Ministry in Word

 

Good Can Come Out of Nazareth
Bader Mansour

 

NAZDAQ is a tech company started by Palestinian Arab Christians living in Nazareth, Israel. At the time, the perception hadn’t changed much from biblical times when Nathaneal asked Philip “what good can come out of Nazareth?” As NAZDAQ has grown it has answered that question by supplying high quality enterprise software to global companies. All while remaining rooted in Nazareth and providing work to other Palestinian Christians in the area.

Discussion Questions

Facing Barriers

When Philip told Nathanel he had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael responded, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathaniel assumed that Nazareth couldn't produce much of worth, let alone the Promised One.

  • Have you experienced barriers or disadvantages in your entrepreneurial journey? 

  • God might have you right where you are for a reason. Have you spent time in prayer asking for his guidance and strength? How can you make time with God a priority in both good and challenging seasons? 

Building the Kingdom

Our identity is found in and through Christ. The life of Jesus is as much about establishing our inheritance of the kingdom of God here on earth as it is teaching us what it means to follow him into a glorious eternity.

  • Do you see your business as a part of building the kingdom of God on earth? 

  • Do the people you work with know what you stand for and what you believe? 

  • Have you considered how your business skills may be helpful to your local church?

Ministering to Others with Excellence

We know that Nazareth is where Jesus’ ministry started. The son of a carpenter began small, humbly, and without much fanfare. And yet it’s safe to assume that no wobbly chairs made it out of his shop. 

  • How can excellence earn you the right to be heard? In what ways can good business transcend an unwelcoming business environment?

  •  What does that look like for your venture?

 
 
 

Ideas to Explore the Mark Further

Looking for some practical ways to put this mark into action? Here are some ideas that can help you develop an even greater understanding of Ministry in Word

  • God has given us all a story to tell. And as his faithful followers, we have the unique opportunity to use what we’ve learned through life and business to edify, encourage, and inspire one another. Our resource Sharing My Story of Grace and Business is a great tool for practicing sharing the story behind your entrepreneurial journey and the ‘why’ behind it.

  • Consider hiring a chaplain or a spiritual integration officer who can speak words of life and care for your team’s spiritual needs. See our page of Top Chaplaincy Tools for more resources about providing spiritual care to your workforce.

  • Take time in your schedule to pray for your family and community before starting the day.

 
 
Anna Kwee