️ Entrepreneurship as Co-Creation

Building on the creation narrative, Greear explains that God created the world in a 'good' state, leaving room for humans to develop and improve it. Entrepreneurs, like Adam, take raw materials and create something valuable, whether through building, investing, or inventing. This co-creation is aligned with God's intent for humans to multiply and take dominion over the earth. Entrepreneurs participate in this divine mission by developing the earth’s potential and contributing to God’s ongoing work.

🏃 Feeling God's Pleasure in Work

Greear draws a parallel between entrepreneurship and the pleasure of doing what God created us for, using the example of Olympic runner Eric Liddell. He highlights how many entrepreneurs feel a sense of divine purpose when using their gifts. This feeling of fulfillment is attributed to being made in God's image and working as His co-creators. The section encourages entrepreneurs to embrace their calling as part of their worship and mission in the world.

💡 Embrace Your Entrepreneurial Calling

The final segment encourages Christian entrepreneurs to recognize their calling as part of God's mission. Greear challenges them to move beyond simply attending church or giving offerings, urging them to fully engage their gifts in entrepreneurship for God’s glory. The message concludes by reiterating that entrepreneurship is a form of worship, encouraging viewers to steward their businesses and ideas as part of God's kingdom-building work. Entrepreneurs are called to create as a reflection of the Creator.

Keywords

💡Faith Driven Entrepreneur

This term refers to entrepreneurs who incorporate their Christian faith into their business practices. The script highlights that the Faith Driven Entrepreneur movement aims to help Christian entrepreneurs connect their work to their spiritual beliefs, finding purpose and fulfillment through their calling to create. The organization provides resources, communities, and guidance to support faith-driven business leaders, as mentioned in the introduction by Justin.

💡Call to Create

This concept emphasizes the idea that Christians are called to express their creativity and entrepreneurial skills as a reflection of God’s own creative nature. In the video, Henry Kaestner and JD Greear discuss how entrepreneurs are co-creators with God, working to bring value and beauty to the world through their businesses. This call is presented as a divine mandate to shape culture and serve others, aligning business practices with faith.

💡Community

Community is highlighted as a crucial component for faith-driven entrepreneurs. The video encourages entrepreneurs to connect with others who share similar values to navigate the challenges of business and faith together. The script mentions the availability of online and in-person groups where entrepreneurs can share experiences and support one another, as outlined in Justin’s introductory remarks.

💡Creation Mandate

The 'Creation Mandate' refers to God's command in Genesis for humans to be fruitful, multiply, and take dominion over the earth. JD Greear explains that this mandate is not only about reproduction but also about cultivating and developing the world through work, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Entrepreneurs fulfill this mandate by creating businesses that serve others and honor God, as Adam did in tending the Garden of Eden.

💡Co-Creators with God

This term reflects the idea that human beings, especially entrepreneurs, share in God’s creative power by developing resources, creating products, and generating value. The script emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not just a secular endeavor but a form of worship and a way to reflect God's image. JD Greear illustrates this by comparing the work of entrepreneurs to that of artists, craftsmen, and builders, who all contribute to developing the potential of God’s creation.

💡Identity in Christ

Identity in Christ refers to understanding one’s purpose and value based on being a follower of Jesus rather than merely a successful entrepreneur. Both Henry Kaestner and JD Greear stress that an entrepreneur’s primary identity should be rooted in being a child of God. This foundational identity influences how they run their businesses, treat employees, and serve customers, ensuring that their work honors God above all.

💡Stewardship

Stewardship in the script is portrayed as the responsible management of resources, talents, and opportunities given by God. Entrepreneurs are seen as stewards who are entrusted with the task of using their business as a tool to serve God’s purposes. This includes making decisions that reflect God’s values, caring for employees, and using profits to support communities. This is illustrated by the story of Dave Munson, who uses his business to create positive impacts, such as opening a daycare for his workers.

