Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work

by Timothy Keller

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller shows how God calls each of us to express meaning and purpose through our work and careers.

In a work world that is increasingly competitive and insecure, people often have nagging questions: Why am I doing this work? Why is it so hard? And is there anything I can do about it?

Tim Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God as well as The Skeptical Student in the Encounters with Jesus ebook series, and many others, has taught and counseled students, young professionals, and senior leaders on the subject of work and calling for more than twenty years. Now he puts his insights into a book for readers everywhere, giving biblical perspectives on such pressing questions as:
• What is the purpose of work?
• How can I find meaning and serve customers in a cutthroat, bottom-line-oriented workplace?
• How can I use my skills in a vocation that has meaning and purpose?
• Can I stay true to my values and still advance in my field?
• How do I make the difficult choices that must be made in the course of a successful career?

With deep insight and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about our work. In fact, the Christian view of work—that we work to serve others, not ourselves—can provide the foundation of a thriving professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others and even be considered acts of worship—not just of self-interest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525952701
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/13/2012
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	186,848
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

TIMOTHY KELLER was born and raised in Pennsylvania and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He was first a pastor in Hopewell, Virginia. In 1989 he started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City with his wife, Kathy, and their three sons. Today, Redeemer has more than five thousand regular Sunday attendees and has helped to start nearly two hundred new churches around the world. Also the author of Generous Justice, Counterfeit Gods, The Prodigal God, King’s Cross, The Meaning of Marriage, and The Reason for God, Timothy Keller lives in New York City with his family.

Table of Contents

Foreword Katherine Leary Alsdorf 11

Introduction 18

Part 1 God's Plan for Work 31

1 The Design of Work 33

2 The Dignity of Work 44

3 Work as Cultivation 54

4 Work as Service 64

Part 2 Our Problems with Work 81

5 Work Becomes Fruitless 83

6 Work Becomes Pointless 98

7 Work Becomes Selfish 113

8 Work Reveals Our Idols 129

Part 3 The Gospel and Work 153

9 A New Story for Work 155

10 A New Conception of Work 183

11 A New Compass for Work 198

12 New Power for Work 226

Epilogue: Leading People to Integrate Faith and Work 242

Notes 254

Acknowledgments 285

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Every Good Endeavor will soon become a classic on faith and work, not only because it's intelligent, but because it's accessible... Drawing on decades of study and ministry, Every Good Endeavor may soon become one of the most important contemporary books on faith and work." - Comment Magazine

Like so many life issues for Christians, the word balance is instructive when it comes to work. Every Good Endeavor deftly explains how we can relish and enjoy our work while honoring God and serving others, all the while avoiding the extremes of negativity on the one hand and idolatry on the other." - The Gospel Coalition

"Most people sitting in the pews of our churches on a Sunday morning spend more time in the workplace than anywhere else. Yet we can too easily make following Christ a matter of personal devotions and church activity... This is great book on an important area that is too often neglected." - Tim Chester

Editorial Reviews

"Tim Keller's ministry in New York City is leading a generation of seekers and skeptics toward belief in God.  I thank God for him." - Billy Graham

“This is the book I give to all my friends who are serious spiritual seekers or skeptics.”   -Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, on The Reason for God

"Every Good Endeavor will soon become a classic on faith and work, not only because it's intelligent, but because it's accessible... Drawing on decades of study and ministry, Every Good Endeavor may soon become one of the most important contemporary books on faith and work." - Comment Magazine

Like so many life issues for Christians, the word balance is instructive when it comes to work. Every Good Endeavor deftly explains how we can relish and enjoy our work while honoring God and serving others, all the while avoiding the extremes of negativity on the one hand and idolatry on the other." - The Gospel Coalition

"Most people sitting in the pews of our churches on a Sunday morning spend more time in the workplace than anywhere else. Yet we can too easily make following Christ a matter of personal devotions and church activity... This is great book on an important area that is too often neglected." - Tim Chester

From the Publisher

Pastor of New York's Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Keller is heard by thousands of congregants on Sunday morning—and his best-selling spirituality titles are read by millions. Here he considers how believers can find meaning and maintain their values in the jungle-out-there world of business today.

Library Journal

The average American spends 90,000 hours during their life working, yet personal fulfillment seems in short supply. In fact, eighty percent of us admit dissatisfication with our jobs. To this quagmire, Presbyterian pastor and author Timothy Keller (The Meaning of Marriage; The Reason for God) brings a keen sense of the spiritual dimensions of these problems. From decades of counseling men and women of all ages on their daily lives, he knows and trusts the value of biblical perspectives on workplace issues. In this clear, measured book, he shares insights about how we can give those 90,000 hours more meaning and purpose. Now in trade paperback and NOOK Book.