The 50 to 1 ROI: Why Your Business Is the Church’s Greatest Investment | JD Greear

Description

What if your business isn't just a platform for the gospel—what if it is the gospel? Pastor JD Greear joins Justin Forman at South by Southwest to make a case that's both theologically sharp and practically urgent: entrepreneurs are the tip of the gospel spear, and the church needs to start treating them that way. JD unpacks his five-characteristic framework from Everyday Revolutionary—Creation Fulfilling, Holiness Reflecting, Excellence Pursuing, Redemption Displaying, and Mission Advancing—and shows how every one of these applies to any entrepreneur, in any industry, in any city. He draws from Daniel, Acts 11, and his own church's hard data to demonstrate that Kingdom impact through the marketplace is not a secondary calling. It's the primary front line. This conversation also gets practical for pastors. JD shares the sermon that beat out his annual sex sermon for most downloads, Summit Church's stunning 50-to-1 return on church planting investment, and the simple reframe that could change how your church sees—and serves—its entrepreneurs. [CHAPTERS] 00:00 Opening: The first interface of gospel and culture 01:07 Reflecting on 20 years of faith and work conversation 02:09 Leslie Newbigin and the missionary shift 03:04 The Great Commission vs. the First Commission 04:18 How the faith and work movement has evolved 05:04 The 10/40 window as a door for entrepreneurs 05:45 Nehemiah's three waves: spiritual, governmental, economic 06:19 Bringing Kingdom blessings into the workplace 06:45 Introducing Everyday Revolutionary and Daniel's model 07:34 Daniel's credibility: quiet excellence, loud testimony 07:34 The trust gap: entrepreneurs at 65-70% vs. institutions 08:25 Daniel and the lion's den: being indispensable to Babylon 10:53 How to see the everyday revolutionary as the better way 11:10 Grace and truth: both full, not half-and-half 11:59 Two miles of ditch: the danger of truth without grace 12:54 What does this look like for an entrepreneur? 13:26 Five characteristics of a faithful marketplace witness 14:05 Cre