Advertise on podcast: God's Work

What would your workplace look like if everyone genuinely treated others the way they wanted to be treated? In this episode, Tom Nelson tells the story of Holly and Chris Justice, who built their medical device company, Engenious Design, around one simple guiding question: how would we want to be treated? That question shapes everything, from paying vendor invoices in just five days instead of the industry standard, to giving every job applicant a timely, human response. Drawing on Jesus's words in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, Tom unpacks the golden rule as far more than good manners, showing how it can reshape not just individual relationships, but entire organisations and business models. You'll learn: -How the golden rule is rooted in Jesus's summary of the whole of Torah -Why some of the world's most respected companies are rethinking business around people and planet, not just profit -What to do when your workplace doesn't share your values -How to carve out your own "pocket of greatness" within any organisation, even without positional power The golden rule isn't just a guide for your personal conduct. Lived out consistently, it becomes one of the most compelling witnesses to the truth of The Gospel in your Monday world.

Who's actually helping you get your work done, and are you tapping into help you're missing? In this episode, Tom Nelson tells the story of Dr Matt Earnest, an interventional cardiologist who, in the middle of high-stakes surgery, relies on far more than his own training. On his 17-minute drive to the hospital for a middle of the night emergency, Matt talks with God, asking for wisdom, clarity and the right words for whatever the moment demands. Drawing on Genesis, Psalm 121 and Paul's letter to the Corinthians, Tom unpacks the Hebrew word "ezer", helper, and shows how God was never meant to be a distant observer of your work, but an active partner in it. You'll learn: -Why God designed us not to work alone, from the very beginning -How the Psalmist's cry "my help comes from the Lord" applies directly to your Monday -Three simple practices for inviting God into your workday: remembering, asking and giving thanks -Why even the most highly trained professionals can't take full credit for their best work You were never created to be self-sufficient. The Triune God is your most important workplace helper, ready to give you wisdom, strength and steady presence.

What kind of witness for Christ are you at work, and are people picking up on it without you saying a word? In this episode, Tom Nelson reflects on a chance conversation on a plane, where a stranger asked him, out of nowhere, "Are you a Christian?" Drawing on Paul's striking metaphor in 2 Corinthians, Tom unpacks what it means to be "the aroma of Christ," and how our witness at work is shaped by far more than the words we say. Tom explores how a distinctly Christlike character, in our attitudes, our treatment of others and the quality of our work, becomes a fragrance that others notice, whether we realise it or not. You'll learn: -Why your non-verbal witness often makes your verbal witness credible -How self-sacrifice, not self-advancement, marks a Christlike presence at work -Why the fruit of the Spirit is one of the clearest signals of Christ in you -How the excellence of your work itself can point others towards God You are never just doing a job. In your attitudes, your actions and the work of your hands, you are exuding a fragrance, one that draws people towards life, or repels them.

What does loving your neighbour actually look like in your Monday world of work? In this episode, Tom Nelson tells the story of Thomas Kim, who founded a car wash business not just to turn a profit, but to open doors of economic opportunity for vulnerable young people in his Chicago community. Tom then turns to the Old Testament story of Ruth and Boaz, where a landowner's quiet attentiveness to a vulnerable foreigner changes the entire course of her life, and ultimately the biblical story itself. Drawing on the book of Ruth and Jesus's words in Matthew 25, you'll discover that neighbourly love isn't an add-on to your work. It's meant to be woven into the very fabric of it. You'll learn: -Why attentiveness, not grand gestures, is where neighbourly love begins -How Boaz used his position to protect and provide for Ruth, without ever exploiting his power -Practical ways to empower others in your workplace through mentorship, advocacy and opportunity -Why Jesus says that what you do for "the least of these," you do for him Your work is never just about you. Somewhere in your Monday world is a Ruth: someone overlooked, someone vulnerable, someone waiting for a door to open.

Why does workplace anxiety hold such power over your Monday, and what does Jesus actually say about it? In this episode, Tom Nelson tackles what many are calling an anxiety epidemic with mental health professionals estimating one in four of us will face a serious mental health challenge. Many of us know the "Sunday Scaries" all too well: that creeping dread as the weekend winds down and Monday's workload looms. But Tom reveals a truth that changes everything: your anxiety isn't a personal failing to hide. It's something Jesus speaks directly into, with practical wisdom for your everyday work. Drawing on Matthew 6:25–34, Philippians 4:4–7, and Isaiah 41:10, you'll discover why anxiety is not meant to control your work, your relationships or your body and how recognising its warning signs is the first step toward freedom from it. You'll learn: -How to recognise the tell-tale signs of rising anxiety before it takes hold of your work and relationships -What fuels and fans workplace anxiety from organisational change to fear of loss -Why Jesus's teaching to "not be anxious about tomorrow" is deeply practical, not merely spiritual -Two simple, tested practices "walk it out" and "talk it out" for processing anxious thoughts in a healthy way Your work doesn't have to be shaped by fear. As a beloved son or daughter of God, your identity was never meant to rest on what you accomplish it rests securely in whose you are.

