Scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scriptures indicated NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Wherever indicated NCV, scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Prosperity Theology
In many places, prosperity preaching sounds like a survival promise: “God wants you to succeed, to be well, to have enough.” People are invited to repeat selected Bible promises aloud, to answer with “Amen,” and to speak as if blessing is already guaranteed. Often the message includes an appeal to give—sometimes framed as a tithe or a “seed”—with expectation that God will return it in measurable ways. For those carrying sickness, debt, or social shame, that language can feel like comfort with handles, even if the comfort is temporary. But is this how Scripture is meant to be used? And what did Jesus actually teach about wealth, security, and the kind of life God’s Kingdom is bringing?