Business, government, educational, nonprofit, and at-home workplaces accomplish a tremendous amount of good in society. On the one hand, many Christians have more opportunity to serve God in their work than in any other sphere of life. Many of today’s Christians experience similar tensions at work. In general, they felt a sense of alienation living and working in a world that seemed incompatible with following Jesus. They dealt with the real tensions between ambition and dependence on God, and the fear that doing things God’s way would put them in conflict with those in authority. They dealt with harsh words and conflicts. Early Christians faced problems such as slavery, favoritism, and abuse by the rich and powerful. The General Epistles reflect the essential challenge Christians faced in the Roman Empire-how to follow Jesus in a tough environment. They are also united by their interest in practical matters such as organizational leadership, hard work, fairness, good relationships, and effective communication.

The seven letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude are often called the General (or Catholic) Epistles because they seem to speak to the Christian church in general, rather than to individual churches.

Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work.Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership.Evangelism - Sharing the Gospel at Work.10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know.

Introduction to the book of james