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  • USING THE ‘CHRIS PAUL EFFECT’ AS A GUIDE

    USING THE ‘CHRIS PAUL EFFECT’ AS A GUIDE

    By Rick Boxx

    Readers of Monday Manna come from many backgrounds. Some people are high-ranking executives, even CEOs. Most would fit into other classifications: Managers, department heads, salespeople, retail clerks, administrative assistants, entrepreneurs, professional people like physicians, attorneys, CPAs, and engineers. The list could go on. We all have different levels of authority and responsibility. However, even if you are not a CEO or business owner, at any level you can still have incredible influence on your team.

    A recent article in the respected periodical, Harvard Business Review, was titled, “Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator.” It highlights longtime professional basketball player Chris Paul as a super-facilitator. Four times he has joined a new team, and within two years, each team experienced its best record ever.

    Chris Paul has become known for encouraging and getting the best from his teammates. According to the authors of the HBR article, teammates can add tremendous value to any team by learning to encourage and maximize the diverse expertise of their peers and cultivating trust.

    This principle is not limited to the realm of sports. It applies to virtually every area of life, including the business and professional world. We all work on teams. Even entrepreneurs rely on skills and abilities that others possess that they do not. So, while we are seeking to benefit from them to accomplish our goals and objectives, we can also strive to be like Chris Paul – to bring out the best in them.

    Reading through the Bible, we find much being said about the power and effects of encouraging others and building up one another. Here are several examples:

    Providing motivation. True leaders are people who prove to be worth following. That means they have vision and communicate it to others, work with enthusiasm, demonstrate how things should be done, and understand and value the capabilities of everyone on their team. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

    Setting the example. Working with excellence, integrity, determination, and humility are just some of the qualities that inspire others. When we set high standards of conduct and behavior for others, the impact cannot help but influence others in positive ways.  “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

    Sharpening each other’s abilities. Have you heard of creative friction? This occurs in the process of developing ideas, planning, and actual implementation of plans. Sometimes this results in constructive conflict, the offering and discussion of differing opinions and perspectives. Just as metal blades become sharper as they come into contact with each other, we too can become sharper and more effective in doing our jobs by rubbing shoulders with one another. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

    Receiving mutual support. Inspiring others and seeking to motivate them to perform at their best is not a one-way pursuit. Often, there is a reciprocal benefit, receiving encouragement and support as we are striving to provide those things to people we are teamed up with. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

    Regardless of your position, look for ways to encourage each teammate and their collective value. 

    © 2026, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. Can you think of someone you know or have worked with who exhibited traits similar to the basketball player Chris Paul, who was described? What do you remember most about that person and the effect he or she had on other people?
    2. How do you think someone becomes a “super-facilitator,” being able to bring out the best in others?
    3. Consider the team in which you are currently working. Is there someone – even yourself – that would be an example of this “Chris Paul effect”? What steps do you think you could take to be more like that kind of person?
    4. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, striving to serve and represent Him in the workplace, you understand He was the ultimate example of motivating others and challenging them to do and become the best they could be. How can your relationship with Christ enable you to become a stronger, more impactful member of your team?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Matthew 16:24; John 13:15; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 13:7

    Challenge for This Week

    The challenges, demands, and stresses of the 21st-century marketplace are enough to wear down even the strongest among us. Take some time to do a personal evaluation: What is your typical attitude from day to day? Are you someone people look to for encouragement and inspiration? Or are you more likely to draw energy away from them?

    It would be helpful to share your conclusions with someone else – a close friend or coworker, accountability team, mentor, or group of advisors. Discuss – and pray about – how you can motivate one another to become “super-facilitators.”

    Matt Trayler

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  • Turning Ordinary Conversations into Gospel Conversations

    Turning Ordinary Conversations into Gospel Conversations

    By Tony Beckett

    “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.”
    —Colossians 4:5 (CSB)

    Men talk easily about many things—work, sports, politics, family, finances. Conversation comes naturally to us. What often does not come naturally is speaking about Christ.

    I’ve been teaching an equipping class using the 3 Circles method of sharing the gospel. One of its greatest strengths is that it helps men move from everyday conversation to gospel conversation without being awkward or confrontational. It reminds us that evangelism is not about pressure—it’s about faithfulness.

    This week, I was reminded how quickly ordinary conversations can turn in the wrong direction.