💡Work as Worship

This concept suggests that work, including entrepreneurship, can be an act of worship when done for the glory of God. The Hebrew word for 'work' in Genesis is closely related to 'worship,' emphasizing that business activities can be a spiritual practice. The script encourages entrepreneurs to view their daily tasks, decision-making, and creativity as opportunities to honor God, rather than separating their faith from their work.

💡Kingdom Impact

Kingdom Impact refers to the positive influence entrepreneurs can have on the world when they align their business practices with Christian values. This impact goes beyond financial success and includes shaping culture, providing for the needs of others, and sharing the Gospel through business. The script mentions that the ultimate success is measured by how one's life and business draw people closer to God, as demonstrated in the example of Saddleback Leather's community initiatives.

💡Entrepreneurial Zeal

Entrepreneurial zeal is the passion and energy that entrepreneurs bring to creating, developing, and managing their businesses. The script shows how this zeal can be used in alignment with faith to serve God’s purposes. JD Greear uses humorous examples, like using a business slogan to evangelize, to illustrate how zeal should be directed thoughtfully, ensuring it leads to genuine service and positive influence rather than being overbearing or inauthentic.

Highlights

Faith Driven Entrepreneur aims to help Christ-following entrepreneurs and investors find their community and fulfill their God-given call to create.

The ministry envisions a day where over a million faith-driven entrepreneurs fully know God through their work.

Entrepreneurship is seen as a divine calling, reflecting God’s creative nature, and can have a global impact.

The Faith Driven Entrepreneur platform offers community groups, both online and in person, where entrepreneurs can share their unique journeys.

Henry Kaestner, co-founder of Faith Driven Entrepreneur, shares how meeting Jesus changed his entrepreneurial trajectory.

The Faith Driven Entrepreneur book and app are key tools to further engage in the movement and invite others.

Henry Kaestner emphasizes how entrepreneurs are called to create and fulfill their purpose as co-creators with God.

JD Greear highlights how God called Adam to work and cultivate the earth as part of His creation mandate, showing that productive work and entrepreneurship are part of paradise.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to view their businesses as acts of worship, with work sharing the same root word in Hebrew as worship.

Dave Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather Company, shares how his leather business opens doors for ministry and spreading the gospel.

Munson describes how his company integrates faith and quality craftsmanship, offering high-quality products and love to their workers.

Entrepreneurs are seen as uniquely equipped to meet both physical and spiritual needs in their communities, furthering discipleship through their businesses.

The series emphasizes the importance of seeing entrepreneurship as a God-ordained path to multiply good on earth.

JD Greear explains how Jesus taught many parables around workplace contexts, showing that most miracles occurred outside the church.

The session encourages faith-driven entrepreneurs to embrace their role in shaping culture and bringing God’s kingdom through their work.

Entrepreneurs are urged to no longer hide their gifts, but rather to use their business as a form of stewardship for God’s glory.

Transcripts

(soft music)

(upbeat music)

FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR HOW THE GOSPEL SHAPES OUR CALL TO CREATE

SESSION 1 OUR CALL TO CREATE

Welcome, thanks for joining us for this series.

My name is Justin, and I'm the executive

director of "Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor".

Our ministry exists to help

Christ following entrepreneurs and

investors find their community and fulfill their God given call to create.

We envision a day where over a million faith driven entrepreneurs come to fully

know God through their work.

You might be familiar with one of our podcasts or conferences has included

friends like Tim Keller, Lecrae, Donald Miller, Anthony Tan,

Ally Davidson, Cathie Wood or Coby Cotton from Dude Perfect.

You can learn more about those faithdrivenentrepreneur.org.

But we hope this is only the beginning.

As powerful as content can be its best experience in the context of community with

other entrepreneurs that understand the unique opportunities and challenges we

face. If you're watching this alone, we'd encourage you to join a free group either

online or in person.

There's no cost or catch.

