Topic 1 · Biblical foundation
Your body is God’s good creation. It belongs to Him, and caring for it is an act of worship, not vanity. This topic lays the biblical foundation for everything else on the site, and it rests on grace, not guilt.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Ready to use
Free to read, print and use in your church.
Article
The biblical case for caring for your body: created good, bought with a price, and headed for resurrection.
Read nowSmall-group lesson
A small-group lesson on 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 and Romans 12:1, with discussion questions and a weekly challenge.
Read nowDevotional
A seven-day devotional on the body as God’s good gift, from creation to resurrection.
Read nowPrintable handout
Eight printable verse cards about the body, food and rest.
Read nowThe teaching
Each truth will have its own short devotional and discussion questions in the small-group lesson.
For teachers
Good teaching reads each verse in its context. Two errors to avoid: that sickness means weak faith, and that the body doesn’t matter because only the spirit counts.
1 Cor 6:19–20
“Your body is a temple” is about sexual immorality. Applying it to health is a fair extension of the principle, but say so openly.
1 Cor 3:16–17
The “you” is plural and means the church as God’s temple, not the individual body. Don’t use it as a health proof-text.
1 Cor 10:31
Closes Paul’s discussion of food offered to idols and love for others. The principle: all of life, even meals, is for God’s glory.
3 John 2
“That you may be in good health” is a letter greeting, not a promise of health.
Worth your time
Articles from other Christian writers on faith and physical health.
Article · SBC Life · Baptist Press
A call for churches to treat physical health as a matter of stewardship. The article points to health screenings at the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention, where more than 75 percent of those screened were significantly overweight, and urges pastors to teach self-control at the table, with Daniel as an example.
These articles come from other ministries and publications. We don’t control their content.
Handled with care
No. Health is not righteousness, and no one earns God’s favor by eating well. We care for our bodies because they are a gift, and grace frees us to do it without shame (Col 2:20–23).
Sickness is not a sign of weak faith. Stewardship looks different for every body, and every resource offers options for every ability.
No. Scripture gives principles, such as gratitude, self-control and generosity, not a menu. For practical details we point to mainstream nutrition science, reviewed by a dietitian.
Free from The Daniel Plan
Short devotions on faith and health from The Daniel Plan.
These links go to danielplan.com, Saddleback Church’s free health program. See our full Daniel Plan resource list.
For church leaders
A 90-day path, from the pastor’s first step to a year-round rhythm.
ExploreFor pastors
“All for His Glory”: four ready-to-preach sermons plus a bonus on rest.
ExploreSpiritual discipline
Why and how Christians fast, with clear medical safety guidance.
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