Encouraging a Sustainable Community

Support and Strength:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better than one because they have a good return for their labor and help each other up when they fall. Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens. Proverbs 27:10 When disaster strikes it is better to go to a neighbor than a relative far away. 

Accountability and Growth:

Hebrews 10:24-25 spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens Iron, so one person sharpens another. 

Unity: 

1 Corinthians 12:25-26  There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should be of equal concern for each other. If one part suffers every part suffers with it. Psalm 133:1 How Good and Pleasant it is when God’s people live together in Unity. 1 Peter 3:8 Be like minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Creation Stewardship: 

Genesis 1:28 God tells man to subdue the earth.Genesis 2:15 God put man in the Garden of Eden to care for it. Psalm 24:1 Earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. Revelation 11:18 Divine judgement for those who are destroying the earth 

Natural Consequences: 

Leviticus 25 The land must rest. This displays ecological limits to prevent soil exhaustion and promote long term recovery Jeremiah 2:7, Hosea 4:3, and Isaiah 24:4-6 Human sin, moral failure, brokenness, and violence are linked directly to the physical degradation of the land.

Conservation and Resource Protection:

 Deuteronomy 20:19 Prohibits destruction of food producing trees. Deuteronomy 22:6 Instructs taking the young not the mother to protect and ensure future generations thrive. Numbers 35:33-34 Do not defile or pollute the land where you live. Proverbs 12:10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals.

Physical Health: 

1 Timothy 4:8 Physical training has value but godliness has value for all things, in present life and life to come. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and we should Honor God with it.

Natural Foods: 

Genesis 1:29 and 2:9 God gave every seed-bearing plant and fruit bearing tree to humanity for food. Genesis 9:3 God allowed all moving things that live to be food alongside plants Psalm 104:14-15 God brings forth food from the earth for man.  Mark 7:18-19 Jesus declared all foods clean. 

Natural vs Refined Diets: 

Daniel 1:12-15 Daniel chose vegetables and water versus kings’ rich food and wine, and proved himself healthier than the guard that ate the royal foods. Proverbs 23:1-3 Rich delicacies are deceptive. Warning against temptations of rich luxurious foods that can trap the appetite or lead to gluttony.

To the Glory of God: 

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  1 Timothy 4:3-5 God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Everything created by God is good.

Without Fear:

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Daniel 3:18 Even if, the God we serve does no deliver us, we will NOT serve your gods, or worship the image of gold you have set up.