Simply go to our website faithdrivenentrepreneur.org

to find the group that best fits you.

And for those going through this together already as a group.

Our prayers perhaps for the first time in your life, you're surrounded by people who

understand this unique journey of entrepreneurship that we're on together.

Perhaps this is a group that you'll continue on with and journey together

through other episodes of content.

One thing is certain we hope that whether you experience this in a group or

individually, that you would be inspired to invite others into this movement.

This is your movement and wherever God calls you to apply what you experience,

know that we're here to help.

Another great tool from our ministry is that faith driven entrepreneur book and

app. These are tools that can help define the movement and introduce it to friends of

yours that might not be able to take that first step of being in a duo group just

I wanna introduce my friend and co-founder, Henry Kaestner

Henry's love of entrepreneurship

started with a t-shirt sales business in college,

and he went on to co-found Bandwidth, which spun off for public wireless.

Since then he's supported the next generation

of faith driven entrepreneurs around the world

with his co-founding of Sovereign's Capital.

What I've appreciated most about Henry, is in those unique seasons,

he's not lost sight of his identity as a child of God,

husband to Kimberly, and a dad of three boys.

His entrepreneurial experience combined with J.D.'s teaching

and the powerful video stories from our friends at Faith and Co,

RightNow Media is going to make for such a great series.

Thanks for joining us and being a part of this experience together.

Greetings, welcome to the first ever video series from Faith Driven Entrepreneur.

My name is Henry Kaestner

and I'm super excited that you all are with us today.

This is a video series that is for you,

the faith driven entrepreneur and business owner.

If you are like me,

you've wanted to have a video series

that helps you to explore all the different aspects

of being an entrepreneur,

so this is for you.

Just a quick word of background.

I'm an entrepreneur like you and have been from a young age.

I found my first love when I went to college

and learned that I could make a tee shirt for $5

and sell it for 10.

And since then,

I've been on a path of running a business and creating

with partners and never felt more alive.

And along the way,

I also met Jesus as an adult, which of course changed everything for me.

At age 28, I walked into a church

and came to understand that there's a God who loves me

and sent His Son to die for me.

And it changed everything

and it absolutely changed my entrepreneurial trajectory.

And it's in those lessons since 28, I'm 50 now,

those lessons are last 22 years,

that we wanted to share with you a bit,

and it's an incredible blessing for me

to be able to do this video series

with a great friend of mine, JD Greear.

And JD has been formative in my own spiritual formation

and how I think about how I am called to create,

how I'm called to be an entrepreneur.

And I think that you'll find from his teaching

that you'll be furthered along your own path

in being a God honoring entrepreneur and business leader.

This video series, I wanna tell you a little bit about what I hope you can expect.

I hope that you'll come to understand some of the marks

that you might feel that you can gravitate to,

that can become part of what you look to

as you look to honor God in the workplace.

We'll look at things from your identity,

through to what to think about money.

You'll come to understand how God is even using you

and your business on a global scale.

This movement of God is much broader

than what any one of us can do,

which is why we created this whole thing.

So we hope that you'll interact with us.

We hope that you'll go online to Faith Driven Entrepreneur,

that you'll see some of the materials that we've developed there.

We'll also hope that you'll come back to us

with some feedback about how we can do this better.

So we're getting started with Series One, Session One,

which we're calling Called to Create.

Our hope is that through this lesson

and the video that you're about to see

that you'll come to understand

that you're creating in the image of a God

who works six days a week

and His work continues to this day.

So watch with us this great video that we set aside for you

and then hear from JD

and I'll circle back with you all at the end.

(soft music)

(honking)

(sowing machine buzzing)

(indistinct) One centimeter.

And then yeah, one centimeter.

And then we'll do a,

see, I like these right here,

but this is too much.

It's too deep.

It feels like a Lincoln Continental from the seventies.

My name is Dave Munson.

I am the owner or CEO or president

of Saddleback Leather Company.

They're gonna lean this up like this, up against the coffin.

And right now I'm designing my coffin.

Because I think it's cool.

(chuckling) Like I don't wanna have like a Dudley coffin.

So my feet will be sticking up here.

So wherever the feet are, I don't,

I can't have the pockets here.

When they put these down,

I can't have the pockets touching my feet.

In fact, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford.

They're gonna have one of my coffins 'cause they're so stinking cool.

And they don't have long to go.

(soft music)

I'd gone to this funeral recently,

and the guy was a really neat guy.

And his funeral was like.

When I die, I'm gonna have it on like, whatever it is,

whatever the equivalent of Facebook Live is then,

so hopefully millions people or probably thousands,

hundreds maybe,

let's just say hundreds of people are gonna watch

the funeral and they're gonna hear the Gospel

and there's a lure in because my cool coffin,

wouldn't that be super cool.

(soft music)

When I was 19,

I went on a mission trip

and I felt like that is what I wanna do the rest of my life.

I don't wanna waste my life.

I wanna reach people for the kingdom.

I just knew I wanted to do ministry the rest of my life.

And then someone came up and said, hey, Dave,

we really need someone to go down to Mexico

to teach English,

and I thought, man, that sounds so cool.

So, think of all the ministry I could do

if I were fluent in Spanish.

So I headed down to Mexico and I wanted a bag

to carry my books.

So I found this bag maker named Lionel.

And because I couldn't find a bag,

I went to him and I said,

Hey, could you make me a bag?

I'd sketched it out, and I said, God,

would you help this to be the coolest bag ever?

(chuckling) you know, I mean ever,

I want this to be the greatest coolest bag,

and I want you to get more glory from this bag

than any other bag that has ever existed on this planet,

why not, I mean, it's free, just like ask.

So I did that bag, it came back and man,

everywhere I went people were going, oh, excuse me, sir,

where can I get a bag like that?

Where'd you find that bag?

How can I get one of these bags?

I remember laying on the floor in Juarez.

I was like, huh,

that'd be cool, if I could make this into a real business,

you know?

Oh yeah, that'd be cool, but I have to do ministry.

So I guess I can't do that.

I was kinda stupid.

Okay, unless,

and we could do a many totes.

many duffels I mean, many duffels,

What about the medium size?

Great idea, yeah.

But I don't want any of this on it, none.

I think we used it all up guys.

I really don't understand

why your faith has to be separate.

(upbeat music)

God cares about beauty.

He cares.

God makes and creates beautiful things.

And so we use really good high quality materials.

We spend a lot more on our materials

because we want things to last.

Everything God does is quality, no exceptions.

We are all about quality,

we are all about reaching people, loving on people,

and the business has allowed us to speak into people's lives

that I know we would have never

had the opportunity to do that.

People see us on social media.

People contact me and it opens a door

to be able to love on people very easily.

I was having a lot of fun on social media.

I didn't see it as a ministry, as a way to influence.

I was just seeing it as a way

to interact with our customers.

Since then, we've had a lot of people say,

hey, you know, I hate Christians,

and I think that you guys are like probably Christians,

I think, and I like you guys.

(speaking in foreign language)

(children mumbling)

(indistinct) Samuel, he is two months old.

I think he looks like mama.

Hello Samuel.

Early on, I was like,

we've need to do something for the workers here

and give them a place to drop their babies, free.

We're not, don't ask for anything,

but then also for these kids to be educated there

and to get great food and to be loved on

and to learn about Jesus,

learn about God, so we opened a daycare.

We put the daycare in place and this guy says,

why did you do that?

He was like, pleased, I gotta know,

he came up to the office, he was crying,

he said, you know, it's changed our lives,

and why, why did you do that?

You really wanna know why I said,

well, it's because God loves you so much.

And He loves you so much,

He wanted your family to be whole,

and so He put it inside of us to do that.

And so I can't help it, I like, I want to, like,

I hope you like it.

Success to me is if people are looking towards God,

and are drawing closer to Him

because of my life,

I have had a successful life.

Simply that.

So, you know, I started off with that one bag.

And for me,

it ended up being the best bag in the whole world,

like the greatest coolest bag in the whole world.

But when I started Saddleback Leather,

it was to reach people.

(upbeat music)

because my life is super short here,

and I'm not gonna waste my time.

Hey, when it comes to thinking about how we can serve God

in our work or how entrepreneurs can use their gifts

and their passions to serve God,

most Christians don't really know what to think.

We think of living out Christianity

as something that you mostly do inside the church

and getting committed to Jesus,

more committed to Jesus means volunteering more

at the church nursery, attending small group,

becoming a (indistinct) or going on a mission trip,

serving at the soup kitchen,

or giving more money to the church.

When we do think about people

who try to make their business enterprise Christian,

in fact, all kinds of disturbing images come to mind,

maybe opening a beauty salon and calling it a cut above,

or a coffee shop and naming it Hebrews

or defiantly saying Merry Christmas to your customers

rather than happy holidays, and when you're in the checkout line,

or maybe even sneaking in a have a blessed day

into a situation.

Forcing awkward moments, maybe into sales calls.

You know, you're like, well, now that I sold you life insurance,

how about insurance for life after death?

Or I've got your name on our mailing list,

but the more important question is,

is your name on the Lamb's book of life.

And maybe you're just like, I just don't think that I can,

I can do that.

Or perhaps you've heard the disastrous story

of the 2004 incident of an American airlines pilot

doing his pre-flight announcements,

asked all the Christians on board the plane,

he's like, hey, why don't you raise your hands?

He then suggested over the loudspeaker that during the flight,

the other passengers talk to those people about their faith.

He also told passengers that he'd be happy

to talk to anybody who had questions.

And he said, you know, if something happens to this plane

and we don't make it,

you'll wanna have this conversation before you land.

Well, understandably that freaked a lot of people out

with your pilot talking to you about, you know,

whether or not you're ready to meet Jesus.

And a lot of Christians hear that and they think oh I admire that guy zeal,

but a lot of Christian entrepreneurs think,

I just don't think that I could do that.

And I could,

I could really pursue a business.

Well, good news is that

the Bible actually has a lot to say

about our calling as entrepreneurs,

and it's a lot more than just how to sneak in

evangelistic conversations.

Consider this, the majority of the parables

that Jesus taught revolve around the workplace context.

If you go through the book of Acts and you count up the number of miracles,

there are a total of 40 of them.

39 of those 40 happened outside the church.

It happens in the workplaces

and the common areas of the people in the city.

So as an entrepreneur,

if you feel overlooked or ignored by the church,

what I want you to hear me say is what you're doing matters.

You're a co-creator with God.

You've got a unique call to be a cultural change agent

within your community,

through the business

that God is empowering you to lead.

Entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to positions,

to lead into the next generation of meeting physical needs

and to engage in discipleship,

and we want to empower you

and empower you to empower others.

You know, understand the importance of entrepreneurship.

We need to go back in fact all the way back.

We need to go back to God's original design.

When God placed Adam in the garden of Eden,

He didn't just, you know,

tell Adam to stay away from a few bad apples.

He told him to be fruitful and multiply.

He told him to take dominion over the earth,

these are what we call the creation mandates.

And then as an application of these, God gave to Adam a job.

He put Adam in the garden to work and to keep it,

Genesis 2:15 says, now you should note,

this was before the curse of sin.

So work was not some kinda punishment

that God inflicted on Adam because of his sin.

It was part of God's original design, productive work.

Entrepreneurship was part of paradise.

In fact, the Hebrew word (speaks in foreign language)

which we translate as work.

What it literally means is to prepare, to develop.

God put Adam in the garden to be a co-creator.

He took, He put them into the garden

and to take the raw materials of soil and seed

and develop those things for the glory of God,

and also for the benefit of other humans

that would come along.

You see the word that God used for His creation was good.

Good is good, but good is not perfect.

God didn't say the creation was perfect

because perfect means it cannot be improved upon.

God created the world you see, raw.

In a good state, but He created it imperfect

so that we could, His co-creators,

we could cultivate it and develop it

So, for example, just like Adam, as a gardener,

took the raw materials of soil and seed

and cultivated a field of crops.

So contractors would take the raw materials

of sand and cement and use them to create buildings

that are useful, that bring glory to God in their beauty,

and also useful for fellow human beings.

Artists take color or music and arrange them into art

lawyers take the principles of justice

and codify them into laws that benefit society,

investors take wealth and create new and more wealth,

entrepreneurs take good ideas and raw materials

and use those to create products and services

and systems that make life better for everyone

and they glorify God.

They take the potential of the earth and they develop it.

They actualize it actually increasing

and multiplying the value of the earth

that God gave them stewardship over.

This is all part of those creation mandates

to be fruitful and multiply

and to take dominion over all things.

Entrepreneurs literally apply both of these mandates.

They take dominion and multiply the good

that is available on earth and in so doing,

God himself is at work through them

because they're fulfilling their role as His co-creators.

That's why entrepreneurship and many forms of good business,

It can sometimes even feel, It feels divine,

even for people who aren't Christians,

it's because they're doing something that's so coheres with the image of God in them

that it feels divine.

The word (speaks in foreign language)

in Hebrew, that I told you,

we translate as work in Genesis two,

that shares the same root word for worship.

And that's not a coincidence.

In fact, it's really interesting.

There are two old Testament figures in Exodus,

one named Bezalel and the other Oholiab,

who Moses says were filled with the spirit,

and they express that fullness of the spirit,

not by singing, or writing, or preaching,

but by being an expert craftsmen,

their expression of being filled with the spirit

was doing excellent work.

It reminds me of that scene in Chariots of Fire,

where the Christian Olympic star, Eric Liddell

and in his preparation for the 1924 Olympics

is confronted by his sister

who thinks that he's supposed to be in missionary to China

because when he was a young man, he felt called to take the gospel to china.

And so she says, you shouldn't be doing this.

You shouldn't be distracting yourself with running.

You need to get on, be a missionary

and Liddell responds to her, he said,

I do plan to fulfill this calling to be a missionary,

but I believe God made me for a purpose,

and he also made me fast.

And when I run, I feel His pleasure.

Many entrepreneurs feel that kind of divine pleasure

when they're doing what they feel like God

has created them to do,

and they feel like this is what I was made for

it's I feel God's pleasure.

Maybe you didn't even know what to call that,

but that's what it is you're made in the image of God.

And when you're doing these things as His co-creator,

you're feeling His image and His spirit at work in you.

So entrepreneurship can, and it should be worshiped.

You've been called to create

by a God who created you to create.

Hear this entrepreneur,

we serve an entrepreneurial God.

So no more hiding all your gifts under a basket,

no more thinking that you're fulfilling your role

in the kingdom of God by going to church

and put some money in the offering plate.

It is time for you to take your business and your idea

and steward it for the glory of God who owns it all.

And that's what we're gonna talk about next session.

What a great lesson from JD in which we come to understand

that indeed we were called to create,

recreate in the image of a God

who works six out of seven days

and whose work continues to this day.

So our hope is that you can lean into that

creating this image of a God,

and in fact, we can indeed be part of

bringing about His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Our hope is that you'll come back to the website,

interact with some more of the content

that you'll talk about this with other friends,

maybe other entrepreneurs, you know, other business owners,

and lean into this concept of being created

in the image of the original author

and the original entrepreneur.

Look forward to joining you next time, thank you.