Session 1 Biblical Prosperity and Warnings Big Ideas: ● What is Biblical Prosperity? ● Scriptural Warnings about Love of Money and Stuff “It would have been well for the Church of Christ, if the warnings of the Gospel had been studied as much as its promises.” -J.C.Ryle Prosperity- the condition of being successful or thriving. A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune. 3 John 2-4 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. “to show a good way,” “to lead on a good path,” “to guide well.” Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. 4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Scriptural Warnings about Love of Money and Stuff John 2:13-17 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” Matthew 21:12-13 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves. Martin Luther and the Reformation Fast Forward Some characteristics of how I define the hyper prosperity gospel: ● Teaching that claims that Christ’s atonement secured for us earthly wealth and money. ● Teaching that says you can claim in faith financial prosperity based on what Christ secured for us in His atoning work. This becomes a works-based system and transactional relationship with God. ● Teaching that makes the gospel about me and how much stuff I can get from God verses salvation from sin, eternal life in Christ, and surrendering my life to God in obedience to His will. ● Teaching that equates your spiritual maturity with how much money and stuff you have. ● Teaching that says living extravagantly rich is the blessing of God on your life. ● Teaching that has an Americanized western spin instead of a holistic biblical interpretation. This assumes the prosperity we experience in America is the lens by which we interpret scripture instead of letting the text be interpreted in the context of the original audience and time in history. ● Teaching that views any type of suffering (which is clearly promised to us in scripture) is not God’s best for you and exposes a lack of faith. ● People that seem to have more of a love of money then God and His eternal purposes. ● Teaching that promotes being wealthy and neglects biblical stewardship and accountability. 1 Timothy 6:5-12 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Ephesians 5:3-5 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Matthew 6:19-20 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. What am I passing down? Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Luke 12:16-21 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Take Away: 1. Have you ever taken the time to process through the righteous indignation that Jesus expressed in the temple towards the religious leaders? After reading about this, what messages stand out most to you that you can pray through and study further? 2. Do you have personal experience with church leaders misleading people for financial gain? Take some time to process through those experiences, give them to God, and pray for those people now. Ask God to open your eyes to truth and expose any false teaching in you. 3. How do you define biblical prosperity? 4. If you do not partner with your local church with time, treasure, and talent, why not? ● Is it theological? ● Is it a need for training? ● Is it rebellion? ● Is it love of money and stuff? ● Is it selfishness? ● Fear instead of Faith in God?