Redeeming Productivity

By Reagan RoseReligion & Spirituality Christianity

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Redeeming Productivity episodes

September 16, 2019 RPS #6 – Secrets to Self-Contro with Drew Dyck
Today I am joined by Drew Dyck to discuss his new book, Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. Drew is an acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers, a contributing editor at Christianity Today’s CTPastors.com, and the author of several other books as well. We discuss how self-control fits into the Christian life and how believers can cultivate more of it in their own lives.
Links
Get Drew’s book, Your Future Self Will Thank YouDrew Dyck’s WebsiteMy review of Your Future Self Will Thank You for The Master’s Seminary Blog.This week on the Blog: How to Organize Your Writing with Markdown
34 min
September 09, 2019The Most Valuable Resource on Earth
In this episode, we look at the phrase “redeem the time” from Ephesians 5:16 and how having an appreciation for the preciousness of our time changes how we live. From the writings of Jonathan Edwards, we examine four reasons why time is the most valuable resource on earth and what that means for how we spend it.
Show Notes
Welcome
Welcome to the 5th episode…

If you have questions, suggestions for topics or just want to say hello. Send me an email at [email protected].

Be sure to check out the companion blog post
1:21 - Episode Introduction
What makes things like gold, diamonds, oil, or other natural resources valuable?

The most valuable resources are useful, rare, and nonrenewable.

Given these principles for value, the most valuable resource on earth is time.

With the help of Jonathan Edwards, we will take a look at Ephesians 5:16 and that phrase, “redeem the time.”
4:20 - Context for Ephesians 5:16
In Ephesians 5:15, the apostle Paul begins a section on “walking in wisdom” so we need to understand the instruction to "redeem the time" in that context.

This is one of the ways in which believers are to walk in wisdom. We walk in wisdom by, as it says in the ESV, “making the best use of the time.”
5:26 - Explaining the Phrase
That phrase “making the best use of” in the ESV is actually just one word.

Some translations render is simply “redeeming.” And that is a good translation because it carries the idea of buying, especially buying back or buying out.

Paul uses the same term in Galatians 3:13 when he writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us….” And he uses it similarly to our passage in reference to time in Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

Making the most of the time is the opposite of delaying, it is taking full advantage of every opportunity.
10:48 - Edwards on The Preciousness of Time
American Puritan Jonathan Edwards addresses this important issue in his 1734 sermon “on the preciousness of time and the importance of redeeming it”.