What if your work doesn't end when you get to heaven... but is actually preparing you for it? In this episode, Tom Nelson explores one of the Bible's most surprising and hope-filled truths: that work is not merely part of this life, but part of God's eternal plan. Drawing from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25, His promise in John 14, and the vision of the New Heavens and New Earth in Revelation 21, Tom reveals how your everyday work has lasting significance far beyond this present world. You'll learn: -Why the Bible points to meaningful work in the New Heavens and New Earth. -How Jesus' parable of the talents connects your faithfulness today with your future calling. -What Revelation 21 teaches about God's plan to renew creation rather than replace it. -How an eternal perspective can bring hope, purpose, and perseverance in even the most difficult workplaces. Your Monday work matters far more than you may realize. As a follower of Jesus, every act of faithful service is shaping not only who you are today, but who you are becoming for the glorious work God has prepared for you in the world to come.

What if the most sacred place you enter every workday isn't your office, your church, or your home but your own body? In this episode, Tom Nelson explores one of the most transformative truths of the Christian life: that every follower of Jesus is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6 and Romans 12, Tom unpacks what it means to carry God's presence into every meeting, conversation, challenge, and task. When you realize that God is not only with you, but dwells within you, your Monday work can never be the same. You'll learn: -Why your body is God's temple and what that means for your everyday work. -How the Holy Spirit empowers your speech, relationships, ethics, and witness in the workplace. -Three practical ways to cultivate greater awareness of God's presence throughout your workday. -Why learning to work with God, rather than merely for God, transforms both your work and your worship. Because wherever you go, God's presence goes with you. As a follower of Jesus, you don't simply enter your workplace each day, you bring the presence of Christ into it, becoming a faithful witness who glorifies God in every task, every conversation, and every moment.

In this episode, Tom Nelson explores the timeless story of Daniel, a young man who found himself working in one of the most challenging and hostile environments imaginable: the court of Babylon. Surrounded by values that conflicted with his faith, Daniel didn't withdraw or compromise. Instead, he discovered how to thrive with courage, wisdom, and integrity. You'll learn: -Why Daniel's example offers hope for anyone working in a difficult or toxic workplace. -How James 1:2-3 reframes workplace trials as opportunities for spiritual growth. -Three practical ways to flourish at work: don't go it alone, pursue excellence, and know your ethical boundaries -How to remain faithful to Christ while serving with grace in a culture that doesn't share your convictions. Whether you're navigating a demanding boss, a difficult workplace culture, or simply feel like a round peg in a square hole, this episode will encourage you to discover that God is with you, even in Babylon, and can enable you to thrive right where He has called you.

What if the investments sitting quietly in your pension or portfolio are funding businesses that directly contradict your Christian values and you don't even know it? In this episode, Tom Nelson tells the remarkable story of Robin John, a man who grew up in poverty in India, moved to the United States, built a career in finance, and then faced a crisis of conscience when he discovered his mutual funds were profiting from tobacco, gambling, pornography and abortion. Rather than simply divesting, Robin and his friend Finny asked a bigger question: what should Christians actively invest in? The answer led them to found Eventide Asset Management in 2008 a Boston-based firm built on the conviction that where your money goes, the world either flourishes or suffers. You'll learn: -Why avoiding harmful investments is only half the story and what a truly Christian investment ethic looks like. -What Proverbs 10:2 and Jeremiah 17:11 say about wealth built on injustice and why it never lasts. -How Jesus' parable of the talents points not just to diligence, but to ethical stewardship. -Three practical first steps to align your financial portfolio with your faith this week. -Why value-based investing is one of the fastest-growing sectors in finance and how you can be part of it Every financial investment is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. As a follower of Jesus, what you invest in matters not just for your retirement, but for the flourishing of your neighbours near and far.

What if loving your neighbour has less to do with Sunday acts of kindness and far more to do with what you do for a living on Monday? In this episode, Tom Nelson takes one of Jesus' most familiar parables and turns it on its head. Through the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Tom reveals that the hero of Jesus' tale wasn't just compassionate, he was economically capable. And that capacity didn't come from nowhere. It came from work. Drawing on Luke 10 and Ephesians 4:28, Tom makes a compelling case that the Great Commandment isn't just about mercy, it's about the productive, diligent work that makes mercy possible. You'll learn: -Why the Good Samaritan's compassion alone wasn't enough and what made his neighbourly love actually work. -How your daily job fits into a "neighbourly love chain" that serves thousands of people you'll never meet. -The crucial difference between value extraction and value addition and why Jesus was a brilliant economist -What the Apostle Paul meant when he connected honest work directly to the capacity to care for others. -How to see your Monday workplace through the lens of the Great Commandment and why that changes everything. Neighbourly love isn't just a feeling or a gesture. It requires both Christlike compassion and economic capacity. The surest way to build that capacity is to roll up your sleeves and do your work well. The best workers make the best neighbours.

In this episode, Tom Nelson tackles one of the most searching questions a Christian worker can ask. Drawing on a candid conversation with a financial advisor who desperately wanted to hear "well done, good and faithful servant" but wasn't sure what that required. Tom traces the thread of fruitfulness from the creation mandate in Genesis all the way to Jesus' final night with his disciples in the upper room. Through John 15:8 and Genesis 1:28, he makes a provocative case: that faithful discipleship and fruitful living are not two separate things. They are the same thing. You'll learn: -Why fruitfulness isn't just spiritual, it runs from the womb to the workplace, woven into the fabric of creation itself -How Jesus' command to "abide" is the soil from which all genuine productivity grows -Why the Proverbs 31 woman, not a priest or a king, is the Bible's surprising showcase of a fruitful life -The three vital dimensions of fruitfulness: intimacy with Jesus, Christlike character, and vocational excellence Three reflection questions to honestly assess where your own fruitfulness stands today. A faithful life is a fruitful life and that fruitfulness shows up not just in Church, but in the daily diligence, ethics, and excellence of the work God has called you to do.

Are your career ambitions leading you somewhere you want to go or somewhere you'll regret? In this episode, Tom Nelson explores a deeply human and often painful reality: the seductive pull of workplace ambition that promises success but can steal your health, your faith, and your family. Through the moving real-life story of Kevin, a talented leader climbing the corporate ladder and the transformative words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, Tom shows how there's a radically different kind of ambition available to you. Drawing on 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, you'll discover what Paul calls "Holy ambition" a way of working that's marked not by pride, comparison, or the relentless chase for visibility and success, but by humble stewardship, contentment, and faithfulness to God's vocational call on your life. You'll learn: -The difference between unholy ambition - the kind that destroys -and holy ambition - the kind that sustains. -What Paul really means by "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life" -How to do an honest inventory of your heart's true motivation at work -Practical "guardrails" to protect yourself from drifting into destructive ambition Your Monday work matters deeply but not in the way the world tells you. When your ambition is rightly ordered and rooted in Christ, you can flourish without burning out.

Are you in the wrong job or are you doing the right job in the wrong way? In this episode, Tom Nelson explores a question that haunts many sincere believers: Am I missing God's calling? Through the moving story of Joe who spent nearly four decades believing he'd missed his true calling because he pursued management consulting instead of pastoral ministry, Tom reveals a life-changing insight: you may not be missing God's calling at all. You may be misunderstanding it. Drawing on Luke 3:10–14 and John the Baptist's surprising teaching to tax collectors and soldiers, you'll discover that God's primary call isn't usually to do different work. It's to do your work differently, with integrity, excellence, and love for others. You'll learn: -The difference between God calling you to different work versus calling you to do your work differently. -Why tax collectors and soldiers didn't need to quit their jobs. -How to apply the golden rule and God's ethics to your current workplace. -Why doing "good work well done" is itself a spiritual calling. Your Monday work doesn't become ministry when you change careers. It becomes ministry when you change how you work. Excellence, integrity, respect for others, and faithfulness in your current role is exactly what God is calling you to, right now, right where you are.

Why does your Monday work suffer when you skip Sunday Church even if you're "spiritual"? In this episode, Tom Nelson explores a growing disconnect: many people love Jesus but are sceptical of Church. They find God in nature, claim they don't need organised religion, or feel the church has been irrelevant or even hurtful. But Tom reveals a truth that changes everything: your Monday work actually depends on a good Sunday and not in the way you might think. Drawing on Hebrews 10:21–25 and Matthew 16:18–19, you'll discover why the local church isn't a Sunday obligation that takes away from your "real life" it's the gathering place where you're equipped, encouraged, and sent out to do your best work in the world. You'll learn: -Why Christian faith is deeply personal but never meant to be private or individualistic. -How the local church is the "huddle" that prepares you to play the game well on Monday. -The difference between "gathered faith" on Sunday and "scattered faith" throughout the week. -Why the church isn't plan B. It's God's plan A for your flourishing and the world's redemption. Your work won't reach its full potential, and you won't reach yours, trying to go it alone. The local church community is where you belong, not because it's perfect, but because it's where you're equipped, known, loved, and sent back into your calling with purpose, encouragement, and strength.

What's the invisible poison that turns workplaces into war zones even Christian ones? In this episode, Tom Nelson uncovers the hidden toxin destroying workplaces from the inside out. Through a raw conversation with a veteran Christian leader and the Biblical story of Absalom who used his position to manipulate, undermine, and ultimately tear apart King David's leadership. Tom reveals that workplace toxicity isn't about incompetence or poor systems. It's about the human heart. Drawing on James 3:13–17 and the cautionary tale of 2 Samuel 15, you'll discover how jealousy and selfish ambition - or "the Absalom spirit" - unleash chaos and destruction and most importantly, what single quality can transform toxic cultures into thriving ones. You'll learn: -Why jealousy and selfish ambition are the real poison in toxic workplaces and how to spot them in yourself and others. -How to identify the "Absalom spirit" before it destroys relationships and organisations. -The surprising antidote: humility, gentleness, and Christlike character. -Three practical disciplines that neutralise jealousy and build healthier, more collaborative teams. Toxic workplaces aren't fixed by better policies or stronger management. They are transformed when people choose humility over ambition, collaboration over competition, and celebrating others' success over advancing their own.