Perhaps your church is blessed to have business leaders attend your services. You are gifted to lead business leaders to the kingdom of God. But do you know how to help their businesses?
Bringing the Lord into a business is not much different than bringing Him into a home. We need to be attentive to the individual first. When a leader is radically saved, his impact at home and work should show the first display of fruit.
I’ve met business owners who were able to work out their salvation at home but not in the workplace. The connection between the workplace and the kingdom was never really established. In my experience, the church as a whole is weak in teaching about the Holy Spirit within the marketplace.
Church leaders have a critical role in the establishment of the kingdom of God in the marketplace.
 |
| 5 Ways Pastors Can Impact the Businesses of Church Members |
Today, I simply want to share a few first steps leaders should be making to engage business owners:
1. Visit the business. Get to know the business and the work. Ask God for spiritual understanding about the inner workings of the business. While in the business, pray for favor on behalf of the business. Just as with home visits, pray that the Holy Spirit will be “welcome in this place.”
2. Don’t ask for money. Leave this to the Lord. I’ve spoken with MANY business owners who feel the church is only interested in their money. Along the way, someone has communicated that the role of a business leader is to fund church capital projects. Love the leader and his business.
3. Engage the leader. Business leaders are frequently very good team leaders. Ask the leader to serve in an area in which you need a strong team leader. Listen to their ideas. Good business leaders have a good eye for growth opportunities.
4. Accept the challenge. Business leaders will likely challenge areas of observed weakness. They will tell you about your parking lot, bathrooms or child care problems. Business owners will see weaknesses and make suggestions. I’ve never been challenged by a business leader on spiritual matters.
5. Lead the leader to walk in the Spirit. Perhaps this is the most difficult challenge in leading business leaders. Our job is to teach leaders to walk by faith and not focus upon things seen. The practical side of a business leader can be quite fleshly. Teach and model.
A Spirit-led business can change the marketplace. When we invite the Holy Spirit into a business, we can expect to see and hear by the inspiration of God. The vision of the business will likely be altered to come into alignment with God’s purpose for the business.
How could your local community be impacted by Spirit-led business owners?
Does your platform reach business owners?