In it, he gives four reasons why time is precious.
13:05 - First, time is precious because eternity depends on it.
14:20 - Second, time is precious because it is very short.
17:02 - Third, time is precious because we do not know how much we have.
22:40 - Fourth, time is precious because once it’s gone it’s gone.
24:40 - Application
Links
4 Reasons Time is Precious - Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards - The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It - PDF
30 min
September 01, 2019 RPS #4 – Flirting with FIRE: The Idol of Financial Independence
Ever dreamed of retiring early? How about retiring at 25 or 30? In this episode, we talk about a movement that is inspiring young people to be very productive now, so they can be far less productive later.
The financial independence, retire early movement, or FIRE for short, has continued to gain traction among millennials, including some believers. But how should Christians think about this? Is financial independence a worthy pursuit? And most importantly, what does the Bible have to say about it?
1:15 – Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has listened, left a kind note, or given a review!
1:37 – Defining FIRE
FIRE is an acronym which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Sometimes it’s just called FI and It goes by other names as well, but it’s a lifestyle movement that has popped-up among millennials with the goal of doing just that—achieving financial independence (i.e. no job) and retiring early (as in, REALLY early, like late 20’s early 30’s).How it’s possible to save up enough money to retire young.It’s self-imposed frugality for the sake of gaining freedom from working a job.Related but not the same as the concept of generating “passive income” to achieve similar freedom.
6:05 – The Popularity of FIRE
Most popular among the millenial generation.The /r/financialindependence subreddit has 628,000+ members.People interested in FIRE are typically also interested in productivity.Several major books have stoked this movement, Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin.Millennials who lived through The Great Recession have a distrust in the market and in traditional career paths, thus have sought alternatives.The internet has helped disseminate information about this alternative lifestyle, and social media culture has turned people who have done it into Instagram and YouTube celebrities.
9:49 – My Flirtations with FIRE
My wife and I stumbled into FIRE by accident while living in an RV for 4 years in Los Angeles. We weren’t trying to become financially independent, but living this way meant we were saving most of our monthly income and we were technically doing all of the things required to become financially independent if we just kept going.
11:56 – Why We Didn’t Pursue FIRE, and What the Bible Says About It
Nothing wrong with not working a 9–5 job as long as providing for one’s own household and serving the Lord with their lives.There are good aspects to the FIRE movement.
16:12 – What Would You Say to a Christian Pursuing FIRE?
What about someone seeking early retirement from the need to work for money so they can devote themselves to ministry?The motive is the issue. Why are you really doing this?Seeking financial independence may actually be a love of money issue.
19:11 – The Parable of the Rich Fool
Parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12:13–21.The Rich Fool was someone who was trying to become financially independent and retire early, and he is presented as a negative example. Why?
24:37 – The Danger of Covetousness
The Rich Fool’s sin was being rich toward himself and not toward God. Ultimately, it was an issue of covetousness, which is idolatry.The sin of covetousness (Exodus 20:17).Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5–6; Ephesians 5:5).
28:33 – We Need to Have a Bigger Savings Goal
We need to have heaven as our goal, not the goal of creating a temporary heaven on earth for ourselves.Our lives are a stewardship. We must be rich toward God with all of it: time, money, effort, everything.If you pursue financial independence for ministry purposes, be careful that you don’t become deceived by the lies of money.
Links
7 Things You Can Learn From The ‘FIRE’ Early Retirement Movement – Huffington PostFinancial Independence subredditMore on Vicki Robin, the Godmother of FIREMore on our time living in an RV – What Living i
33 min
September 01, 2019Flirting with FIRE: The Idol of Financial Independence
Ever dreamed of retiring early? How about retiring at 25 or 30? In this episode, we talk about a movement that is inspiring young people to be very productive now, so they can be far less productive later.
The financial independence, retire early movement, or FIRE for short, has continued to gain traction among millennials, including some believers. But how should Christians think about this? Is financial independence a worthy pursuit? And most importantly, what does the Bible have to say about it?
Links
7 Things You Can Learn From The ‘FIRE’ Early Retirement Movement – Huffington Post

Financial Independence subreddit

More on Vicki Robin, the Godmother of FIRE

More on our time living in an RV – What Living in an RV Taught Me About Minimalism & Contentment

Article I wrote for The Master’s Seminary Blog on the deceitfulness of riches – 3 Lies Money Tells

