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Christian Business Development
Series Part 3 of 3
The Market
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom,
and instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23
Introduction
In the previous two parts of this Christian Business
Development series information was presented regarding
God's Corporation and His product - truth (The Product).
The need for training and preparation of Christian service
workers (The Salesman) was also brought into focus.
Now in the third and final part of this series we will be
looking at the Marketplace where God's products are
offered to the public- the world.
Before continuing further it is important to say that these
outline studies have been designed to heighten awareness
to the need for better preparations in service to God and
our fellow man. We have attempted to make a comparison
between what true Christians are offering in the area of
God's truth, and what businesses in the world offer as they
reach out with their products and services.
Of course it needs to be understood that the main goal of
this program is to help Christian service workers become
more effective and efficient in their efforts to assist people
to know God and His word better. There is no intent to
minimize Him, the people being served, or the people
serving, by referring to them as the CEO, customers, and
salesmen. We're not trying to instruct people how to make
more money, but how to work better, with God's help, to
win souls for Jesus Christ and eternal life. Using these
terms as examples offers a different perspective on how
missionaries can become more successful in their Lord's
service.
If through these studies you have been able to discern this
goal without our introduction you have done well; but for
others, in order to help avoid any misunderstandings, we
hope that what has been written here will serve to clarify
the point.
So, without any further delay, let's enter the market,
and see what it makes available to us.
Entering the Market
What do you think a market is ?
________________________________________________________
A region in which goods can be bought and sold
is also considered a market.
What segment(s) of the world's population are you
hoping to reach for Jesus? Be specific.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
What do you think a customer is?
________________________________________________________
Someone who buys from someone else is
also known as a customer.
Who are the Christian service worker's potential
customers for God's products?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Have you considered service to people
in the following groups?
The Elderly
Older Adults
Middle age Adults
Young Adults
Children
Do you think there is a need to understand customers
wants, needs, interests, and desires, etc.? Why would
this be important?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Did you know there are three things everyone in the world
wants? God offers these things freely to all without charge.
To discover more about them use the link highlighted above.
Think of some ways you might approach someone to
begin a conversation.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Let God guide you
in your communications
with others
Consider what God said to another of His
servants in Jeremiah 1: 8, 9:
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee
to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD
put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the
LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in
thy mouth.
Some guidelines on how to do the most
with what you have to work with
One of the best ways you can begin to do the most with
your gifts and talents is to try always to stay organized
and prepared.
You also need to know your products well, and present
them intelligently.
To have a good product and not to know how to
market that product can end up in with a great loss.
The Christian's main product in God's corporation is
Bible truth.
Know what you are talking about.
Don't try to fool people by telling them things you
don't really know or understand. People may forgive
you for not knowing everything about your products,
but they tend to be less forgiving if someone tries to
deceive them by offering false or deliberately
inaccurate information.
A knowledgeable salesman should be able to do the
following:
1. Search out and identify the needs of a client
2. Explain the benefits of his products
3. Propose an acceptable answer or solution
to questions or objections
You also need to continue to broaden your knowledge
base. If you aren't knowledgeable in some topics, learn
to ask questions that will give your client an opportunity
to respond. Most people like to share their interests with
those who care to listen. Through this you can discover
many things that may be helpful in knowing what to
discuss further.
Learn to think and reason from cause to effect...
it could save your life.
Bringing things together
God's workers need to discover what is really desired
and show the way to it. The Christian missionary (the
salesman) labors under the direction of God's Spirit
to assist someone to transform an expressed need into
a want, and arouse an interest to possess what is needed,
but missing, and point them to the main Supplier (God).
With this understanding a worker can go far in helping
interested souls find the Saviour and the way to eternal
life.
True knowledge must always lead to good in action;
and we must also try to help direct people to move
toward action.
There's a process that usually takes place to reach
the point where people begin to act in response to
what they have understood. Consider the following
table, and follow each step from "In the Dark" at the
bottom, toward "Action" at the top.
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Each step in the table above is separate and distinct and
leads eventually toward Action. When something new is
presented in which someone has little, or no, understanding we could say that the person is "In the Dark." But, before long, usually with some assistance, Awareness begins to dawn, and Knowledge is added and begins to develop.
If the Knowledge is good and is Accepted, the person can become Convicted that what they have learned is correct. Usually without further need of encouragement, they can take some Action to introduce into their life what they
once knew little, or nothing, about.
Consider the above table in different applications
relating to life and the acceptance of God's truth.
People usually do not have the same
background or interests
Do you know how to speak with different types of
people?
Some people you meet may be rich and educated....
others poor or uneducated. Each group requires a
special approach.
You will need to be able to talk with different groups
intelligently, in ways that they can relate to, and
especially in ways they can understand.
How should you close a meeting with people you have
contacted?
Leave them satisfied and hoping that they will see you
again soon. If you really care about those you serve,
this can lead to encouragement and many blessings.
What does the Market really want?
While it is true that people are often interested in
causes (such as God's cause, Social, and Humanitarian
causes, etc), they are more interested in results.
How can what you're offering help them personally?
How can it change their lives, or give them what they
think they want or need?
