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Biblical Worldview and Human Flourishing
Created to Flourish
Three resources that illuminate God's good intentions for individuals, communities, and nations.
I have the great privilege of talking to and engaging with people around the world on a daily basis. I hear how life is being lived in a variety of places, and I am often asked to pray for people, communities, and the issues confronting them. It is a great honor.
Sometimes, however, I wonder if some of the answers people are seeking have already been given to us in Scripture. That idea is the motivation for this article.
I want to point you to three resources that I believe will give you guidance toward God's intentions and, quite possibly, an answer to your prayers.
A Question to Consider
What Does It Mean to Flourish?
What do you think about when you hear the word flourishing?
Is it something we should pursue, or is it simply given? What does the Bible say about flourishing? Does flourishing only apply to our material lives? Does it apply only to individuals, or to communities and nations as well?
These questions are at the heart of the following resources.
Three Resources for Flourishing
Resource 1
Made to Flourish
God's good intentions for every part of life
I want to begin with a book by our former Vice President, Dwight Vogt, called Made to Flourish.
In this book, you will be inspired to think specifically about God's good intentions for human life:
“Human flourishing, in turn, concerns how individuals and communities can develop and live in the healthiest and most productive ways. It is not limited to economic gain and material progress. God's intent for flourishing covers every part of life—work, rest, entertainment, relationships, marriage, sex, family, church, food, hobbies, and vacations. Nothing is excluded.”
This is really GOOD NEWS to anyone searching for how to live in the world.
Learn more about Made to Flourish
Resource 2
Wisdom: The Way to Human Flourishing
Connecting the wisdom of Proverbs with everyday life
The second book I want to highlight is Darrow Miller's Wisdom: The Way to Human Flourishing.
Darrow draws insights from the book of Proverbs to help us align our thinking and our actions with God's good intentions.
“God created the universe in wisdom, and in wisdom God sustains and fulfills history. Wisdom is common ground for all human beings. The wisdom contained in the book of PROVERBS creates the bridge between all people who want their lives to function well and to flourish.”
This book is an invitation to discover the unique purpose for which humans have been made. Whether you are a practitioner with a global interest, an educator, or someone who desires to apply wisdom to your personal life, family, community, or business, this book will help you connect your story to God's larger purposes for humanity and creation.
Explore WisdomResource 3
A Flourishing Nation
Ten biblical principles for building and rebuilding nations
Finally, some of you may look around and think, “My entire nation needs help. Is there any hope for positive change?”
There is!
God has GOOD INTENTIONS even for our nations. But flourishing nations do not fall from the sky. They are built—built on the foundation of Kingdom principles.
This resource is available through our online training school, Coram Deo. The course is called A Flourishing Nation.
This is one of my favorite courses. The videos were originally recorded in Arabic and include English subtitles. The principles highlighted in this course apply to EVERY nation. If you prefer, you can skip the videos and read the available transcripts instead. The content is excellent, and I hope we will have English audio or video for the course in the future.
It addresses ten biblical principles that we can use to build or rebuild our nations so that they flourish. Consider inviting people from your church or community to work through it with you.
Take the A Flourishing Nation courseA Glimpse into the Course
God is the rightful owner of all He has made. He knows His creation intimately, and every part is important to Him. He created everything for a distinct purpose.
Every human being is made by God. God has given every person dignity and honor. Because of this, all people are equal before God and equally accountable to God. Every human being—regardless of race, religion, age, skin color, sex, social status, poverty, or wealth—is important to God and of immeasurable worth.
God has given human beings a unique set of abilities, including the capacity to speak, reason, choose, and love. He has given these so that mankind can rule over creation and cause it to flourish. Because God is the ultimate owner of all He created, humankind is accountable to Him for the wise stewardship of His creation.
Put It into Practice
Start With One
I believe these resources may be an answer to prayers that many of you are praying.
God has designed us to grow and develop. He confirms it in His Word and provides the principles for it to take place. He is FOR US, not against us.
I encourage you to start with one of these resources. Reflect on what you learn, discuss it with others, and begin applying it to your life today.
The Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached is Good News for the here and now as well as for eternity. He desires to see us flourish and to use us to help others flourish.
From the Kingdomizer Network
A Fellow Kingdomizer in Mozambique
“Before anything I would like to appreciate you for the way you are encouraging me to continue reading the material you have been sending to me. Reading such material makes me understand that I have been called to do something. I mean, God has a purpose by calling me/us. Therefore, I must participate in what God is doing.
The purpose of God is not something only to be known or felt, but to make it happen, to flourish and to be seen by all people so that some people can feel and see God's love, power and at the end He can be glorified by the nations.
Since I started to do the course and read the books, I'm feeling ready to obey practically what God commands me to do with all my heart. I'm prepared to look at the needs of our neighbors and our communities and our own needs as well.
When we work with God we will see how loving God and loving our neighbors can help us to work against poverty.
The blessings from the Lord be upon His Nations.”
Bonifacio
Kingdomizer Network Opportunity
Join the Made to Flourish Book Study
I will be facilitating an online book study using Dwight Vogt's Made to Flourish. We plan to meet weekly on Tuesday mornings, Arizona time, beginning October 13.
The book study is exclusively for members of the Kingdomizer Network. If you are not yet in the Kingdomizer Network, consider joining.
A Kingdomizer is someone who has been deeply impacted by DNA’s teaching and wants to grow alongside like-minded Christians in applying a biblical worldview and intentionally advancing God's Kingdom in each area of their life.
If you are already a member and would like to participate, email me at scarson@disciplenations.org.
What Is God Doing Through You?
Do you have a testimony that would glorify the Lord and His work in and through you or your community? If so, please write it down and send it to me. I would love to share it with the network and encourage others.
Shalom,
Shawn Carson
Kingdomizer Network Coordinator
Disciple Nations Alliance
