Faithelement Conversations

Has Everyone Been Fed?

For the session to be discussed on August 6, 2023

Matthew 14:13-21

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

Somehow we end up discussing fish fries, Woodstock, Wavy Gravy, and this familiar text — the feeding of the 5000. What might Jesus have been showing us about the Kingdom of God? How might this passage challenge our notions of abundance and scarcity?

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Notes

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Without a Voice

For the session to be discussed on July 30, 2023

Genesis 29:1-30

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a difficult text, where the men… Laban and Jacob, make decisions that affect not only their lives, but the women in the story. We discuss how the silence of these women, and they way they are treated is a feature not only of the culture in the time of Genesis, but also forces us to face troubling dynamics in our own day. How do we respond to such a difficult text?

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Notes

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Dreams

For the session to be discussed on July 23, 2023

Genesis 28:10-22

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

In the process of discussing a dream where Jacob encounters God, we end up sharing a few of our own dreams. Just as Jacob did, we struggle with God, with understanding this life and faith. In what ways do our dreams remind us of the mystery of God and this life?

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Notes

* David closes with a reading from Frederick Buechner’s “Dreams”.

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Birthwrongs

For the session to be discussed on July 16, 2023

Genesis 25:19-34

David Cassady

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

Who hasn’t dealt with the rivalry of some sort over the years? When we think back on your rivalries, we may be able to relate to this story and the longer narrative that comes after. Sometimes it helps to look at the root of those rivalries and ask who did what, the whom, if we are to have any chance of transcending them. Today we discuss the passage where Esau sells his birthright to Jacob.

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Notes

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Matchmaker, Matchmaker

For the session to be discussed on July 9, 2023

Genesis 24:34-67

David Cassady

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

Today’s story from Genesis might seem a bit odd to a lot of us in our culture today, in our mindset and the way we, we meet our spouses, our partners, and the way each of us have individual choice in whether we want to date, whether we want to partner with anyone, or whether we never want to at all. We discuss the way Rebekah and Isaac meet and marry.

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Notes

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An Impossible Text

For the session to be discussed on July 2, 2023

Genesis 22:1-19

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

We discuss one of the most difficult texts in Scripture, the sacrifice of Issac. Rather than try to find a palatable interpretation of the passage, we take a look at the many questions it raises, both about those in the story and us today.

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Notes

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Seeing God

For the session to be discussed on June 25, 2023

Genesis 21:8-21

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

While we often focus on the so-called “major” characters — such as Abraham and Sarah in a passage, today we are drawn to consider Hagar and Ishmael. We note that, while Sara casts them out, God sees them and their plight and acts. Who is God calling us to see and hear in our world?

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Notes

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Uncommon Decency

For the session to be discussed on June 18, 2023

Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

In this story, Abraham is home, where he is visited by three people he didn’t see coming. Given the times and places where people lived back then, if three people drop by, there are two immediate options that come into play: you either treat them as bandits or you show them hospitality. Abraham’s choice to follow the route of hospitality included a lavish meal. While the men were sitting around after the meal one of them advised him that Sara would conceive, and it is only then that the narrative indicates that the travelers speak for The Lord. Of course, Sara listens to this and can’t help laughing. We discuss unexpected kindnesses and their power in our lives.

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Notes

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Movin’ Out

For the session to be discussed on June 11, 2023

Genesis 12:1-9

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

In this episode we discuss the call of Abram and the journey that emerged from that call. We wonder about the stories of those who were on that journey with Abram… Sarai, Lot, Hagar, and others. What might their voices and stories teach us about our own journey? How might we then understand the way Abram’s call truly blesses all?

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Notes

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Creator God

For the session to be discussed on June 4, 2023

Genesis 1:1-2:4a

David Cassady

David Adams

Crystal Shepherd

In this episode we discuss one of the most familiar passages in the Bible — the creation narrative from Genesis. We discuss the meaningful connection between us and the things we create. How too is God intimately connected with this creation? How is God’s creative work similar to the creation and care for life we see in the birth and nurturing of children?

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Notes

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