The Gospel at Work - by Sebastian Traeger & Greg D Gilbert (Paperback)

About the Book

According to Traeger and Gilbert, both idolatry of work and idleness on the job are deadly misunderstandings of how God intends for Christians to think about their employment. Whether someone has made an idol of work or finds himself or herself being idle at work, this resource is a reminder that whom a person works for is infinitely more important than what they do.

Book Synopsis

Reclaim God's vision for your life.

Many Christians fall victim to one of two main problems when it comes to work: either they are idle in their work, or they have made an idol of it. Both of these mindsets are deadly misunderstandings of how God intends for us to think about our employment.

In The Gospel at Work, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert unpack the powerful ways in which the gospel can transform how we do what we do, releasing us from the cultural pressures of both an all-consuming devotion and a punch-in, punch-out mentality - in order to find the freedom of a work ethic rooted in serving Christ.

You'll find answers to some of the tough questions that Christians in the workplace often ask:

• What factors should matter most in choosing a job?
• What gospel principles should shape my thinking about how to treat my boss, my co-workers, and my employees?
• Is full-time Christian work more valuable than my job?
• Is it okay to be motivated by money?
• How do you prioritize - or balance - work, family and church responsibilities?

Solidly grounded in the gospel, The Gospel at Work confronts both our idleness at work and our idolatry of work with a challenge of its own - to remember that whom we work for is infinitely more important than what we do.

Review Quotes

"You work for the King, and that changes everything!" That is the basic argument for this much-needed, superbly written work on work. Our job is necessary, and it is also an opportunity to glorify God and advance the gospel. Thank you, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert, for writing a book that is long overdue.--DANIEL L. AKIN, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Chock-full of insights and tips, The Gospel at Work is a helpful contribution to the vital recovery of the place of faith at work.--OS GUINNESS, author of The Call

Everyone knows that work is both necessary and hard. But what about its meaning? Some think of work as merely a distraction from ministry; others, as a necessary evil to provide for higher ends; others still, a place where ultimate purpose and identity can be found. In The Gospel at Work, you will find two careful and experienced guides---brothers whose wisdom and teaching I deeply respect---who know not only the right questions to ask but also where to find the life-giving answers.--JUSTIN TAYLOR, executive vice president and publisher at Crossway and coauthor of The Final Days of Jesus

God made you and me to work. He gave us work as a means to love one another. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert help us see this blessed vision of work and apply it in everyday life. Their great book will help me get up on Monday morning and thank God for the privilege.--COLLIN HANSEN, editorial director of The Gospel Coalition

I loved this book! Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert do a great job of exploring the why, the how, the what, and, most importantly, the for whom of work. I'm thankful for the emphasis on the role of faithfulness. With this perspective, I'm more freed up to be able to get rest in work rather than having to get rest from it.--HENRY KAESTNER, managing principal at Sovereign's Capital and executive chairman at Bandwidth.com

I read every word of The Gospel at Work and loved it. I want to make this a basic staple in my discipling and get lots of copies. This provocative and practical book asks and answers the right questions in the right way. It will even help you know how to better pray---privately and publicly. Two of my favorite people have now produced one of my favorite books.--MARK DEVER, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC, and president of 9Marks

Imagine sitting down with someone for a deeply wise, biblically faithful, and intensely practical conversation about your workplace and work. You'll find that here. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert combine real-world practicality and theological fidelity in this immensely pastoral book. After finishing it, I looked up and said to my wife, "Every Christian should read this book."--JONATHAN LEEMAN, editorial director of 9Marks and author of The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love

Many Christians suffer from a basic inability to connect their work with the gospel. Now, along come Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert to provide Christians with clear arguments and a solid biblical foundation for rightly understanding our work and why it matters to God. The Gospel at Work will assist Christians in connecting the dots between work and the kingdom of Christ. For that reason, we should thank these colaborers for their good work in this important book.--DR. R. ALBERT MOHLER JR., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The best advice I could give anyone is to read The Gospel at Work. It's more than a book about finding purpose and meaning in our jobs; it's a book about how to have success in life. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert have done a masterful job of providing practical guidance on a question we've all asked at one time or another: "What is the point of work in a Christian's life?" If you want to be successful in life and really enjoy the work you do, embrace the principles found here. This book is filled with countless gems of wisdom!--GLORIA S. NELUND, chairman and CEO of TriLinc Global

The ideas in The Gospel at Work are not a theory for the authors but the reality in which they live. One writes as a businessman, the other as a pastor. Both wrestle faithfully with what the Bible teaches about our work, showing us the exciting possibilities when we see our world through God's eyes.--J.D. GREEAR, PhD, pastor of Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and author of Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart

The Gospel at Work is a book by practitioners for practitioners. The combined business and pastoral perspectives of the authors make this a real "how to" narrative. Clearly defining our purposes for working while answering many of our key questions about our careers, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert point us to a freedom that can only be provided by Christ.--LOU GIULIANO, former chairman, CEO, and president of ITT Industries and cofounder of Workforce Ministries

The Gospel at Work is a field guide for anyone who wants to seriously consider how to give glory to God through their job. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert answer a series of questions about how faith and work intersect with sound biblical answers. You'll be more equipped to live out the gospel in your career after reading this book.--DR. O. S. HAWKINS, president and CEO of GuideStone Financial Resources

The Gospel at Work is a great primer on putting our work in the perspective of our lives and God's kingdom. In this book written by two ordinary Christian men who have lived the ups and downs of life and work, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert have given deep thought, purpose, and context to the subject of work. An easy, instructional, and edifying read.--BOB DOLL, chief equity strategist at Nuveen Asset Management

This extraordinarily useful book will be of huge value to many Christians as they think about their work. The Gospel at Work is rooted in thorough and faithful biblical understanding and full of practical application. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to consider seriously how God might use them in and through their work.--WILLIAM TAYLOR, rector of St Helen's Bishopsgate, London, England

Work is about discipleship and worship. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert understand this crucial aspect to a biblical understanding of work. In The Gospel at Work, they provide a timely blend of theory and practice. Their instruction is constantly aimed at seeing the gospel fleshed out in business offices, construction sites, restaurants, or wherever else readers are employed. The questions this book tackles prove that the authors are in touch with the common yet difficult questions that Christians wrestle with. Their answers are spot-on and will help bear spiritual fruit in the marketplace.--DAN DUMAS, CEO of Red Buffalo and teaching pastor and elder at Crossing Church, Louisville, Kentucky