Offering thoughtful questions on faith and responsibility is an act of giving other believers the gift of reflection and evaluation. It can be done in the same spirit as God's enquiries to Adam and Eve (Gen 3:8-13) or Cain (Gen 4:4-11) where enlightenment was offered. The following are just such gifts that I have been using for several years as host of Marketplace Voices radio and as leader of panels in the Marketplace Foundations seminars.

When used in a class or panel (similar to an Oprah or Donahue ) situation, the atmosphere desired is one of honesty, fun and hope. The goal is to demonstrate how God uses everyday people to build the kingdom in all environments.

Here are four categories of questions to use:

1. Workplace:
   • Describe one of your earliest jobs and what it was like.

     
     

   • Briefly describe your current or most recent job to someone who has no knowledge of it.

     
     

   • What do you most enjoy about your work?

     
     

   • What is the longest you have ever held a job?

     
     

   • Describe a dimension of your work that you do not like .

     
     

   • Has your current work caused you to change in any way?

     
     

   • What would you say is one of the most important values held by your co-workers or employer?

     
     

   • Would your co-workers describe you as a workaholic, a good worker, or a minimal worker? Why might they feel this way about you?

     
     

   • Does your current work demand your best efforts or skills?

     
     

   • How would you describe someone you really enjoy at work? How about someone who is difficult to work with?

     
     

   • If you could institute one major change at work, what would it be?

     
     

   • What impact does your work have on your personal or family life ?

     
     

   • What would you say is one of the most challenging dimensions in your work?

     
     

2. Faith:
   • What exposure to faith did you have in your childhood? Was your childhood home religious? How?

     
     

   • Tell us something about how your faith began ? What are your spiritual roots?

     
     

   • Do you know other believers in similar jobs or industries? What do you know about their faith/work experiences?

     
     

   • Who do you admire as a believer? What do you appreciate about their faith?

     
     

   • Have you found people in the Scriptures who do work similar to yours?

     
     

   • How would you describe your relationship to church ?

     
     

3. Work and Faith:
   • Describe a way in which you feel you have failed your Lord in your workplace.

     
     

   • Are you known as a believer in your workplace? Does this present any problems or opportunities?

     
     

   • Do you feel that your work makes a significant contribution in today's world? How would you describe it?

     
     

   • Do you have any sense of calling to your work? How would you describe it?

     
     

   • Can you describe a way in which your faith has been challenged at work?

     
     

   • Has your faith ever cost you anything at work -- a promotion, a relationship, an assignment, employment, etc?

     
     

   • Can you describe any policies, values, patterns, perks, or procedures at work that are at odds with your faith ?

     
     

   • Have you ever been challenged or embarrassed with the reputation of previous believers in your workplace? What did you do?

     
     

   • How are Christians generally viewed by your co-workers?

     
     

   • Have you ever refused to do anything in your job because of faith issues? Can you describe it?

     
     

4. Wrap-up Questions:
   • Does the "missionary ghost" ever visit you, suggesting you would be much more spiritual in a religious job: like pastor, missionary, priest or nun? How do you feel about this?

     
     

   • Can you think of ways churches could be more helpful to workplace believers?

     
     

   • If your boss or co-workers were asked by God to describe you, what do you think they would say?

     
     

   • How do you hope to be remembered by co-workers?

     
     

   • What advice would you give to others seeking to serve Christ at work?

     
     

   • If you were not at your current work any longer, what changes might result from your absence?

     
     

   • What advice would you offer the next generation of Christians who might follow you into your job or industry?

     
     

Pete Hammond is a PCUSA elder, Presbyterians For Renewal board member, senior staff member of InterVarsity, and the creator/developer of the new Word In Life Study Bible. He and his wife Shirley live in Madison, WI and commute to see their five grandchildren in Chicago regularly. ivmdl.org.  Content distributed by WorkLife.org > used for non-profit teaching purposes only.