Christian Stewardship and Sustainability
Definitions
 Brainstorm independently for two minutes, and then write down a definition of:
 Sustainability
 Development
Sustainability:
Development :
The Industrial Revolution (C18th to C19th)
 _______________, rural societies in ___________ and America
became industrial and ___________.
 Industrialisation ___________ a shift to powered, ___________ purpose machinery, ___________ and mass production.
 The Industrial Revolution saw ___________ systems of
transportation, ________________ and banking.
 This revolutionised the ___________, pulling it out of the ___________ Ages and launching
it into what we call the ___________ Age.
 Increased ___________ and variety of manufactured goods and an improved
___________ of living for some.
 However, ___________ working and living conditions for the poor and working
___________.
 Factories were ___________ en-mass, and began to ___________
the earth on a new ___________ scale.
 ___________ energy was a fundamental driver of the Industrial
Revolution.
 The move away from ___________ farm life and into cities for
___________ lead to rapidly growing urban centers, without
adequate ___________ and waste collection. Disease ran wild.
Today?
 Brainstorm with the person next to you what impact ‘development’ has had on the
world today, considering both positive and negative.
Positive
Sustainable Development
 "Sustainable development is development that
meets the needs of the present, without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs."
 Label the diagram on the right
Negative
The Christian perspective
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over … all the earth … and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it.”
Genesis 1:26, 28, King James Bible
Q: What are your Thoughts on this passage?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
‘Dominion over nature’
 This verse from ___________ has been used by some to claim that Christianity
___________ what is called ‘___________ over nature’, that is the ___________ of
humankind to use and ___________ the land, plants and animals at will.
 And in ___________, Christianity is to ___________ for the ecological problems of
___________ world.
 But how true is this ________________, and is it supported by the ___________?
Stewardship
 Stewardship is a theological ___________ that humans are responsible for the
___________, and should take ___________ of it. Stewardship in Christianity follows from
the belief that ___________ beings are ___________ by the same God who created the
___________ universe and everything in it. To look after the Earth, and thus God's
___________, is the ________________ of the Christian steward.
The principle of ownership.
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalms 24
 This is the fundamental principle of ___________ stewardship. Christian stewardship
___________ and ___________ with God. It starts with the principle that everything we
have comes from God. As people, we are __________________ to God for the way we
use his gifts. Therefore, stewardship expresses Christianity’s ___________ regarding the
administration of ___________ God has placed under our control, which is all
encompassing. Stewardship is the commitment of one’s ___________ and possessions to
God’s service, recognising that we do not have the right of ___________ over our
___________, property or
___________.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
 Which of the Global Goals do
you think Christian Stewardship
relates to? Circle these on the
right.
 Go to the UN Sustainable
Development Goals Website
and explore each of the goals
that relate to Christian Stewardship.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
Homework:
Answer the following question using specific examples. Your response should be about
half a page long.
How is the concept of Christian Stewardship reflected in the UN Sustainable Development
Goals?