Episode 398 – The Divide Between Pastors and Entrepreneurs | Tom Nelson

Five years into pastoral ministry, Tom Nelson stood before his congregation and confessed that he had cared more about Sunday than about their Monday. That confession began a 30-year journey. Today Tom is a senior pastor of 37 years and the founder of Made to Flourish, a network of about 17,000 pastors equipping their churches for the workplace.

Justin Forman and Tom go back to the bookends of Scripture to show that work existed before the fall. They discuss why work is contribution before compensation, especially as AI reshapes the economy. Tom draws a parallel between first-century Roman roads and today’s global marketplace. He also shares two practices changing churches across the country: pastors visiting congregants at work, and vocational interviews called This Time Tomorrow.

If you have ever wondered whether your church sees your Monday, this conversation gives you language and a next step. Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

00:00 Work and worship were designed to be seamless

00:45 Admitting you missed something

01:35 A pastor’s public confession

02:53 What Genesis revealed about the integrated life

04:24 We see what we know

05:34 Reading the bookends of Scripture

07:59 Will AI make work disappear?

09:12 Redefining work: contribution before compensation

10:58 Headwinds and tailwinds for the Kingdom

13:00 Roman roads and the global marketplace

14:52 Why pastors feel overwhelmed

17:36 Visionary pastors and integrator entrepreneurs

18:37 Vocational testimonies and workplace visits

20:47 This Time Tomorrow

22:19 What workplace visits changed for Tom

24:41 Entrepreneurs, invite your pastor in

26:21 Humility and wisdom over intimidation

28:35 From business as mission to a pervasive mindset

31:00 Woven into everything, not added on

34:29 Four-lane highways into the city

35:58 Rewriting the church scorecard

38:19 Why Your Work Matters and Made to Flourish

42:52 God is up to something

43:22 A blessing for marketplace leaders

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Faith Driven Entrepreneur is an educational platform hosted by Faith Driven Movements, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire, educate, and mobilize people to use their time, talents and other resources in the marketplace. Faith Driven Movements brings together leaders from around the world that seek to make a financial, social, environmental and spiritual impact through their business ventures. The website is intended to be an opportunity to exchange ideas for educational purposes. Faith Driven Movements is not responsible for the opinions, advice, statements, materials, presentations, data, images, videos, documentation and other information (collectively, the “Materials”) expressed or otherwise shared by guest contributors (including without limitation podcast guests, conference speakers, guest writers, participating companies and investment professionals). The Materials are for informational purposes only, and the statements, views and opinions expressed at any presentation or in any Materials are those solely of the presenter and not of Faith Driven Movements. Hosts and Guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. Further, Faith Driven Movements does not endorse or recommend any presenter, promoter, investment advisor, strategy, company or any views mentioned at any conference or in the Materials. Under no circumstances will Faith Driven Movements (or their respective trustees, directors, officers, employees, or agents) be liable for the accuracy, quality or reliability of any of the presentations or Materials, any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of presenters, or any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from any presentations or Materials. By visiting the site you agree to comply with the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct.

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Faith Driven Entrepreneur is an educational platform hosted by Faith Driven Movements, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire, educate, and mobilize people to use their time, talents and other resources in the marketplace. Faith Driven Movements brings together leaders from around the world that seek to make a financial, social, environmental and spiritual impact through their business ventures. The website is intended to be an opportunity to exchange ideas for educational purposes. Faith Driven Movements is not responsible for the opinions, advice, statements, materials, presentations, data, images, videos, documentation and other information (collectively, the “Materials”) expressed or otherwise shared by guest contributors (including without limitation podcast guests, conference speakers, guest writers, participating companies and investment professionals). The Materials are for informational purposes only, and the statements, views and opinions expressed at any presentation or in any Materials are those solely of the presenter and not of Faith Driven Movements. Hosts and Guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. Further, Faith Driven Movements does not endorse or recommend any presenter, promoter, investment advisor, strategy, company or any views mentioned at any conference or in the Materials. Under no circumstances will Faith Driven Movements (or their respective trustees, directors, officers, employees, or agents) be liable for the accuracy, quality or reliability of any of the presentations or Materials, any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of presenters, or any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from any presentations or Materials. By visiting the site you agree to comply with the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct.