The following are several scenarios of Christians facing difficult situations and/or decisions in their work lives. Use these scenarios as starting points for a "faith at work" discussion in your small group. Click on a title to access a downloadable PDF. Group leaders can print out the PDF's to distribute, or have your group members download and read on their own before your meeting. Some scenarios also come with a video version to watch online. These scenarios are also suitable for individual study.
Fresh out of a Christian college, Rachel has now worked at City News for twelve months. The year has been educational in several senses, most of all, perhaps, in that it's revealed the harsh reality that in some workplaces, people can be unpleasant, obnoxious, even malicious. At the end of her emotional rope, Rachel confides to a trusted co-worker: "I hate some of these people. I've never felt this way in my life, but some days, I really hate these people." She is committed to staying with her job, but she needs advice about how to deal with people she strongly dislikes in a way that reflects godly character.
Teaching Purpose: To explore how to respond to difficult people and to help develop tactics and attitude adjustment strategies for addressing interpersonal problems in a God-honoring manner.
VIDEO CASE (APPROX. 7 MINUTES):
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Low-bandwidth video version
Despite all of his business success, Sam is not succeeding in God's eyes. Not even close. As a Christian, he knows he needs to do something to turn around his relationships with his wife, his kids, his employees and with God. But what can he do?
Teaching Purpose: To raise the issues of balancing work and family, making an idol of career, and spiritual transformation, while also highlighting the significant consequences of a lukewarm relationship with God.
VIDEO CASE (APPROX. 12 MINUTES):
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Low-bandwidth video version
Based on a true story, Bob is a devout Christian and the second in command on the Los Angeles Police Force. He now stands falsely accused by the City Council of requiring subordinates to convert to Christianity and of selectively enforcing the law. In the midst of the maelstrom, one that is increasingly straining both Bob and his family, Bob wrestles with whether to continue to fight or to simply retire.
Teaching purpose: To illustrate the tension inherent in being an authentic Christian in a secular organization and to encourage thinking about how to respond when persecuted for one's beliefs.
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Scenarios courtesy of Christianity 9to5 and Regent University. Copyright 2002 Regent Business Review. regent.edu/review christianity9to5.org Contents distributed by WorkLife.org > used for non-profit teaching purposes only.