Before trying to meet another person's needs you must
find out what their needs are. The following counsel
from Jesus is helpful:
Ask and ye shall receive...
Matthew 7:7
What do you think can work best
to interest people in your company's
products?
Something you have had personal experience with is
one of the most successful tools you can use to
stimulate interest.
It is your own personal experience with the Chief
Executive Officer (God), His company, and products
(truth), that can make a difference in the lives of others.
People have different reasons for responding or giving their
attention to something. Some you meet will be truly interested,
and others, just curious. In either case they may become more
seriously interested depending on the way you approach them
and the way you answer their questions.
Think about this:
You must believe in what you are doing and learn
to do it well.
You'll never convince anyone
if you're not convinced yourself.
People generally don't like to be pressured or forced
to see, hear about, or buy, things. It's better to give
them what they think they need. Find the need and
offer something that can really satisfy it.
Your success in raising an interest will depend in part
on the "tools" (talents, gifts, abilities, etc.) you have
available, and the use you make of them. The Holy
Spirit and angels work with God's servants, and their
tools also, to impress hearts.
When a desire is elevated, people find their own ways
in which to make what they want their own.
All decisions are based upon judgment;
and good judgment is based upon
information, experience,
and common sense.
Before you ask others, ask yourself : Would I buy
this product? What would influence your decision?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Think about this in relation to someone you're trying
to interest with your Lord's products.
For what reasons would this be an important thing to
consider?
What are the "selling points" that would convince
someone that what you are offering is something
they definitely needed to have and just couldn't live
without?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
The market's buyers want to interact with those who
they believe understand them, their interests, and their
needs; and who can give them what they are looking for.
People tend to evaluate others by the way they perceive
them.
They want to know if the one they're doing business
with is "believable".
They expect company representatives to look businesslike.
In your work your appearance should be clean, neat,
and appropriately dressed.
Your presentations should be intelligent and courteous.
Your speech and actions should reflect the fact that you
represent the most important CEO the world will ever
do business with.
Market problem solving
Some things to remember:
It is important to help people comprehend clearly
what you want them to know about your business.
A Christian worker needs to learn how to handle
objections, resistance, and difficult people without
losing his self-control.
No one wins an argument... So don't waste your time
arguing with someone!
Remember also this observation from human nature:
What an individual doesn't understand
he usually opposes.
A problem must be acknowledged before it can be
solved.
Realization of a problem can lead to a solution.
Some reasons people have
for showing resistance:
Fear
Apathy (no apparent interest)
Lack of knowledge or understanding
Misunderstanding
Wrong information
Insufficient time
Needs not realized
Think of some additional reasons why people might
resist efforts to make decisions, or communicate with
you, regarding certain subjects.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
In dealing with difficult people try to discover why
are they being difficult. What is the real problem?
Everyone doesn't perceive things in exactly the same
way. When truth comes to someone, they have their
own system of interpreting it's meaning and value.
It's our duty to present our Lord's product in such a
way as to reveal its true value, both for today,
tomorrow, and for eternity; and then leave the results
with God.
Efficiency in God's service
What is efficiency? _______________________________
________________________________________________
Efficiency also might be:
Getting maximum results with
minimum effort.
Not always working harder,
but certainly working smarter.
Do you thinks efficiency in God's service is important?
Why?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Time and opportunities
usually pass by only once in life.
They may never return
or have a chance
to be repeated.
Some thoughts on how to become
more efficient in God's service
Constantly seek to improve yourself and the way
you work.
If you make a mistake or fail in something, analyze
to the best of your ability why the failure occurred.
Ask what you could have done differently to change
the outcome of the experience.
If you succeeded in something, analyze the reasons
for the success.
Ask why you think you succeeded, and what can be
done to make it possible again.
Imagination is a valuable resource too in making
progress and improvements in your work, and to
help you become more efficient.
Some things related to this might include:
Creative ideas
Inspirations
Goals to reach for
A purpose for living
A mission to fulfill.
A few closing thoughts regarding fear
Many times Christian workers have been surrounded
by debilitating fears and concerns. They arise from
different sources, but the results of allowing them to
influence our lives can have devastating effects. Not
all fear is dangerous, however. Having a healthy sense
of fear can sometimes keep you out of life threatening
trouble; but there are other fears that keep us from
making progress... fears that are unreasonable.. These
you don't need to entertain.
Let's look at some things that unreasonable fear can do:
Fear can create a pathway for failure
It often helps us miss golden opportunities
It discourages us in moving forward in life
It builds walls instead of bridges
It is blind and cannot see very far ahead
It hinders others by its example
Fear regarding missionary work often comes because
of forgetfulness, or from ignorance of God's power,
and of the tremendous resources He has made available
for use in His service.
Develop more confidence in God and avoid being
overwhelmed with unreasonable fear.
Don't let fear stand in your way.
Be of good courage and ...
Go Forward!
We have attempted here to give you a few helpful
guidelines and counsels to consider and apply in your
life to assist many people who need what God has to
offer. We hope it has been helpful.
If there is something you would like to see added, or
presented in this series, why not share your ideas and thoughts?
To Contact us use this link. We do appreciate hearing
from you.