This Week on the Redeeming Productivity Blog – 10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling
33 min
August 26, 2019 RPS #3 – What Makes Christian Productivity Unique?
In this episode, we talk about why the foundation for a Christian’s approach to getting more done is distinctly different from the world’s. And why that means we must take greater care in how we approach the secular productivity advice we read and listen to.
1:50 – Introducing why we need a distinctly Christian approach to productivity
Why this is different than “Christianizing” secular productivityThere is a unique theology to a Christian’s understanding of productivityIt is dangerous for believers to simply take whatever the world teaches on productivity.These books have helpful advice and guidance, but must be approached with discernment.
5:30 – Every philosophy of productivity has a theology
Most productivity books and podcasts eventually leave the practical and begin to tread on religious themes—why we are here, the nature of man, the goal of life, etc.
11:08 – Examples of secular productivity books presenting religious themes
Quotes from The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, and more.
20:30 – What makes these things dangerous, and how it relates to the sufficiency of Scripture
If we don’t listen carefully, we inadvertently imbibe unbiblical theologies and build our life on them.Explanation of the sufficiency of Scripture and how that assures us of a better foundation for our productivity as Christians.
25:20 – Examples of Scripture speaking directly to the issue of productivity
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28), The mandate to work heartily unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)To not waste time (Ephesians 5:15–17) To live with self-control (Titus 2:12)The entire book of Proverbs and its emphasis on wisdom.All of these point to not just the possibility, but to the necessity, of a truly Christian productivity.
26:55 – Christian productivity is only for Christians and an explanation of what it means to be a Christian
Christian productivity doesn’t work for everyone, only for those who have put their faith in Jesus ChristChange in the Christian life is the work of God, but that change is accomplished through the means of diligent effortR.C. Sproul quote, “… we think that because we’re…Christian…we do not have to be concerned about productivity. On the contrary, our calling as Christians is the highest calling there is, and the idea of being productive is not the invention of capitalism, it is the mandate of Christ.” (R.C. Sproul, John, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary, 286)
Links
This episode was based in part upon my article Why We Need a Distinctly Christian Productivity, which was itself based on material I used for my course on Stewardship & ProductivityOn the Mormon roots of 7 Habits for Highly Effective People – A Closer Look at Stephen Covey and His 7 HabitsBooks mentioned on today’s episode: The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, Atomic Habits, Deep Work.
31 min
August 19, 2019 RPS #2 – How to Use Email Like a Christian
In this episode, we talk about how what it looks like to email like a Christian and how personal efficiency is not necessarily at odds with having a good witness in the workplace.
2:41 – Discuss article on “Emailing Like a Boss”
How the author says her life was changed by responding to emails with shorter answers because it made her more responsive, and let fewer emails slip through the cracks.The author was inspired by seeing emails from top CEOs and politicians when they became public after high-profile email hacks.Mark Cuban is known for this practice.Like to article from BuzzFeed (warning: Language).
7:30 – Discussing the merits of this terse approach to email
Allows you to get more emails answered.But there is a trade-off in personal warmth.Is this practice a good idea for Christians in the workplace?
8:30 – Emailing like a Christian—not a CEO
The Bible has a lot to say about how believers communicate:Quoted Matt. 15:11; 12:34.Regardless of the medium through which Christians communicate, our communication should be markedly Christian.Explained Colossians 4:5–6.The way in which you email is part of your Christian witness in the workplace.
16:41 – Personal efficiency in email is not at odds with loving people in our communication
Often, the most caring thing you can do with email is get back to someone right away, even if that means a shorter, more terse response.Long-winded emails do not equal better emails.
20:12 – The principles behind emailing like a Christian
Be ResponsiveBe ClearBe BriefBe Kind
24:05 – Some examples of emailing like a Christian
29:26 – Conclusion
Personal efficiency is not at odds with painting a good Christian witness. Often it can assist in that. So when it comes to emailing like a Christian the goal is simple: I want to have a good witness for Christ, by being a person who communicates well through email.That means I need to respond in a reasonable time frame. And it means I need to make sure my emails, like all my speech, are always gracious, seasoned with salt.
Links
BuzzFeedNew article referenced: I Tried Emailing Like A CEO And Quite Frankly, It Made My Life BetterOn the blog this week: More information about this podcastAnother blog post on email – How to Handle Ministry Email OverloadReagan’s Stewardship & Productivity Course at The Institute for Church Leadership
32 min
August 11, 2019Show Intro and 10 Tips for Seminarians
In this first episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show, Reagan introduces what the show and blog are all about, tells a little bit about him, then the bulk of the program is about tips for seminary students to be successful in their studies while staying close to the Lord.
Links
10 Tips for Success in Seminary – Blog Article – Redeeming Productivity

Note-taking software – Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Ulysses App

How to Stay Christian in Seminary by David Matthis

Stewardship & Productivity Course – by Reagan Rose – from The Institute for Church Leadership (Use promo code RedeemingProd for $20 off).

The Master’s Seminary

Grace to You
34 min
August 11, 2019 RPS #1 – Show Intro and Tips for Seminarians
In this first episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show, Reagan introduces what the show and blog are all about, tells a little bit about him, then the bulk of the program is about tips for seminary students to be successful in their studies while staying close to the Lord.
1:04 – What Redeeming Productivity is all about
A Christian approach to productivityStarted as a blogApproaches the topic with discernment and a desire to focus on glorifying God with one’s life
2:06 – About the host, Reagan Rose
Director of Digital Platforms at Grace to You, graduate of The Master’s SeminaryFrom gamer to God-glorifier, why he’s interested in the topic of productivityThe theological foundation for productivity and why secular approaches fall short
6:50 – 10 Tips for Success in Seminary
Goes through the ten tips one-by-one.
Links
10 Tips for Success in Seminary – Blog Article – Redeeming ProductivityNote-taking software – Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Ulysses AppHow to Stay Christian in Seminary by David MatthisStewardship & Productivity Course – by Reagan Rose – from The Institute for Church Leadership (Use promo code RedeemingProd for $20 off).The Master’s SeminaryGrace to You
34 min

About Redeeming Productivity

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Learn how to be more productive from a Christian worldview for the glory of God. Interviews, teaching, and practical advice on becoming a better steward of your life. Hosted by Reagan Rose.