By Jeff Brink, January 9, 2024

By God’s grace, human flourishing and cultivation of His resources began thousands of years ago and have evolved ever-increasingly since. Once the Personal Computer, cell phone, and the Internet became mainstream in the 1990s, technological advancements came at us at warp speed. Today’s digital tools give us on-demand access to information of all types, unprecedented utilities, and incredible connectivity applications. In this digital age, we can now instantly connect with, converse, and do business with anyone, anywhere at any time. All from a hand-held device – pretty amazing stuff!

The trick is cutting through the sinfulness and noise coming from technology (such as social media) and instead harnessing these resources in God-honoring ways to grow in our faith, do good, flourish, and advance God’s kingdom.

Today’s topics are how to use LinkedIn effectively and who we follow.

LinkedIn is a powerful networking platform with over 1 billion users worldwide and has become the standard for professional connectivity. If you are not actively using LinkedIn already, I strongly recommend you create a profile and immediately begin connecting with others in your church community, professional field, friend groups, and people you meet in all areas of life. Having your network on a single platform makes it easy to manage, reach out with opportunities, and support one another. You also have immediate access to everyone’s background, making it easier for you to netweave, or thoughtfully connect others for their benefit.

If you already use LinkedIn, contemplate the power at your fingertips for ministry and advancing the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Think about how you can use LinkedIn differently and your God-given gifts to help others flourish. Biblical flourishing is missional, priestly, and outward-focused, motivated to spread God’s glory throughout the earth. We flourish when we help others flourish (Jer. 29:4-7). This runs counter to the cultural view of flourishing, which is self-focused, inwardly fixated, and all about us.

Below are 7 practical steps to improve your LinkedIn usage effectiveness as a Christian professional:

1. Ensure your LI profile accurately represents your professional story and captures your expertise – this will improve alignment with potential opportunities and helpful connections.
2. Connect with people both inside and outside your profession. Your network should include colleagues, family, friends, church family, and everyone you meet – remember, it’s about you helping others. The larger your network, the larger your sphere of influence and opportunities to do good.
3. Regularly look for new connections via LinkedIn’s recommendations based on common connections and invite them to join your network. Then, seek opportunities to serve them.
4. Use the LinkedIn Messaging feature to initiate a direct dialog with any of your connections
5. Only publish and re-post helpful and God-honoring content.
6. Be careful what you read and who you follow. The devil is actively utilizing social media platforms to separate us from God and push us toward sinful thoughts and desires. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.

Like all social media platforms, LinkedIn offers the ability to “follow” certain people or organizations. Take inventory of who you follow, admire, and aspire to emulate. The Christian life is defined by who we follow.   Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27-30). Who are you following?

Does the content you ingest reflect the voice of God?  Does who you choose to follow reflect the heart of God?  Not just on Sundays but during the week and online.