Q&A on John Lennox's Latest Book - A Good Return, during the OCCA Business Program

About OCCA Business Program | A three-week intensive course for up to 15 people will seek to equip those from a variety of professional contexts. The course includes a mixture of lectures, discussion groups, Q&A times, workshops, and practical assignments, as well as trips to London to meet Christians working in different contexts in work and ministry.

As well as honing in on scripture for spiritual formation, encouragement and challenge, the course focuses on understanding worldview and speaking the beauty and credibility of the gospel into key issues in society – the very issues we often feel fearful of and reticent to discuss.

The Business Programme is by application only and is aimed at people who have at least 10-15 years’ experience in a business setting.

Chapters
0:00 Start
0:26 Why write this book now?
1:39 The divide between the marketplace and the pulpit
8:28 Why should I work?
12:04 How do we remain excellent in two fields of work?
16:33 Work produces character: What does the Bible say?
21:31 What people see vs the reality of Church leadership
28:27 Gospel patrons
34:10 How to discern your ‘calling’
42:04 The Sabbath
49:31 The evolution of work in church leadership
52:19 The importance of critical thinking
58:17 The place of ambition in the workplace
1:01:32 How do we do all things to glorify God?
1:05:10 Upholding integrity and finishing well
1:08:10 Prayer

[chexyyl]

I never skip a new John Lennox talk on ytube. What a blessing he is to the body of Christ.

[jasonstreun]

Dr. Lennox has been such a blessing to me.

[des]

I appreciate these videos of discussing living your life for God first and others.

I work at a lowly job position and still appreciate this talk. My teen sons need direction, and I am praying for God to save them and direct them.

[azothansanga]

I thank God for John's life. Thank you John.

[gilbertreverchon]

Facilitator ! this is the only word I would say and give as a comment on John Lennox ministry and talks. Great Job ! Thank you, and thank Lord for it and him ❤

[tommarshall]

It's so nice to hear fresh wisdom from John- but also to have the input from everyone else here- with great qs and nice to have all the speakers well-filmed. Thank you :)

[KosmicKitchen]

This book seems answer my prayers for guidance on work. I have ordered it, thank you Dr Lennox.

[rupeshtuppat]

I am from India but I have never seen this kind of man. God filled this man with true wisdom and knowledge. He is true mentor. God may bless this uncle

[frankagliotti]

Dear Dr. John Lennox, thank you for sharing a timely message for us as Christians the importance of understanding our work in learning righteousness, ethics and morality - these values are lessons we learn in our work that develop our character and thinking by reflecting God and His Kingdom.

[mikehoffman]

My second time hearing him talk. I love this guy!

[NoTrashInHeaven]

Yes, seek God's heart, his desire for building His family (kingdom) in whatever you desire to do, managing well the resources at hand ❤

[DHPshow]

The best talk I've heard of him. This was epic

[Sharon-nfgz]

Such encouragement, elderly really appreciate it.

[williamwallace]

Even though i do not agree with John Lennox on many issues, i do enjoy listening to him speak as he has a very soothing relaxing voice!

[Rickelsonnih]

Still have awesome and tremendous respect and spiritual enlightenment from our Dr. Lennox, just not on this point.

[stevelenovo]

Love John Lennox. I have listened to so many of his lectures and have a number of his books but I have to say that I disagree with one comment he made - "God loves us because of who we are." When we consider all the bible has to say about the destructive and defiling influence of sin upon humanity, and we then consider the infinite purity and holiness of God, we must accept the fact that we have lost all intrinsic worth before a holy God. There can only be one answer to the question 'why does God love us?' It is because of who He is not because of who we are.
'God is love.' The parable of the prodigal son is a wonderful illustration of this. If we say that the reason the son was forgiven includes the fact of who he was, the grounds of forgiveness then includes the son's inherent worth as well as the forgiving father. ALL credit should go to the Father. His forgiveness is beyond comprehension. It is other worldly. Grace, grace, grace.

[LeftBoot]

Why now? Because of what John has recently read himself... New ideas that gave him the motivation to write it. 🤔 Maybe he's read Bernardo Kastrups philosophical books?

[youthwake]

Will this be in podcast format as well?

[anamontenegro]

So cute John that wouldn't kill the fish he would fish😊

[thaicorners]

42:04 The Sabbath
The insinuation posed hinges on the Sabbath's sacred character. But does sacredness equate to inactivity? Absolutely not!

In Matthew 12, Christ concludes His argument that it is LAWFUL TO DO GOOD on Sabbath, while affirming its sacredness.

When Jesus remarks on priests 'profaning' the Sabbath in Matthew 12:5, He paints a picture—not of irreverence—but of service to a higher cause.

Look at it this way: a paramedic might 'profane' the silence of the night with the wail of an ambulance siren, yet we wouldn't brand them as guiltless noise-makers. Why? Because their purpose is necessary and good. Likewise, in Matthew 12:5, when Jesus speaks of priests 'profaning' the Sabbath, yet remaining guiltless, he uses a touch of divine irony to challenge the Pharisees' legalistic mindset. The work of priests on Sabbath - which included burning incense, changing showbread, offering sacrifices - might be viewed as 'profaning' from a rigid perspective, but Jesus refuted the flawed logic of the Pharisees legalistic presuppositions. The priests' 'work' is NECESSARILY performed in honor of God, embodying the essence of Sabbath - a day dedicated to divine worship.

Comparing Sabbath 'work' to violations such as adultery, theft, or murder is like comparing a real apple to an iOS apple. The latter involve harm, deceit, and destructiveness - nothing of which you can accuse the dutiful priests.

Christ's logic confuted the Pharisees' hypocritical logic. The Sabbath observance isn’t about 'not working' but 'working on' our relationship with the Creator by doing good on the Sabbath. -DAP