We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

A jumbled flurry of musical scales filled the front room of Ole Kirk Christiansen’s home. The LEGO founder’s son, Godtfred, was playing the family organ when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see his father staring into space, the usual gleam in his eyes veiled by shock.

Godtfred’s hands fell from the keys, the sudden silence somehow louder than the chaotic chords from moments before. Christiansen sat down, took a deep breath, and tried to do the impossible: explain to his son what he didn’t understand and console with a comfort he didn’t feel. His wife and nearly-born daughter were dead.

This was easily the most brutal trial of Ole Kirk Christiansen’s life, but it wasn’t the only one. The entrepreneur watched his LEGO factory go up in flames three times, he was constantly saddled with debt, and his home was commandee...

[Jesus said], I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:35–36, 40)

On a spring day in 1917, a fourteen-year-old orphan named Viggo arrived in Billund, Denmark, carrying nearly everything he owned in a tiny suitcase. The founder of LEGO, Ole Kirk Christiansen, was there to pick him up at the train station for the start of his four-year apprenticeship.

But Viggo was treated as far more than just an employee. He soon became like an adopted son, sharing daily meals with Christiansen’s family.

As was customary in early 20th-century Denmark, Viggo wasn’t paid during his apprenticeship. But Christiansen went out of his way to teach him how to collect wood shavings...

[The angel] measured the [New Jerusalem] with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia [roughly 1,400 miles] in length, and as wide and high as it is long…The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. (Revelation 21:15-16, 19)

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Similarly, we’d be wise to follow the examples of believers throughout history who followed Christ well in their seemingly secular but deeply sacred work. That’s exactly what this new series is designed to help you do, with LEGO’s founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, as our guide.

Over the next five weeks, Christiansen will help us see five ways to glorify God in our own work today. Here’s the first: We glorify God by accepting his gift to play within our work.

It’s no coincidence that the creator of the world’s most popular plaything was himself playful. As a poor child in early 20th century Denmark, Christiansen tied a hollow rock to a s...

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28-29)

Over the last 21 weeks, we have walked verse by verse through Jesus’s most famous sermon: the Sermon on the Mount. Along the way, I’ve pulled out many “biblical principles” and optional practices for applying those principles to your work. But I’m always wary of doing that. Because I know my temptation (and yours) to trade a relationship with God for a relationship with “biblical principles.”

In his exceptional book, With, Skye Jethani warns that, “Discovering and applying [biblical] principles does not actually require a relationship with God….the Christian can put these new principles into practice without God being involved. God can be set aside while we remain in control of our lives. He may be praised, thanked, and worshipped for giving us his wise precepts for life, but as with an absentee watchm...

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)

It’s hurricane season here in my home state of Florida. And my most prepared friends are stocked-up on water, generators, plywood to cover windows, and more. Is there a hurricane on the radar? Not as I write this. But we all know one is coming.

Jesus says the same is true for your life and work. Storms will come—market downturns, mass layoffs, pressure to cut ethical corners, etc. But it’s not water and generators that will prepare you for these sto...

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:21-24)

As Jesus is wrapping up the “Sermon on the Mount,” he is repeatedly heightening the contrast between true and fake believers. We saw this contrast over the last two weeks and we see it again in today’s passage.

In his exceptional devotional book on the Sermon on the Mount, my friend Skye Jethani says, “For me, this is the most frightening passage in all of Scripture.” I concur. Because Jesus says “many” of us will do this. It is very possible to “declare with your mouth...

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

Throughout my career, I’ve probably spent 100X more time, money, and energy measuring professional fruit—revenue, leads, conversion rates—than I’ve spent intentionally measuring personal fruit—who I am becoming as I pursue that professional fruit.

But the implication of Jesus’s words in the Sermon on the Mount is that we will be hyper-intentional about measuring that personal fruit.

Of course, it can feel much easier and practical to measure professional fruit. But it’s not impossible to ...

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus made clear that the “narrow road” of following him is costly (see Luke 14:25-33). So one helpful question to ask to discern whether you’re on the “broad” or “narrow” path is this: What is your Christianity costing you?

I can’t say that my faith has always cost me that much professionally. But the more serious I get about following the way of The Way at work, the higher the material cost (and spiritual blessing) tends to rise.

For example, I recently set a new goal that led me to retool my criteria for which speaking engagements I’ll accept. But when I made that decision, I already had a full calendar of events that didn’t meet my new criteria.

Trust me, I was very tempted to cancel those speeches. But Jesus said, “let your yes be yes.” Period. Not,...

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7–12)

This passage is a favorite of preachers of the so-called “prosperity gospel.” Commenting on this passage, pastor Creflo Dollar says, “God loves us and wants the very best in life for us—this is His will.” And that “best life,” is often interpreted materially. Dollar says, “God wants us to live abundant, prosperous lives, including in our finances.”

Yeah, not so much.  

Jesus didn’t hav...

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)

My daughter Kate is the boldest evangelist I know…but she’s 9, so she’s not always the wisest or most emotionally intelligent. :)

Case-in-point: Last school year, Kate was sharing the gospel with a friend at school I’ll call Addison. After a few days of faithfully sharing Jesus’s good news, Addison abruptly said, “Kate! I’m tired of talking about Jesus. Can we please talk about something else?”

Sweet Kate came home discouraged, unsure of what to do next. That’s when I pointed her to today’s passage.

On the surface, Jesus’s words in Matthew 7:6 sound a bit…bizarre. I can imagine his original audience thinking Dogs, pearls, and pigs? What in the world are we talking about, Jesus?

Here’s how one group of theologians summarizes the most common interpretation of this text: “Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representative of thos...