Genesis on Prosperity

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Psalm 72:1-14

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 72:1-14, Matthew 2:1-12, Hebrews 7:1-2, Genesis 14:8, John 10:10-14

Preaching Angles Having celebrated Christ’s reign on Christ the King Sunday in November and having sung (most likely) to the “King of kings” (forever and ever!) in the Hallelujah Chorus at some poi...

lectionary

Epiphany of the Lord

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Matthew 2:1-12, Hebrews 7:1-2, Genesis 14:8, John 10:10-14

Context Psalm 72 is one of two psalms (along with 127) that is attributed to Solomon, and it fits within a slightly larger group of psalms traditionally considered “royal psalms,” perhaps used as cor...

liturgy

God blessed them, and God said to them,

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Exodus 20:9-10, Psalm 90:17

God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth' Lord be with those who work and worship The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to ti...

illustration

Cultivating Blessing Through Our Work

Author

Tom Nelson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:15, Jeremiah 29:4–7, Proverbs 11:24–25, Matthew 5:13–16 , Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 90:17

Looking through the lens of Holy Scripture, human work must be seen first and foremost as value contribution, not economic compensation. We can have a flourishing, fruitful life even if we don’t get a...

illustration

A Business Legacy: Providing More Value for its Customers

Author

Larry Weber

Keywords

Business

Scripture

Isaiah 85:10, Colossians 3:17, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 1:28, Micah 6:8, Proverbs 19:21

Discovering a moral mission requires a little soul searching. Typically, it involves an exercise that serves to identify an intrinsic value embedded in a company’s DNA, which is a logical extension of...

illustration

Searching for the Infinite

Author

Robert Burns

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:18, James 1:17, John 1:9, Job 12:7-10

Robert Burns was a widely heralded poet and lyricist (1759-1796), considered by many as the National Poet of Scotland. Burns’ poems continue to be read around the world and many have been put to song,...

illustration

The Covenants of Scripture

Author

Merrill F. Unger

Keywords

Covenant

Scripture

Hebrews 13:20, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:14-19, Genesis 3:14, Genesis 8:20-9, Genesis 9:5-6, Genesis 12:1-3, Galatians 3:16, John 8:56-58, 2 Corinthians 3:7-9, Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Deuteronomy 30:1, 2 Samuel 7:4-17, Luke 1:31-33, Acts 1:6, Revelation 19:16, Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8:8-12, Galatians 3:13-20

Eternal covenant, Heb 13:20—The redemptive covenant before time began, between the Father and the Son. By this covenant we have eternal redemption, an eternal peace from the ‘God of peace’, through th...

illustration

A Fixed Pie Or A Growing Pie?

Author

Tom Nelson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 41:46-57 , Proverbs 31:10-31, Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 128:1-2

Seeing that wealth is neither to be avoided nor praised but rather stewarded wisely and generously, how should we think about material wealth creation? This is an important question worthy of thoughtf...

Quote

Author

Tom Nelson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:27–28, Exodus 31:1–5, Jeremiah 29:7, John 15:4–5, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 128:1–2

Human flourishing is first and foremost a flourishing of relationships—our relationship with God and with others. But human flourishing is also a product of fruitful work that reflects our God who wor...

illustration

Blessing: A Life with God

Author

John Ortberg

Keywords

Blessing

Scripture

Genesis 12:2-3, Psalm 1:1-3, Matthew 5:3-12, Galatians 3:8-9, Genesis 12:2-3

Blessing in the ancient world was the highest form of well-being possible for human beings. The Greeks referred to the blissful existence of the gods as “blessed.” For Israel, blessing included not ju...

illustration

The Difference between Success & Fruitfulness

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 17:7-8, Genesis 41:50-52, Isaiah 53:2-3, John 15:4-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 1:1-3

There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control o...

Quote

Author

Robert Louis Stevenson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-9, Job 1:20-22, Isaiah 40:29-31 , 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 37:23-24

Our business in the world is not to succeed to but to continue to fail in good spirits.

Quote

Author

Charles F. Stanley

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 16:11, Romans 8:35-39, John 10:10, Genesis 22:1-14 , Isaiah 1:1-3

What is the abundant life Jesus has for you? It is a life rooted in eternity—one that looks beyond your troubles today to a tomorrow full of hope, where Christ is your Leader, strength, joy, and peace...

liturgy

A Blessing on Hope

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 16:1-16 , Psalm 130:5

Pastor: I wait for the Lord, People: and in His word I put my hope. Pastor: Now may the God who calls you “friend,” the Lord Almighty, bless you and direct your days and your deeds...

Quote

Author

Dwight L. Moody

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Ruth 1:16-18, Mark 2:1-12, Genesis 22:1-19, Colossians 3:14

Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy.

Quote

Author

Thomas Sowell

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:28, Deuteronomy 8:18, Matthew 25:14-30, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Psalm 128:2

Many economic fallacies are due to conceiving of economic activity as a zero-sum contest, in which what is gained by one is lost by another. This in turn is often due to ignoring the fact that wealth ...

Quote

Author

Ellen F. Davis

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 3:17, Deuteronomy 11:11-17, Deuteronomy 28:24, Isaiah 16:8, Hosea 4:3

Overall, from a biblical perspective, the sustained fertility and habitability of the earth, or more particularly of the land of Israel, is the best index of the health of the covenant relationship. W...

