20 Scriptural Benedictions

1. "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV).

This is an encouragement that God told Moses to leave with Aaron and of which to bless the people of Israel. It is a simple text for the congregation to remember and to be refreshed.

2. "The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:7-8).

We are reminded from this psalm that God is the giver of help. We must lean on him and recognize that he works in our present and our future.

3. "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6).

In order to live unified in Christ, God encourages and spurs on his people in Christ. In response, we may leave this place glorifying God.

4. "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen" (Romans 16: 25-27).

God deserves all glory. He strengthens his people through the gospel of Christ and through preaching about himself.

5. "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

This is a statement from Paul toward the church in Ephesus in the middle of a letter. Jesus gives us the power to praise himself.

6. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

This concise Scripture is packed with joyful information. Jesus is gracious, God is loving, and the Holy Spirit unites us. We can leave with this place with that peace in mind.

7. "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

When we leave the church, we go into the world which is stained with sin. This is a healthy reminder that God sanctifies the church in the midst of worldly influences.

8. "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:2-3).

This passage reminds us that God's power gives us everything we need through the knowledge of Jesus. This results in grace and peace.

9. "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Jesus leads his people as the high priest and great shepherd. God paid the price for the sins of his people a his covenant. We can look forward to doing his will because he equips his people.

10. "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen"  (Jude 24-45).

God has the power to keep his children from sinning, which is a great power. He can straighten our path that we might be blameless before him. We can glorify him because of this great joy.

11. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).

There are multiple Scripture passages that mention grace and peace being given from God to his people. These are aspects of his character that we can receive. This passage is simple and straightforward.

12. “Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” (Ephesians 6:23-24)

God gives peace, love, and grace to those who are committed to loving Jesus. We can be grateful to him for these gifts and challenged to love him from this text.

13. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

This text commands us not to be anxious, but to pray and thank God. This results in peace and is for our good.

14. “The God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15:33).

God provides peace, and this is a reminder that the church needs to hear and read frequently. It is repeated in Scripture, so it should be repeated in our words.

15. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

16. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations" (Psalm 67:1-2).

God's grace and blessing can point others to his saving power.

17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17).

God gives gifts and he is unchanging. We can remember this as we go into the world.

18. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

God provides for his people with everlasting gifts. We can rest in his sovereignty and providence.

19. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

People must be careful to explain the context of this passage, in that God hears the prayers of his people. This welfare is the opposite of evil. His people are meant to do good and be wealthy in eternal blessing.

20. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God gives us grace and provides for us that we might do his work. This is a reminder to live for God by doing good works after being with the church.