What is the pastor’s role in affirming the various callings within hiscongregation? How might churches empower the people of Godin pursuing vocational clarity and economic transformation? How can webetter encourage, equip, and empower othersin engaging theircultures munities?

In a talkfor theOikonomia Network, theologian and author Charlie Self explores these questions and more, relaying many of the themes ofFlourishing Churches and Communities, his Pentecostal primer on faith, work, and economics.

“Faithful churches create munities,” says Self, “bringing the joy, peace, and justice of Jesus Christ in everyday life.”

Pastors have a great role to play missioning their people to create value through all of their work, missioning entrepreneurship and creativity. And they have great value also in letting us know that we’re more than our job…And yet waking up on Monday with purpose is so important for discipleship, for personal thriving, and munity flourishing. Are missioning people to do God’s work in the world through their work? …

…The pastor has the job not to be a specialist in every field, but to give the gospel-centric and ethical boundaries and blessings by which they can go and flourish in each of their vocations. …Pastors can help people see that vocation is larger than just the job, that one’s calling to Christ in general, and specific gifts and mission, include their daily work and transcend it, and that daily work…is part of obedience in this age while we wait for ing Lord.

For more, see Flourishing Churches and Communities.