For each lesson visit the forum & post your answers.  And, read what the other students have posted!

 

Lesson 1:

1.     In this lesson, Mr. Rockefeller found creative ways to use and sell gasoline, which was the by-product of refining oil into kerosene.  For years, chicken wings were discarded and thought of as a waste product when processing raw chicken for the drumsticks and breast meat. But, creative uses to invent buffalo wings turned this waste into a high profit item.  Farmers are able to take the wasted corn husks that humans don’t eat and transform it into food for livestock.  Watch this video about ReGrained…a company that makes granola bars out of the leftover “spent grain” that is used when making beer.  Then, watch this video about the One Gallon Soap Company.  This entrepreneur found a way to use a hotel’s wasted bars of soap to start a great business.

 

2.     Here is your project: Try and come up with an idea where you could use someone else’s waste product to repurpose or reuse and start your own business.

 

 

Lesson 2:

1.     Watch this video about the culture for those working at Interstate Batteries.

 

2.     Norm Miller made an intentional effort to let his faith shine in his role as Chairman of Interstate Batteries.  He talks boldly about Christ and has had a profound impact on the company culture. As an entrepreneur you may find yourself leading a company someday.  How would you want your faith to be involved in your work?  How would your faith affect your interaction with employees?  How would it affect your company culture?  What are some ways you might be tempted to compromise your faith in the business world that you’d want to watch out for?  

 

 

Lesson 3:

1.     Truett Cathy was quoted as saying: “I see no conflict whatsoever between Christianity and good business practices. People say you can’t mix business with religion. I say there’s no other way.”  Do you agree with this statement or disagree?  Do you think business and a person’s religious beliefs should be mixed?  Write a one page paper seeking to persuade someone of your perspective by giving the rationale for why.

 

2.     Truett purposely decided not to open his restaurants on Sundays so that his employees would have the option to attend church if they wanted.  Because he didn’t want to work on Sundays himself, he also didn’t want to ask his employees to do this.  This is a great example of Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”  If you were running a company, what are some of the most important things you’d implement to put this verse into practice?

 

 

Lesson 4:

1.     Stanley gave 100% of his business to God.  This meant that he wasn’t the owner and was just paid a salary just like all the other employees at the company.  This was a hard decision for him.  He admitted that he wrestled a lot with this decision before making it.  While you are a young person, it is a great time to consider how you’d like to use whatever wealth the Lord might bless you with in your life.  Write out your desire/commitments for how you’d like to use the income you make in your lifetime.

 

2.     Stanley grew up in a Christian home, attending church regularly.  Yet, he says that he never really felt like he had a relationship with the Lord.  It wasn’t until he was in his 20s and heard a gospel presentation that he turned is life over to the Lord and started a relationship with him.  You also may be growing up surrounded by Christians and attending church.  But, it is important to stop and carefully consider what place the Lord has in your life and heart.  If you are unsure whether you really have a relationship with the Lord, what might be holding you back?  If you are walking with the Lord, what are some ways you’d like to continue to grow in your relationship with him and dependence on him in your life?

 

 

Lesson 5:

1.     Watch these short videos on Microfinance:
Charity that Hurts
Microfinance 101
Opportunity International

 

2.     Some of the entrepreneurial portraits of faith we have looked at have been about business people who grew large companies and ran them for their entire lives.  David Bussau had a different path.  He became very successful in business, retired at age 35 and then used his entrepreneurial skills and wealth as a platform for ministry.  Only God knows the path he has for you, but what are some of your desires for life (entrepreneurship, ministry, giving generously, etc…)?

 

 

Lesson 6:

1.     Madam CJ Walker was an example of someone who persevered.  She faced so many obstacles in life and yet, worked hard and kept at it until she succeeded.  Perseverance is something you mostly learn “on the job”…in other words, as you face obstacles and setbacks in your business and choose to keep going, you’ll grow in your perseverance.  But, you can do some practical things to prepare yourself well to persevere.  One of these is setting hard goals for yourself and then pushes toward them.  The process will take perseverance and grow you.  For example, maybe you aren’t a runner.  You could set a goal of running a mile the first week, then again the next week. Then run 2 miles for two weeks. Then 3, and so on until you reach 10 miles.  Or, maybe you make it your goal to come up with a business idea and start it within 2 months.  You’ll have to push yourself to hit the goal, but it will be good for you.  So, your assignment is to set a goal that is a stretch for you in some area of your life.  Make it specific and measurable and give it a time limit.  Then, work hard to make sure you do it…even if you have to push yourself really hard.  Don’t give up!

 

 

Lesson 7:

1.     R.G.’s pastor told him “God needs businessmen too.”  We can truly glorify God in all that we do.  1Corinthians 10:31 says: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  God will call some young people to go into some sort of full-time ministry.  And, he will call other young people to work a career or to be a fulltime parent or to start a business as an entrepreneur.  No matter what God calls you to, you can do it with all your heart and glorify him in it.  In other words, doing ministry doesn’t glorify God more than doing a job if that is what God calls you to. 

Consider the following characters from the Bible.  Daniel, Joseph, Aquila/Priscilla. Each of them “worked” some sort of secular job and yet clearly glorified the Lord with their lives.

What can you learn from looking at the lives of these men and women of faith that supports the statement “God needs businessmen too.”?

 

 

Lesson 8:

1.     Why do you think David Green chooses to fly coach even though he has billions of dollars?

 

2.     How does this quote challenge your perspective about success in business and making money?
“Hobby Lobby is worth billions of dollars. So what? Is that the end of life, making more money and building something? I want to know that I have affected people for eternity. I believe I am. I believe once someone knows Christ as their personal savior, I've affected eternity. I matter 10 billion years from now. I matter. Someone that has great success in business alone…doesn't matter. I'm sorry, in eternity, it's gone.”

 

3.     After having learned about 8 amazing Christian entrepreneurs in this course, what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned?