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Real-Time Connections: Linking Your Job with God's Global Work
The Great Commission is not just for professional clergy; it is a charge to every follower of Christ—ordinary Christians like you and me.Bob Roberts Jr. urges disciples of Jesus to reclaim their role in God’s transforming work around the globe. In Real-Time Connections, Roberts illuminates the ways that Christians from all walks of life can use the everyday associations of their work for the service of God’s kingdom.It’s an ancient idea in a new global reality. The growth and influence of the first Christian communities came from people of every vocation. Today’s global economy offers followers of Jesus opportunities to interact with nations and people groups once accessed only by remote missionaries.Real-Time Connections helps readers shed preconceived notions of what it means to “go into all the world” for Jesus, equipping them with practical guidance and encouraging them with firsthand stories of real people doing just that. Readers can discover their vital role in expanding God’s kingdom around the globe using skills and talents that they already have.
- GenresEvangelismChristian
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
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23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 11, 2018
It was early into reading this book that I figured I would really like it, but upon finishing it and reflecting back I suppose I'm a bit surprised that I still ended with that sentiment. I say that because Roberts Jr. does something I wouldn't be so certain would succeed for most. He writes at times in a memoir fashion, at many times in a scholarly fashion, at times as a spiritual guide, and then at times in an interview fashion (some sections are purely this). For it to all gel together in a cohesive and still enjoyable read is honestly pretty remarkable.
Generally speaking, this book was such a well-executed look at the purpose of the average Christian in the glocal work of God through their influence at work, in the church, and in any other sphere of influence they may be given. As a breath of fresh air, it wasn't a guilt trip like it certainly could have been. But it also wasn't just layered with theories and nice stories that left one uncertain of actual tangibles that could be done. Roberts Jr. paints a vision for what seems to be pretty clearly the calling of the everyday believer to be intentional about their impact.
Oddly enough I saw this book (and will use this book) as a sort of training for any pastors / church planters I'm coaching, because I believe it gives such a useful view of ministry and challenges any pastor to pass this on to the church's they lead. With just the right amount of biblical scholarship, sociological study, and practical application, this book delivers something truly valuable to the Church.
Generally speaking, this book was such a well-executed look at the purpose of the average Christian in the glocal work of God through their influence at work, in the church, and in any other sphere of influence they may be given. As a breath of fresh air, it wasn't a guilt trip like it certainly could have been. But it also wasn't just layered with theories and nice stories that left one uncertain of actual tangibles that could be done. Roberts Jr. paints a vision for what seems to be pretty clearly the calling of the everyday believer to be intentional about their impact.
Oddly enough I saw this book (and will use this book) as a sort of training for any pastors / church planters I'm coaching, because I believe it gives such a useful view of ministry and challenges any pastor to pass this on to the church's they lead. With just the right amount of biblical scholarship, sociological study, and practical application, this book delivers something truly valuable to the Church.
September 8, 2014
Bob Roberts has many good things to say to the contemporary church. There is no virtue in a faith without legs. There is power in the collaboration of skilled individuals to meet the needs of this world. There is great potential in the technological opportunities of this age.
To some whose reading is wide or whose involvement in church leadership is extensive much of what Bob says may seem like old hat. Ministers have been harping for many decades about the importance of lay involvement in ministries that move outside the church walls. We have also tried very hard to explain that nobody wants to be some Christian's spiritual project, so agenda driven love is not only ineffective, it is disingenuous.
However, Roberts' important contribution is in bringing the idea of "tent-making" ministries out of the mission field and into the local church. We must each answer the question, "how do my own particular particular interests and abilities uniquely qualify me to reach people that others will not as easily reach. How can I reach to authentically love my neighbor whether or not they are interested in embracing my faith?
Roberts has a couple of weaknesses, though. One is his strong endorsement of liberally using international travel. This is clearly an opportunity born of privilege. I would also argue that widely used, it is a waste of resources. While it may be inspiring to jump the Pacific to do ministry in Vietnam, taking others along and interacting with that culture, is it really advisable? Are we creating a new paternalism by exploiting a resource that our beneficiaries cannot freely use without our help in order to reciprocate? I personally must save for years before being able to afford international travel, and I have a hard time endorsing its broad use when contributions and alternative means of connecting may be more efficient.
I also am a little frustrated with his emphasis on profession. A person's work skills are indeed a wonderful inroad to interpersonal connections. However, they are far from our only personal resource. Most Americans have hobbies, social groups, activity involvements, and community involvements that go far beyond our professional domains giving inroads to other kinds of influence. While I can appreciate Roberts' need to limit his topic for the sake of publication, it leaves many in the cold who are part of the unskilled labor force of our culture. It may be a simple matter for a suburban mega-church to tap into a broad pool of semi-wealthy professional retirees with lots of time on their hands, but he under sells the lower middle class and those in even lower economic brackets.
