The business place is where most adults in the United States spend most of their day.  At this point it includes both men and women, young and old, single and married.  It includes a broad cross-section of America.  This is also where the Gospel has the least presence.  We have been trained not to discuss “religion and politics” in the workplace.  Well, it is time that we stopped excluding God from the place where we spend most of our time with others.  You will be surprised to find out that most of the people in the workplace are Christians or were raised Christians and have fallen away.  When given the chance, most of them will readily come back to Christ.  This is where my story begins…

A few years ago, the Lord put it on my heart to have a Bible study in my office.  I owned a mortgage broker operation at the time, employing about 30 people.  I had never attended a Bible study, much less thought of having one in my office.  My office was about 45 miles from my home so asking my pastor to lead it was not an option.  I asked my bookkeeper to contact a large church close to my office to see if they would be willing to lead the Bible study.  The next day one of the assistant pastors called back, and said they would consider it but would like to meet with me.  We set up a meeting for a few days later.

I met with the assistant pastor and one of his ministers.  As we started to discuss the idea of conducting the office Bible study, he related to me that just a few days before we contacted him he was reading an article about churches joining with their business owners to have Bible studies in their offices.  We both felt strongly that this must be of the Lord, and we agreed to go forward.  We decided to meet every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

I sent out a memo to the entire staff that we would be holding a Bible study at 5:00 p.m. every Wednesday.  We normally worked until 5:30 p.m. so I told the staff that anyone who did not want to attend was free to go.  They could leave at 5:00 p.m. and would be paid until 5:30 p.m.  Anyone that did attend would also be paid to 5:30 p.m.  I stressed that no one would be required to attend and there would be no repercussions for not attending.

The first Wednesday only two people left early while everyone else attended.  I made such a big deal that no one was under any obligation to come to the Bible study; thus, I was relieved that it was so well attended.  That night turned out to be a remarkable meeting.  At the end of the meeting the pastor gave an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Approximately 18 people came forward and accepted Jesus.  Even if the story ended here it would have been a success. 

I purchased Bibles for everyone for two reasons:  1) the vast majority of people did not own a Bible; and 2) people unfamiliar with the Bible, finding it difficult to locate a passage like Psalms 121, could easily locate page 607.  As people moved on to other jobs they took their Bible with them.

The people continued to attend week after week.  As they continued to learn, the atmosphere in the office greatly improved.  Petty bickering stopped.  People began to work together. Unmarried employees who were living with their partners decided to get married.  People started to attend church on a regular basis.  Others experienced improved family relationships. 

One man learned that his mother was a born-again Christian but had agreed with her husband not to let the children know and to raise them in the husband’s Roman Catholic church.  This employee had fallen away from the Catholic church.  The insight not only improved the relationship with his mother but also with his father.  The family secret was revealed and all grew stronger.  Another man was having gall bladder attacks and was taking a great deal of pain killers.  Within a few weeks, the pain ended and he no longer needed the pain killers! 

The minister would teach for a few weeks at a time and then another minister would rotate in to replace him.  I gave the ministers an honorarium each week because I did not want the employees to feel obligated in any way.  Every one of the ministers experienced changes in their lives as well.  They were promoted in their church, became assistant pastors and pastors in other churches, and others started their own churches.  I even became a founding board member of one of the pastor’s churches.

This brings us back to today.  The Lord has once again put this ministry on my heart but this time it is to bring a Bible study to every business that is owned by a Christian man or woman.  Hosting a Bible study in the business is so simple and inexpensive, yielding much fruit.    

You own a business because God wanted you to have it, to help others, and to bless you.  You have been given a very special responsibility:  people’s lives.  They rely on you for leadership in the business.  They rely on you for their income and maybe for their health through health benefits.  It is a natural progression that they would rely on you for their spiritual lives as well as their physical lives.  You would not want to see them hurt or die.  Why do you stand by as they live lives influenced by Satan?  Why do you watch as they die spiritually?  You have the power and authority to let them see how they can live forever in Jesus.  You have been given much and you are responsible for much.  Accept the great commission and go into all the world and teach the Gospel.  You have a world of people all around you.  They look up to you, they respect you, and they perceive you to be the source of their livelihood.  Save their lives through the Gospel. Let Jesus change their lives.  I am sure you want to hear the Lord say to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

 Written by Art Aldridge.  Used by permission.  Content distributed by WorkLife.org > Used for non-profit teaching purposes only.