Proving Ground

An honest and realistic look at why how we work matters.

There is no such thing as untested Christian faith.

The Bible shows us how testing experiences are common to every Christian and are part of God’s good work in making us the people he wants us to be. As we spend so much of our time working, (whether in the home, in voluntary work, study or in a paid job), our work, like every part of our life, provides opportunities to prove for ourselves that God is real and at work in his world for good.

Graham Hooper has written this challenging and encouraging book for all Christians, but particularly for those struggling to ‘live out’ their faith at work, or questioning the worth of what they are doing.

Graham writes with the conviction that the Bible’s teaching about work is inclusive, covering every type of work at every stage of life; that the Bible is a message of good news with a universal application; and that it is also honest and realistic about the pressures of daily work and the way these often test our faith in a just and loving God.

It’s this truly biblical view of work, grounded in Graham’s own experience, which he presents in this book.

Chapter headings include:

Part A: Understanding our Motives

1. Necessity
2. Getting Ahead
3. Ambition
4. Competition
5. Rewards
6. Contentment or Adventure?
7. Pride
8. Self–Image

Part B: Living Our Values

9. Accountability
10. Faithfulness
11. Service
12. Dealing with Corruption
13. Living with Integrity
14. Prayer at Work
15. A Witness to What?
16. Setting Priorities

Part C: Transforming Relationship

17. Being the Boss
18. Working for the Boss
19. Bullying and Harassment
20. Dealing with Conflict
21. The Blame Game
22. Exploitation
23. Loneliness

Part D: Testing Situations

24. Trapped
25. Frustrated
26. Bored
27. Stifled Creativity
28. Pressured to Conform
29. Aimless
30. Envious
31. Setback
32. Redundant
33. Stressed

Part E: Keeping Focused… on ‘the Big Picture’

34. God at Work
35. Not in Vain
36. Identity and Worth
37. The Right Work?
38. Career or Calling
39. Measuring Success
40. Leaving a Legacy