A week ago, I wrote about a recent theme in my college ministry research – and, I suspect, a trend within college ministry right now. That trend is Vocational Discipleship, helping students think about what it means to live out their workplace callings in light of the Lord.
As a follow-up, at least a few resources that look like they could be helpful for these things; I learned about each of these through my investigations and connections on the latest road trip, so I wanted to put them on your radar, too!
The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness: A Guide for Students by Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby and the companion blog.
As I meet with college ministers, this is one of the few books I hear about frequently. It was GREAT connecting with one of the authors, Derek Melleby, on the recent trip. He gave me a copy of the book, which I look forward to finally reading sometime, and the blog is impressive! (Plus, for further exploration, see the links along the side of the blog.)
God in the Marketplace by Henry Blackaby and the companion site (which has, among other things, monthly devos).
…while those in the marketplace may have excellent educations and access to world-class leadership seminars, they often feel inadequate in matters of spiritual influence. God in the Marketplace will help them better understand what the Bible says about integrating their Christian faith with their work lives and provide biblical answers to the common yet difficult questions that are often raised for Christians at work.
If you check out the books above on Amazon, you might scan through the “related books,” too.
Christianity & Vocation talk – Matt Perman.
I found this audio when I was preparing to meet with a guy from Campus on a Hill, a college ministry at Cornell. I haven’t gotten to listen yet, but the speaker is the Senior Director of Strategy with Desiring God. (The message and Q&A links are in the bottom right corner of that page.)
Revisions magazine from Manna Christian Fellowship.
This Ivy League college ministry puts out a magazine that touches on these issues. (Does your campus ministry publish a magazine?)
Anything you want to add to this measly little list? Let us know the resources you’ve found!
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July 5, 2009 at 1:21 pm
tiffany
Another good one is Life@Work by John Maxwell.
https://www.johnmaxwell.com/store/products.php?product=Life%40Work-Groupzine-Volume-1.-The-Art-of-Balance
July 5, 2009 at 1:31 pm
tiffany
oops, i forgot to add that there’s a great chapter in the book Love Your God With All Your Mind by JP Moreland that deals with vocation http://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-God-All-Mind/dp/1576830160
July 6, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Timotheos
A great book on this subject is God At Work, by David Miller. The gist of the book is that we have opportunities to integrate our faith and work so that we don’t end up having a working world and another world outside of work where the two never meet. He offers four ways of bringing our faith and our jobs together: connecting biblical ethics to concrete applications in the marketplace; seeing the workplace as a mission field to reach the lost; finding meaning and purpose in work through a Christian worldview; and, using my job as a means of personal change through working with others in community and fellowship. In a day when the level of satisfaction for so many in their jobs is low, we need to recover looking at our vocation from a more biblical point of view. If college students can gain this outlook now, it can be the means of transforming society for the better.
July 7, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Glen Davis
Following Jesus in the Real World by Richard Lamb. Written by a campus minister for students graduating from a college ministry.
Culture Making by Andy Crouch. Written by a former campus minister.
The Other Six Days by R Paul Stevens. Also written by a former campus minister.