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Work, Money, and the Ten Commandments
Discover how the Ten Commandments speak to faithful decisions about work and money.
About this Course
Work, Money, and the Ten Commandments offers a fresh look at the ancient guidelines for living. You'll walk through the Ten Commandments with an expert guide, who will invite you to consider how this ancient text provides foundational perspectives for today.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
How do we honor God in our daily work? What does faithful stewardship look like when it comes to money? When economic systems seem at odds with biblical values, how do we respond?
Many Christians navigate their financial lives feeling disconnected from their faith. Work, Money, and the Ten Commandments invites learners to understand vocation as more than occupation, to practice sabbath as both holy rest and economic disruption, and to make choices that honor God’s call for justice in every corner of life. By walking through key commandments and taking the time to apply them to you, you’ll finish the course equipped to integrate faith into every aspect of your work and economic life.
Modules
Reading the Ten Commandments
In this module, you will:
- Understand the narrative contexts and varied numbering systems of the Ten Commandments, and recognize how the Bible addresses work and money throughout its laws, prophets, and wisdom literature.
- Reflect on your current relationship to work and money in light of Scripture.
- Practice faithful interpretation of biblical texts by applying guidelines that honor both the text and your current context.
“I am the LORD your God” (Remember You Were Slaves)
In this module, you will:
- Learn that the experience of slavery and exodus is foundational to Old Testament law and shapes how God’s people are called to order their economic lives.
- Develop awareness of how this shared spiritual ancestry of liberation can challenge and shape your own practices with work and money.
- Examine what aspects of work or money come before God in your life and consider whether they function as competing sources of security or salvation.
“Remember the Sabbath”
In this module, you will:
- Understand the two different rationales for sabbath found in Exodus and Deuteronomy—one emphasizing holiness and God’s rest in creation, the other emphasizing liberation from slavery.
- Cultivate practices of rest that honor both the holiness of sabbath and its call to economic disruption and liberation.
- Practice sabbath observance in ways that embrace values of justice, rest for all in your household, and freedom from the demands of productivity.
“You Shall Not Make For Yourself An Idol”
In this module, you will:
- Understand how idols functioned as physical objects in ancient Israel and recognize the connection between material possessions, productivity, and modern forms of idolatry.
- Reflect on the ways physical belongings and the pursuit of productivity may become false representations of what saves and sustains.
- Examine specific areas of life where possessions or productivity compete with God's provision, and identify practices for reorienting trust toward God's care.
“You Shall Not Covet, Nor Steal”
In this module, you will:
- Understand the power dynamics implied in biblical teachings about covetousness and how Scripture critiques those who use power to take what belongs to others.
- Listen to God’s call for contentment and justice as you consider what “enough” means in your own life.
- Reflect on the idea of “enough” in light of power dynamics and examine systems that reward greed and excess at the expense of others’ wellbeing.
The Ten Commandments in Your Life
In this module, you will:
- Understand how the Ten Commandments provide a framework for just living that honors both God and neighbor, recognizing that obligations to God inevitably shape economic justice.
- Deepen your sense of vocation, understanding it as encompassing your whole self and your first loyalty to God.
- Reflect on economic choices you can make differently—not just in giving, but in earning, spending, and ordering all aspects of your life according to these commandments.
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- Modules:
6 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Cameron Howard
Cameron Howard is an associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, where she joined the faculty in July 2012. She previously held visiting appointments at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and the School of Theology at Sewanee, the University of the South.
Howard received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude with honors in religion from Davidson College, where she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She holds a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology and a Master of Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary. She received her Ph.D. from Emory University in 2010.
Among her publications are contributions to “The New Interpreter’s Bible One-Volume Commentary” (Abingdon 2010), the 20th anniversary edition of “Women’s Bible Commentary” (Westminster John Knox 2012), “Connections: A Lectionary Commentary Resource” (Westminster John Knox 2018), Presbyterians Today magazine, and the journal Word & World. Committed to making academic biblical scholarship accessible and relevant to clergy and laypeople, Howard has written over two dozen essays for WorkingPreacher.org and is a contributor to BibleOdyssey.org, the Society of Biblical Literature’s web-based initiative for public biblical scholarship. Her book, “The Old Testament for a Complex World: How the Bible’s Dynamic Testimony Points to New Life for the Church,” was published by Baker Academic in June 2021.
Howard is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be familiar with the Old Testament to take this course?
No prior knowledge is required. The course provides context and background for understanding the Ten Commandments and their relevance to contemporary life.
Is this course only for people in ministry?
While valuable for clergy and ministry leaders, this course is designed for any person of faith who wants to integrate their beliefs into their work and economic decisions.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The course includes 6 modules, each designed to take 15-45 minutes. You can complete it at your own pace—from a single day to several weeks.
Can I use this course for group study?
Yes! The course includes a leader’s guide with discussion questions and activities perfect for small groups, adult education classes, or study groups.
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
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