Customer Reviews

Marketplace Memos: Invest Yourself in the Business of God's Kingdom

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Perfect for : Personal Use, Professional Growth

In a nutshell: Written by a father-son team, this devotional type book has a total of 39 topics that have been broken into three primary sections: True Riches (Thinking Biblically about Money and Wealth), Kingdom Business (Your Marketplace Ministry) and Leaving a Legacy (For Christ, His Commission, and His Kingdom). I found that many of the topics really made me think about my values and beliefs and how I wanted to use them - which to me is exactly what a devotional should do. I like to have my thoughts challenged and stretched so I can learn and (hopefully) become a better person. I think this is a very helpful book, but feel that the information it contains can be more easily implemented by people who work in or own private businesses, rather than the public sector, which often has policies regarding religion in the workplace.

Finally a book that helps marketplace people move beyond seeing themselves primarily as financial providers for the church and into seeing themselves as part of an army of Great Commission minded business leaders impacting others and the nations for Jesus Christ. In these turbulent economic times, Marketplace Memos by David and Jonathan Shibley presents a biblical economic worldview and provides sound biblical counsel and insight to help business people prosper and become a powerful force to transform and disciple nations. Marketplace Memos has answers for today's Christian entrepreneurs. It destroys the myth of the division between sacred and secular and business being separate and apart from ministry. This book is truly a work of excellence and can help unleash and maximize the impact of Christian businesspersons in the marketplace. With its breakthrough revelation, we feel it will also be a powerful tool to affect and transform the "business mountain" for the kingdom of God.

Have you ever wondered why you can never find real satisfaction in life? Do you constantly find yourself searching for something that brings genuine fulfillment in life? I've been there too. This book will open your eyes to the one true meaning of why we are here on this earth - to fulfill the Great Commission. Many times we think we have to be a fulltime missionary to carry out God's Greatest Desire, but this is not the case. In this book, Dr. Shibley and Jonathon will introduce you to a Ministry in the Marketplace. They have also presented real and practical principles to get you plugged into God's Kingdom and set you on a path to living a life that is full of satisfaction and excitement.

Jesus calls us to glorify His name across the earth and in all spheres of life. His Lordship extends over individuals, families and into the domain of business. Indeed, with a reported 2,000 verses dealing with how we acquire and use money and possessions, Christians should be sitting up and taking note of the ways in which we acquire and steward the blessings God gives us. In Marketplace Memos the father and son writing team of David and Jonathan Shibley present 39 devotional insights (memos) for business leaders.

Now don't roll your eyes. I realize that many titles on leadership, money and business have been written from a Christian perspective in recent years. Thankfully, the Sibley's have written a title that goes far beyond basic leadership advice, best practices, and business tips. They boldly venture into the core of your relationship with Jesus, challenging both experienced and aspiring business leaders to place their walk in faith at the forefront of their lives.

The teachings offered are sound and biblical; as such they expand into all areas of life. I found many of the topics explored were also relevant to my own life and ministry to my family and children. Isn't that the beauty of scripture? It speaks to us where we are in life no matter our situation. In a like way Marketplace Memos spoke deeply into my own life - I can't wait to share it with others.

The breadth and depth of the topics explored ranges from biblical views of money, using your business as a ministry, charitable giving, eternal rewards, family priorities, marriage, partnerships, networking advice and many more. There are practical nuggets of advice to be mined that are incorporated carefully within the devotional context. Each brief memo, or devotional chapter is two to four pages in length and concludes with an applicable scripture verse (Remember); a concise quote from a Christian thinker or the authors (Reflect); suggested prayer points relating to the topic (Pray); and ways to incorporate and build upon the teachings in your own life (Act).

Marketplace Memos is divided into three categories of devotional insights. Part 1 "True Riches - Thinking Biblically About Money and Wealth" presents a balanced, accurate viewpoint of money, its' uses, and guidance on avoiding entrapment. The Shibley's steer the straight and narrow as they avoid slipping into either the popular prosperity movement teachings or into asceticism. If your view of money veers strongly into one camp or the other, the Shibley's sharing of scripture will help to correct your mind-set.

Part Two "Kingdom Business - Your Marketplace Ministry" provides the inspiration and encouragement to view your business as a ministry. The Shibley's lead readers into considering how their role in the marketplace can reach others for Christ, finance missions and serve as salt and light in all their business transactions. Part Three "Leaving a Legacy - For Christ, His Commission, and His Kingdom" explores how your life, integrity and contributions to the world can serve as a platform for future generations to launch from.

Short snippets from scripture are sprinkled liberally throughout the text, numbered, and included in the endnotes that provide the entire scripture reference, as well as bibliographic information for other works the authors quote from. In the introduction the Sibley's suggest you read with a prayerful heart, open Bible (you'll need it) and open spirit.

"Expect the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read. We believe God will give you ideas for business breakthroughs as you read these memos with your spirit wide open to hear from His spirit."

I'm in agreement. I certainly heard from God through this opening of the word in respect to the financial aspects of life. Continually focused upon Christ, His Kingdom and the Great Commission, business people will be challenged by Marketplace Memos to dig deeper and go further in their faith.

This is an inspiring devotional book for "laymen"... those of us who aren't officially "in the ministry." The book is full of encouragement and ideas for how to be effective "ministers" right in the secular "marketplace", if that's where God has put you.

Marketplace Memos is a wonderful book written by a father-son team to encourage those that work in business and are under the everyday pressures that come with working in the marketplace.

In a tough economy, this book is excellent and gives encouragement, biblical principles and practical insights to Christians who want to be "Kingdom Catalysts" in the marketplace. Each memo addresses a practical theme, especially written for businesspersons. There are three sections in Marketplace Memos and they are True Riches, Kingdom Business, and Leaving a Legacy. At the end of each memo there is a Scripture for meditation through out the day, a maxim for reflection, a guide for prayer, and a call to action.

This is one that I highly recommend and I cannot wait to give it to my husband as a gift. I know he will be blessed as much as I was. Run out and get your copy!

This devotional helps those of us called to ministry in the marketplace to keep our ministry in the proper perspective. I enjoy the format and emphasis of this devotional. Each chapter has two or three pages and ends with a short page including a Scripture, a thought or quote to take with you for the day, a suggested prayer request that goes with the chapter, and an application. The book is divided into three sections: 1. True Riches - Thinking Biblically About Money and Wealth; 2. Kingdom Business - Your Marketplace Ministry; and 3. Leaving a Legacy - For Christ, His Commission and His Kingdom. I find the format and content challenging, very helpful, to the point, and user friendly.

David and Jonathan Shibley have penned a wonderful devotional-type book in "Marketplace Memos". I love the look and format of this book. It challenges the reader with memory verses, prayer focuses and suggestions to live out the concept of each 3-page devotional reading. The subjects are pertinent to our times and faith in Christ. This is a terrific book.

Often it's a tough decision choosing whether to spend one's career in direct service to God (pastor, teacher, missionary) or in the business world. Now David and Jonathan Shibley help those Christians who've chosen the marketplace see their daily work lives as just as important to the kingdom of God as the professional minister. Bite-sized reads, encouragement day-to-day, inspirational.