HOW TO WIN WITH PEOPLE AT WORK - MISSION IN THE MIDDLE - MARK PETTUS

Main message: Work is God’s mission field — you are placed where you are on purpose to advance the gospel through your Monday–Friday relationships. To work and win with people, adopt Jesus‑rooted, practical habits that start with self, invest in relationships, and look for the small common ground you can build on.

Key points:

• The work you do is not an accident; God can use your job and coworkers as a mission field (Paul’s network in Romans 16 and the Rufus/Simon of Cyrene example).
• Principle 1 — "Starts with me": examine yourself first (Galatians 6:3–4), grow emotional intelligence, and ask “What is it like to work with me?”
• Principle 2 — "Fund it first": treat relationships like bank accounts — make regular deposits (respect, loyalty, sincere encouragement, passing credit, keeping commitments) and avoid withdrawals (eye rolls, gossip, sarcasm, stealing credit, broken integrity). A single withdrawal can cost multiple deposits.
• Principle 3 — "The 1% principle": assume you might be missing something, seek to understand before being understood (Acts 17 example), replace assumptions with questions, and pursue the small areas of agreement you can build on.
• Practical encouragements: live by the Golden Rule at work, be intentional in deposits, and remember that working with messy people is necessary for a large harvest (Proverbs 14:4).

Scriptures mentioned: Proverbs 14:4, Galatians 6:3-4, Romans 16 (Romans 16:13), Acts 17, 1 Thessalonians