Faithelement Conversations

What If?

For the session to be discussed on October 15, 2023

Matthew 22:1-14

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Crystal Shepherd

Daniel Glaze

The parable of the wedding feast begins with a king inviting guests to a wedding banquet. These honored guests do not come. The king sends servant after servant who is rejected, treated horribly, and some are killed. This enrages the king who sends troops into the city to kill the murderers and burn the city to the ground, all while making sure the food stays warm at the wedding banquet. He then has anyone and everyone, the good, the bad, the ugly, invited to the banquet. But then we learn of a person that doesn’t have on the correct garment who is thrown out and punished. In this episode we discuss both the traditional and some non-traditional interpretations of this challenging parable.

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Notes

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New Tenants

For the session to be discussed on October 8, 2023

Matthew 21:33-46

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Crystal Shepherd

Daniel Glaze

Today we grapple with the parable of the wicked tenants. Like most parables, we are drawn into the mystery it presents. Who is God in the parable and what does it teach us about God? Where did the religious leaders of Jesus’ day see themselves in the parable?

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

Incarnate Authority

For the session to be discussed on October 1, 2023

Matthew 21:23-32

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Crystal Shepherd

Daniel Glaze

In this episode we discuss authority. Who has it and who lives it? That is the central issue of today’s scripture and in our world today — authority is questioned at every turn. Who do we trust? Does authority come from within or outside of us?

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

Jealousy & Generosity

For the session to be discussed on September 24, 2023

Matthew 20:1-16

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Daniel Glaze

In this episode we discuss the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some work all day, while others only a brief time, yet the owner pays them all the same. We discuss the way this parable falls on our contemporary ears, as well as what it may be showing us about the nature of God.

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

The Reckoning

For the session to be discussed on September 17, 2023

Matthew 18:21-35

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Daniel Glaze

The call to forgive is a difficult one. We discuss a parable that leads us to reflect on the dynamics that go into our ability to forgive. From our emotions, to our fight or flight impulses, to the benefits of forgiveness, we discuss a challenging parable.

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

Making Up is Hard to Do

For the session to be discussed on September 10, 2023

Matthew 18:15-20

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Crystal Shepherd

How do we handle a relationship that’s gone awry? Or perhaps where we have felt wronged (or we caused harm to someone else)? Today’s text offers thoughts about repairing relationships and Christian community. We wonder about the many ways we need stronger communities in our time.

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

The Great Reverse

For the session to be discussed on September 3, 2023

Matthew 16:21-28

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Crystal Shepherd

Today we are presented with a difficult comment by Jesus: “For those who want to save their life will lose it. Those who lose their life, for my sake, will find it.” We discuss how, with self-giving, denying self is not to be confused with denying something to yourself, whether it’s material things or pleasure. But rather, what if denial is saying no to oneself and yes to God?

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

Who Are You?

For the session to be discussed on August 27, 2023

Matthew 16:13-20

Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus to me? How does our response affect the way we live out our faith? Why is this so difficult to answer? We struggle with our own perceptions of Jesus as we explore this passage from Matthew. We also learn about Bert’s new adventure.

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Notes

* Bert mentions a book by Parker Palmer, To Know As We Are Known. Find Bert’s books here.

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

A Holy Challenge

For the session to be discussed on August 20, 2023

Matthew 15:1-28

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a text that is seldom covered – where Jesus interacts with a Canaanite woman seeking help for her child. The interaction highlights social issues of the time, as well as Jesus’ humanity. What can we learn from this interaction about our own humanity and growth?

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Notes

* David mentions an artwork during his closing. The painting is called “Crumbs of Love” by Michael Cook.

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!

We’re Not Made to Walk on Water

For the session to be discussed on August 13, 2023

Matthew 14:13-21

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a well-known passage where Jesus walks on water, and Peter attempts to join him — only to sink and have to be rescued by Jesus. What if many of the common interpretations of this passage are missing the point? We explore this text by considering it is more about Jesus than Peter.

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Notes

* Try our small group curriculum! New subscribers can enjoy a completely free month of the premium edition of FaithElement!