    A brief exchange with a friend began casually but quickly shifted into a strong political statement. Politics isn’t the issue here. What stayed with me afterward was this: the conversation never moved toward Christ. It moved toward opinion, not truth; argument, not hope.

    Later, I found myself asking a more personal question—one every Christian man should ask:

    When was the last time I turned an ordinary conversation into a gospel conversation?

    Scripture calls men to spiritual leadership—not only in our homes and churches, but also in the everyday spaces of life. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), placed by God in workplaces, neighborhoods, coffee shops, and locker rooms for a reason.

    Most gospel opportunities do not begin with sermons. They begin with conversations. A question. A shared struggle. A comment about life not being the way it should be. These moments are open doors—if we are paying attention.

    Too often, we speak boldly about temporary things and stay silent about eternal ones. Courage in Christ is not loudness or argument. It is clarity, conviction, and compassion. It is being ready to speak of sin, repentance, the cross, and new life—plainly and humbly.

    God does not call men to win debates. He calls us to be faithful witnesses.

    So take time today to reflect:

    • Am I spiritually alert to gospel opportunities in everyday conversations?
    • Do I know the gospel well enough to explain it clearly?
    • Am I willing to risk discomfort for the sake of someone’s soul?

    Pray that God would give you wisdom, boldness, and love—and that He would use your ordinary conversations to accomplish extraordinary, eternal work.

    For more information on 3 Circles Gospel presentation method, you can visit: https://youtu.be/Hs7HYpRjqSo?si=6ZquOW1RfxIS_CiV

    Matt Trayler

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  • THE LONG GAME OF COMPOUNDED FAITHFULNESS

    THE LONG GAME OF COMPOUNDED FAITHFULNESS

    What if I gave you two choices: one million dollars right now, or a single penny that doubles in value every day for 30 days? Which option would you take? Most of us would not even pause. A million feels immediate, secure, and transformative. A penny feels disposable, barely worth the space it takes up in your pocket. But here is the hidden math: That one cent, doubled every day, would grow into more than $ 5.3 million in a month! In just the first week, it would increase, one penny, two pennies, four pennies, eight pennies, 16 pennies, 64 pennies.

    But then we would experience the quiet power of what the finance industry calls “compounding.” By day 10, only $5.12. But by day 20, just over $5,000. Still not overly impressive. But in the remaining days, the growth curve explodes. What once seemed invisible suddenly becomes overwhelmingly apparent.

    In the Bible’s New Testament, the apostle Paul points to a reality that relates directly to this principle of compounding: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). In the marketplace doing good, walking in integrity, practicing generosity, and staying faithful to Jesus Christ in ordinary ways rarely feels dramatic. It feels small. Hidden. Like that first single penny. Yet every act is a seed sown in God’s field, and seeds compound in ways we cannot predict.

    The challenge is enduring and persevering. Paul warns: “Do not grow weary.” Why? Because weariness tempts us to quit before the harvest, the fruit of our labors. Being faithful in obscurity does not always feel rewarding. It often feels unnoticed: A kind word in a meeting no one remembers. A prayer whispered at your desk with no immediate answer. An honest report when no one is checking. Each seems forgettable. But they are not. Every choice is a seed, and Paul promises the harvest will come in God’s time.

    This runs against the culture of the marketplace. The system around us idolizes speed and scale. Quarterly profits. Fast deals. Shiny shortcuts. But the kingdom of God moves at a purposeful, deliberate pace. It treasures small beginnings, steady obedience, and the unseen faithfulness that builds quietly until, in God’s timing, it explodes with fruit beyond imagining.

    Think about how this plays out in your work:

    • A short conversation over coffee plants the first seed of the Gospel in someone’s heart.
    • A mentor’s steady investment in one young professional can shape generations of people to come.
    • A faithful pattern of generosity, compounded over decades, fuels Gospel work around the globe.

    None of this looks impressive at first. They are pennies dropped into God’s economy. But left in His hands, they multiply in ways we could never manufacture. So, as Paul says, do not grow weary. Keep planting. Keep sowing. Keep doing good. Not because results come quickly, often they don’t, but because the Lord of the harvest sees, and He is faithful. Obedience always produces fruit in due season.

    The marketplace will tempt you with shortcuts and instant millions. However, Jesus calls you to the penny: the daily choice of faithfulness, one small act of obedience at a time. And one day, you will see how He multiplied it into something you never could have imagined.

