Isaiah 65:17-25 When people think about discipleship, they usually think of it on a personal level. Following Christ impacts our personal live in profound ways, including our beliefs, values, relationships, ethics, and the way we spend our time and money, However, Christian discipleship also has profound social ramifications. In short, authentic disciples take their faith public, trying to make the world more like the kingdom of God.

Genesis 32:22-31

Jeremiah was writing to a people who were held in exile in Babylon. They were taken away from their homeland of Israel, marched through the desert, and forced to live in a foreign land. But even in that situation God was calling them to be faithful. It would’ve been easy for the Israelites to say “What’s the point of following God’s way when we’ve lost everything we love and it seems that God has abandoned us?”. In the midst of a contentious and demoralizing election it might be easy for us to feel abandoned and frustrated. In a world that can seem overwhelming and hostile it might be easy to feel lost and alone. When disappointment and struggle prevent us from being content it’s easy to lose faith.

There’s a common phrase that you’ll hear at church conferences... “The church is always one generation away from extinction”. We need to fully grasp that reality... this faith that is so important to our lives must be passed on to others in order for the church to survive. This job isn’t just a job for parents. This is the job of everyone connected to the church. It is our collective duty to help pass on the faith to the children in our lives and to everyone we encounter.

Did you know that American Christians are actually not very generous? 20 percent of Christians give absolutely nothing to charity. And of the 80 percent who do give, most give remarkably little… only 1 to 2 percent of their total income. This wee we explore and thing that disciples DO…. Disciples Practice Generosity.

Jesus challenges us to love God more than money. But the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-13 is a very confusing story. Sometimes the voice of God is heard in the midst of paradox.