Topic outline
Biblical Standards for Businesses (3 credits)
Enroll me Professor: Darren Shearer, M.A.
Darren is the founder and CEO of High Bridge Media, a marketing agency specializing in publishing and promoting the world-changing ideas of inspiring thought leaders. Its imprint, High Bridge Books, has published more than 60 books since 2013.
Darren is also the director of the Theology of Business Institute, a global think tank with the mission of helping marketplace Christians to disciple their co-workers, companies, industries, and communities. He has authored three books, including Marketing Like Jesus: 25 Strategies to Change the World and The Marketplace Christian: A Practical Guide to Using Your Spiritual Gifts in Business.
A former Captain in the United States Air Force, Darren earned the United States Air Force Commendation Medal for his meritorious service in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He holds a M.A. in Practical Theology from Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA), an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Management from Pace University (New York, NY), and a B.A. in English from Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC).
Darren and his wife, Marie, reside in Houston, Texas and have two young boys, Solomon and Armand.
Overview
Marketplace Christians are called to "set the standard" in the business world, and our ultimate standard is Jesus Christ. By setting Christ-centered standards in every aspect of business, Christian business professionals can fulfill the Great Commission---that is, to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:16-20)---by making disciples of their companies, industries, and communities.
In this course, you will learn the biblical foundations and standards for each of the major disciplines of business in order to help you and your company spread the awareness of God's glory, Jesus Christ, in the marketplace.
Outcomes
As a result of successfully completing this course, students should be able to...
1. Understand the primary purpose of business from a biblical perspective.
2. Articulate the biblical foundations for each of the following disciplines of business: profitability and profit management, innovation, marketing, customer care, management, human resources management, accounting and accountability, business law, and risk management.
3. Understand the role of business in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20).
4. Understand the current state of the "Marketplace Christianity Movement" and how to engage his/her local church in this movement.
Required reading
Burkett, Larry. Business by the Book: The Complete Guide of Biblical Principles for the Workplace (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998).
Miller, David W. God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007).
Shearer, Darren. Marketing Like Jesus: 25 Strategies to Change the World (Houston: High Bridge Books, 2014).
Shearer, Darren. The Marketplace Christian: A Practical Guide to Using Your Spiritual Gifts in Business (Houston: High Bridge Books, 2015).
Assignments
View all online lectures and read all articles in each topic. CLI computer tracks whether you do this. After viewing all lectures for the unit, take the quiz based on the lectures (100% of grade).
Grading Scale
A 95-100% A- 90-94% B+ 87-89% B 83-86% B- 80-82% C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C- 70-72% D+ 67-69% D 63-66% D- 60-62% F 0-59%
Your average grade for all assignments in the class must be at least 60%. Otherwise, you will fail the class and will receive no course credit.Accessibility
All of the videos have slides to accompany them.
Note: You must complete all work by the final deadline of the course. If you are not done by that date, you will have to take the class again to receive credit.
In Conclusion: Watch the Presentations. Read the attached readings. Take the quizzes. But most importantly start putting the principles that you learn into practice in your relationships.
Day 1 - 10
Unit 1: The Marketplace Christian's Primary Purpose in Business
Day 11 - 20
Unit 2: Disciple-Making Companies
Day 21 - 30
Unit 3: Innovation, Value-Making, and Competition
Day 31 - 40
Unit 4: Christ-Centered Management
Day 41 - 50
Unit 5: Profitability and Profit Management
Day 51 - 60
Unit 6: Marketing
Day 61 - 70
Unit 7: Customer Care and Quality Control
Day 81 - 90
Unit 9: Human Resources Management
Day 101 - 110
Unit 11: Risk Management
Day 111 - 120
Unit 12: Business Professionals and the Local Church
Day 131-150
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Day 151 - 180
The course has ended. Please make sure all quizzes have been completed. If your work is incomplete, it is considered a drop, and you will have to take the class again in order to receive credit.
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