1. Back to Eden A Biblical View of Nutrition August 26, 2015 AFCC

2. Why is proper nutrition so important for the body of Christ?

3. The Importance of Proper Nutrition  Energy to do God’s work  Longevity to continue God’s work  Acknowledging God by exercising self-control

4. Energy to do God’s work  Acts 27:33-34 ESV  As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore, I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

5. Longevity to continue kingdom work  People during the pre-flood era lived considerably longer. This may have been partly due to the vegetarian diet that God assigned to Adam and Eve. We also know today that nutrition has a major impact on quality life years.

6. Acknowledging God by exercising self-control  1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

7. In the Beginning  Genesis 1:29 ESV  And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”

8. After the Flood  Genesis 9:3 ESV  “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”

9. Additional Instructions to the People of Israel  The Book of Leviticus  Chapter 11:1-2 ESV  And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth…”

10. Daniel’s Diet  Daniel 1:8 ESV  But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank  Daniel 1:12-13 ESV  “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see…”

11. The New Law of Grace  Romans 14:1-3 ESV  As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him…

12. Spiritual Food  Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV  And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  Jeremiah 15:16 ESV  Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

13. Spiritual Food (cont.)  John 4:32-34 ESV  But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

14. Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today  Aim for a diet that consists of at least 50% real or fresh foods, including fresh vegetables, nuts, fish, meat, and fruits  Aim to drink half your body weight in pounds of water in ounces every day  E.g., 160 lb person should drink 80 oz (10 cups)  Drink more water when working out  Aim to start the day off right nutritionally

15. Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today (cont.)  Limit consumption of sweet beverages  soda should be avoided all together  fruit drinks should be kept to a minimum  Limit consumption of processed carbs  things like white bread, white rice, cereal, and candy bars all contain a limited amount of fiber and therefore have a high glycemic index  Avoiding skipping meals  tendency to overeat the wrong foods when starving

16. Glycemic Index Spectrum

17. Sugar’s Impact on Weight Illustrated

18. Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today (cont.)  Limit consumption of fried or grilled foods  acrylamide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons  Limit consumption of deli meats  nitrites, nitrates  Limit access to indulgent foods as well as packaged foods at home and work  e.g., ice cream, chips, frozen meals, hearty meals consisting of starchy and fried foods, etc.

19. Eat to Live  Don’t Live to Eat  Proverbs 23:20-21 ESV  Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkards and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.  1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.