    © 2026. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace.
    Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public
    sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for
    protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With
    his wife Ana, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. Paul warns us not to “grow weary” in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Where are you most tempted to give up because results feel slow or unseen?
    2. How have you seen the principle of “compounding faithfulness” demonstrated in your workplace: small daily actions that eventually carry great influence and impact?
    3. The marketplace often celebrates speed, scale, and shortcuts. How can Christians resist those cultural pressures while practicing endurance and integrity?
    4. What is one “penny of faithfulness” you can commit to this week: something small, but consistent that could reap long-term fruit in God’s economy?

    NOTE: If you would like to explore more on endurance in the Christian life and workplace, consider these Bible passages: Proverbs 14:23; Matthew 13:31-32; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:36

    Challenge for This Week

    Do you ever find yourself becoming “weary in well-doing,” wondering what the point of the hard work you are doing without seeing any visible results is? At such times, we need to remind ourselves of God’s promises that “our toil is not in vain in the Lord.” It also helps to have someone to encourage us when our faith is wavering.

    Seek out someone this week, maybe a small group you meet with regularly, and explain about any situations at work or in your personal life that are tempting you to give up because you are growing weary in doing good. Pray for one another fervently, with earnest expectation.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Maximizing The Leverage Of Our Latter Years

    Maximizing The Leverage Of Our Latter Years

    Years ago, I began writing a series of essays I called “Fourth Quarter Strategies.” The premise is that while every stage of our professional life is important, our final quarter should be our best. If we remain healthy, living to age 80 and beyond is a reasonable goal. That would mean the last 20-plus years of our lives could be the most productive of all – because of both expertise and experience.

    Some time ago Alan Smith, a staff director for CBMC met with a small group of older Christian business leaders (some of them were retired). He encouraged them to recognize the incredible value they still had for the Lord as well as for younger professionals they interact with in the local marketplace. 

    Smith offered six Bible verses as “food for thought” that share one thing in common: All are found in the first chapter and third verse in their respective books. We believe this is not coincidental, but by design, to underscore the importance older followers of Christ have for God’s purposes. Here are those verses:

    There is no time limit to being fruitful. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

    Wisdom is to be passed down through the generations. “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation” (Joel 1:3).

    We can serve as examples for others to follow. “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

    Spiritual growth never ends. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

    Our prayers make an eternal impact. “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (2 Timothy 1:3).

    Wisdom, understanding and faith are to be shared. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may also have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

    As a fellow follower of Christ, I agree with Smith’s perspective on the value of our latter years. Many of us are less encumbered with work demands and more available to serve, teach, mentor and disciple others. God does not want us to sit back and put ourselves on a shelf for our remaining years on earth. 

    In his letter to the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul succinctly concluded, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). His life gives us a beautiful example of how to live our lives to the very end for the Lord Jesus. I encourage you to join me with the attitude of a distance runner determined to reach the finish line strong, focusing on the prize that lies ahead! 

    © 2025, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. How do you relate to the content of this Monday Manna? If you are a younger business or professional person, still building your career, have you taken advantage of the wisdom and experience of older colleagues? If you are in your latter years, have you recognized the value you can continue to bring to the workplace – and to those you encounter each day?
    2. What are obstacles that can prevent or inhibit older and younger people in the marketplace from successfully interacting and benefiting mutually from one another?
    3. If you are a younger person in the marketplace, and an older person were available to meet with you to offer his or her wisdom, experience and knowledge, what things would you like to receive?
    4. If you are one of the people referred to, a veteran of the workforce or retired, what things do you think you have to offer to younger people? How would you go about trying to find someone you could invest in to share experience, insights and wisdom you have gained through many years in the marketplace?

    NOTE: For more about what the Bible says about this topic, consider the following passages:  Psalm 92:12-14; Philippians 1:21-26; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 12:1-2

    Challenge for This Week
    Regardless of where we are in our working careers – just getting started, in the midst of our prime years, or moving toward retirement (or already there) – we have much to offer that can benefit one another. This week, try to take some time to think about how you might benefit from the synergy of older and younger people collaborating where you work.

    If you recognize the benefits of spending time with another person in a different stage of his or her career, consider approaching someone to begin such a relationship. Pray that God would lead you to the right person.

    Matt Trayler

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