Quote

Author

Jonathan Edwards

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 7:24-37, Genesis 32:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 1 John 5:14-15

It is very apparent from the Word of God that He often tries the faith and patience of His people, when they are crying to Him for some great and important mercy, by withholding the mercy sought for a...

liturgy

Peace and Harmony for All

Author

Clement of Rome

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-31, Psalm 119:105-112, Psalm 19:1-4, 1 John 1:9 , Romans 8:31-39, Psalm 121:1-8, 1 Timothy 2:1-4

You, Lord God, made the eternal fabric of the world appear, and you created the earth. You are always trustworthy, you judge fairly, excellent and marvelous in your power; wise in creating and careful...

illustration

Util and Frui

Author

James Bryan Smith

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 8:, Genesis 1:31, Psalm 19:1, Ecclesiastes 3:11

Two Latin words are used to describe useful and beautiful things: util and frui. Util means useful, beneficial, helpful. Frui means enjoyable, pleasurable, and delightful. The created world is both fr...

illustration

What Does it Mean to Be Blessed?

Author

H. Norman Wright

Keywords

Blessing

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-4, Mark 10:13-16, Psalm 1:1-3, Matthew 5:3-12, Galatians 3:8-9, Matthew 19:13-15, Numbers 6:24-26, Luke 18:15-17, Luke 24:50-51, Genesis 27:1-40

Ask a dozen people what the word blessing means and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers. For many people, it means financial security. For some, it means good health- For yet others, it mean...

liturgy

Creator of heaven and earth, you have

Author

Serapin of Thumis

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 65:9-13, Genesis 1:29-30, Joel 2:23-24, Deuteronomy 28:12, Isaiah 55:10-11, 1 Kings 18:41-45, Leviticus 26:3-4, Psalm 104:13-14, James 5:17-18

Creator of heaven and earth, you have studded the sky with stars and made it bright with lights, enriched the earth with fruits to satisfy our needs, given to humankind the clear light and the shining...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Revelation 21:10, 22:1-5

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 21:10, Revelation 21:2, 10, 22-27, Revelation 22:1-5, 1 Kings 6:20, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:23-24, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 3:17-19, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:23, Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 33:20-23, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, Mark 15:34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Exodus 28:15-21, 29-30, John 4:13-14, John 7:37-38, Matthew 27:46, John 3:2, Romans 8:29

Pulling Back the Curtain The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a “pulling back of the curtain” to reveal both the unseen realities of the present (what is really going on in the world from God’s perspect...

illustration

The Power of Hope in Troubled Marriages

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Zechariah 4:10, Genesis 8:1, 1 Kings 18:44 , Matthew 13:31–32, Romans 5:3–5, Psalm 42:11

Ray Johnston, in The Hope Quotient , shares a remarkable insight from a leading psychologist who had spent his career helping deeply troubled married couples rebuild their relationships after yea...

illustration

In an essay on friendship, the renowned poet

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 50:20, Exodus 4:10-12, Jonah 1:4 , Luke 22:31-34, 61-62, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 73:26

In an essay on friendship, the renowned poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “My entire success, such as it is, is composed of particular failures.” There’s a deep truth in that line—one many of us need to...

liturgy

Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts,

Author

Thomas Aquinas

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 112:7, Daniel 6:, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Genesis 39:, Matthew 2:1-12

Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downward, unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out, upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow...

illustration

Now What?

Author

Gary A. Haugen

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 25:29-34, Isaiah 55:1-3, Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Luke 14:16-24, Philippians 3:7-14, Psalm 16:11

Indeed, there comes a time in the life of every believer and of every church where a voice inside us simply asks, Now what? After we have been introduced to Jesus and have found peace with God through...

lectionary

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, Revelation 21:2, 10, 22-27, Revelation 22:1-5, 1 Kings 6:20, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:23-24, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 3:17-19, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:23, Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 33:20-23, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, Mark 15:34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Exodus 28:15-21, 29-30, John 4:13-14, John 7:37-38, Matthew 27:46, John 3:2, Romans 8:29

Preaching Commentary Pulling Back the Curtain The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a “pulling back of the curtain” to reveal both the unseen realities of the present (what is really going on in the wo...

illustration

Let a Person Feed on the Promises of God

Author

Dwight L. Moody

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 15:1-6, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Matthew 6:31-33, Psalm 34:8-10

Is it possible that God’s promises are given less consideration and value today than in the time of evangelist Dwight Moody? Moody described the preciousness of God’s promises this way: Let a man ...

Quote

Author

K.J. Ramsey

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-3 , Numbers 6:22-27, Ruth 2:8-12, Luke 1:39-45, Psalm 5:1-12 , Psalm 133:1-3

To bless is to bridge. A blessing is a bridge to belonging, built right in the place we feel separated from hope. Words of blessing bring us back to the beautiful truth of being human: we belong to on...

scripture guide

lectionary

liturgy

illustration

illustration

illustration

illustration

illustration

illustration

illustration

liturgy

liturgy

illustration

illustration

liturgy

scripture guide

illustration

illustration

liturgy

illustration

lectionary

illustration

A

B

C

E

F

G

H

K

L

O

P

R

S

T

W

Genesis

Exodus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Psalm

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Micah

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

James