The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship
Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3
Who made the earth? To whom does it belong? Who keeps the creation functioning?
Psalm 19:1-4, 150:6; Romans 1:20; Job 12:7-10; Proverbs 30:24-28; Revelation 5:13
What is the God-given purpose for creation? What can we learn by observing nature?
Genesis 1:22,28; Leviticus 25:1-7
To whom did God give the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth? How do we keep the rest of creation from being fruitful? How was giving the earth a rest related to its ability to be fruitful?
Job 25; Psalm 22:28, 145:8-21; Psalm 36:6-7; Psalm 104.
Who has the ultimate dominion over the earth? How does God's character shape the way his dominion looks?
Genesis 1:28, Psalm 8:4-8
To whom did God give rulership over the earth? What does that rulership look like today; is it what God intended? Does our rulership of the earth look like God's way of ruling (see Psalm 145)?
Genesis 2:15
What did God place Adam and Eve (representing humanity) in the Garden of Eden to do? Does this apply to us today?
Genesis 3:9-19; Romans 8:19-22; Hosea 4:1-3; Jeremiah 9:10-14
What happened to the earth when Adam and Eve sinned? How does sin affect the earth? In what ways can you see creation groaning in agony around you?
Colossians 1:20, John 3:16; Romans 8:19-22
Was Christ's purpose in coming to earth only to save and reconcile humanity? What does it mean that "everything ... on earth" was reconciled to God through Christ's death? When will creation experience release from the effects of sin?
Colossians 1:20; Mark 16:15 (NIV); 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
If we have been given a ministry of reconciliation, how can we help bring reconciliation to the rest of creation? What would "preaching the Good News to all creation" look like? If redemption means "to reverse the effects of sin upon", do we have a role to play in redeeming parts of the earth that have been damaged by our sinful actions?
The remainder of this Bible study asks you to focus on how we can apply Bible teachings to our care for one another and for the earth.
Nehemiah 1:1-7; 1 John 1:9
Do we need to confess to God ways that we, both personally and corporately, have sinned with regard to the way we treat his creation? What would you confess? What will you do to take action, as Nehemiah did, and change your lifestyle?
Proverbs 31:8-9
In what ways can we speak up on behalf of nature and other species?
Matthew 7:12, 22:36-40
How does loving God with all your heart relate to caring for the earth? In what ways do we mistreat other human beings and fail to love our neighbor with regard to environmental issues (think pollution, loss of natural resources, etc.)?
Philippians 1:27, 2:14-16
If we are Christ's ambassadors, how do we bring dishonor to the Good News about Jesus Christ when we fail to take care of the environment? How does it make people that do care about the environment feel about Christianity when they see Christians mistreating the environment? How can we let our lights shine more effectively in this area?
Matthew 24:45-51; 25:14-30
How do these verses about being wise and faithful stewards/servants applicable to the way we treat God's creation?
James 5:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46
In what concrete ways are people affected due to environmental concerns (hunger, sickness, poverty, etc)? How should we help them?