These are detail complaints. Roberts issues a powerful challenge to action for those of us who are not fully tapping our potential for God's Kingdom. What skills do I have that should be used to make personal connections within my community, raising awareness of God among the people I see every day?
To some whose reading is wide or whose involvement in church leadership is extensive much of what Bob says may seem like old hat. Ministers have been harping for many decades about the importance of lay involvement in ministries that move outside the church walls. We have also tried very hard to explain that nobody wants to be some Christian's spiritual project, so agenda driven love is not only ineffective, it is disingenuous.
However, Roberts' important contribution is in bringing the idea of "tent-making" ministries out of the mission field and into the local church. We must each answer the question, "how do my own particular particular interests and abilities uniquely qualify me to reach people that others will not as easily reach. How can I reach to authentically love my neighbor whether or not they are interested in embracing my faith?
Roberts has a couple of weaknesses, though. One is his strong endorsement of liberally using international travel. This is clearly an opportunity born of privilege. I would also argue that widely used, it is a waste of resources. While it may be inspiring to jump the Pacific to do ministry in Vietnam, taking others along and interacting with that culture, is it really advisable? Are we creating a new paternalism by exploiting a resource that our beneficiaries cannot freely use without our help in order to reciprocate? I personally must save for years before being able to afford international travel, and I have a hard time endorsing its broad use when contributions and alternative means of connecting may be more efficient.
I also am a little frustrated with his emphasis on profession. A person's work skills are indeed a wonderful inroad to interpersonal connections. However, they are far from our only personal resource. Most Americans have hobbies, social groups, activity involvements, and community involvements that go far beyond our professional domains giving inroads to other kinds of influence. While I can appreciate Roberts' need to limit his topic for the sake of publication, it leaves many in the cold who are part of the unskilled labor force of our culture. It may be a simple matter for a suburban mega-church to tap into a broad pool of semi-wealthy professional retirees with lots of time on their hands, but he under sells the lower middle class and those in even lower economic brackets.
These are detail complaints. Roberts issues a powerful challenge to action for those of us who are not fully tapping our potential for God's Kingdom. What skills do I have that should be used to make personal connections within my community, raising awareness of God among the people I see every day?
April 29, 2013
Had some good thoughts on how to approach outsiders to the faith. I think Bob Roberts has a very "no strings attached" approach to ministry that I admire - a Christ-like love that exceeds boundaries of religion or labels to say that I'm laying down my life for you, even if you don't reciprocate.
The highlights of the book for me are the idea of a social covenant vs. a social contract - being willing to lay down your rights for others instead of demanding your own rights - it's how Jesus lived and it's how we can change the world.
I also like the fact that he focuses so much on how non-clergy can impact the world by being missional. It's a reflection I'm taking away that God calls us to make disciples as we go - to use our hands and feet as God has gifted us and to make the most of it in the world.
Finally, he makes a well-defined distinction between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. It's something I notice in the world today but instead of working together, each nags and blames each other for the world's problems. Not cool.
In the end, a very thought-provoking book. Like!
The highlights of the book for me are the idea of a social covenant vs. a social contract - being willing to lay down your rights for others instead of demanding your own rights - it's how Jesus lived and it's how we can change the world.
I also like the fact that he focuses so much on how non-clergy can impact the world by being missional. It's a reflection I'm taking away that God calls us to make disciples as we go - to use our hands and feet as God has gifted us and to make the most of it in the world.
Finally, he makes a well-defined distinction between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. It's something I notice in the world today but instead of working together, each nags and blames each other for the world's problems. Not cool.
In the end, a very thought-provoking book. Like!
March 5, 2013
The book was a good way to start thinking about the ways we can connect ourselves to ministry both locally and globally, or as the author calls it, "glocally".
The book had some good points, but seemed to jump around a bit haphazardly from chapter to chapter. You really could read it more as a collection of essays. It didn't hone down on real steps for discernment other than some connection point questions at the end of each chapter. Still, it provided strong encouragement to follow your passions and see where they can be used in ministry.
The book had some good points, but seemed to jump around a bit haphazardly from chapter to chapter. You really could read it more as a collection of essays. It didn't hone down on real steps for discernment other than some connection point questions at the end of each chapter. Still, it provided strong encouragement to follow your passions and see where they can be used in ministry.
March 29, 2012
Bob Roberts provides a helpful resource for equipping the church to live on mission with global impact. There's a chapter on religious freedom (while informative and helpful in its own right) that really breaks up the flow of the book near the end, but there's plenty of good things in all.
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August 11, 2010A must read book if you really want to live your faith and be like Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews