Christian stewardship of creation

God Expects Humans to be His Stewards with Nature

Genesis 1:26. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

Ezekiel 34:2-4. Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you did not take care of the flock! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Ezekiel 34:10. 0 shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.

Ezekiel 34:17-18. As for you, my flock... Is it not enough for you to feed on good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

Isaiah 24:4-6. The earth dries up and withers, the world languished and withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth lies under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.

Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.

Luke 16:2,10,13. And he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. You cannot serve both God and mammon.

James 5:5. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Mark 4:19. ...and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.

Revelation 11:18. The nations were angry and your wrath has come. The time has come for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great - and for destroying those who destroy the earth.

Bacon quote

Read a quote yesterday that I'll pass along.... it's from John Bacon.

The greatest voyage is not to far distant shores, but seeing with new eyes.

We sometimes live in boxes which keep us from seeing who God is and who he wants us to be. Jesus often prayed and hoped that his disciples would see with 'new' eyes.

Seminary Chapel Messages

I thought this was fairly cool. Download Southern Seminaries chapel messages here.

http://www.sbts.edu/resources/Audio_Resources/Chapel_Messages/Fall_2007.aspx

A new hymn

This might be something that would work just prior to a sermon or a teaching about the importance of God's Word.

Downhere. A Better Way ...Live

I love you could not be said a better way than Jesus on the cross.

Sufficiency of Jesus Sermon story

This is posted here for those who wanted a copy of the story.

Illustration: "The Road of Life" – Poem Author unknown
At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die, He was our there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture but I didn't really know him.

But later on, when I met Christ it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride. But it was a tandem bike
and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring and predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts up mountains and through rocky places at break-neck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared!" He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.

And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life, I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to make sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places, and beginning to enjoy the view, and the cool breeze on my face, with my delightful constant companion, JESUS CHRIST.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says . . .
"Pedal." --Author Unknown

Jesus - is all that we need.

Advocate – I John 2:1 –
Alpha and Omega Rev. 1:8
Author of Life - Acts 3:15
Bread of Life John 6:35
Bridgegroom Mt. 9:15
Chief Cornerstone Eph 2:20 -
Christ I John 2:22
Faithful and True Witness Rev 3:14
God. John 1:1
Head of the Church. Eph 1:22
High Priest Heb. 2:17
Holy One Acts 3:14 .
Image of God 2 Cor. 4:4
Judge Acts 10:42
King of Kings Rev. 19:16
Lamb of God John 1:29
Light of the World John 8:12
Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5:5
Lord of Lords Rev. 19:16
Mediator Heb. 9:15
Morning Star Rev. 22:16
Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6
Resurrection and the Life John 11:25
Rock – I Cor. 10:14
Savior –2 Peter 2:20
Son of God – John 1:49
The True Vine. John 15:1
Word of God – Rev. 19:13

This is just a taste. There are so many more scriptures and wonderful attributes of our Savior. bc