Faithelement Conversations

Hidden in Darkness

For the session to be discussed on March 19, 2023

Ephesians 5:8-14

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Crystal Shepherd

We discuss a passage full of words like “light” and “darkness.” Crystal explains, “If one only remembers to turn on the light, we reflect the light of Christ. We are that light. So flip the switch and sleepers awake, step into the light and shine so that the darkness loses its power and the monsters of fear and justice and shame, so that the things that would distort the beautiful image of Christ found in the other and in us is made fully visible.”

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Notes

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Justified

For the session to be discussed on March 12, 2023

Romans 5:1-11

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

Do we deserve God’s grace? According to Paul, if we have anything to boast of, it’s not that we somehow deserve anything, it’s that we’ve been allowed to work through our suffering to grow into a situation where we have some hope that God’s coming to us in person, has allowed us to be fully reconciled with God. But we don’t want to be told we are expected to suffer and grow. Do we?

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Notes

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Promise Kept

For the session to be discussed on March 5, 2023

Romans 4:1-17

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

As we journey through this season of Lent, we wonder if this text beckons us to consider what it really means to have faith over the law. How big a God is Paul asking us to follow?

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Notes

* David Cassady reads a portion of a sermon by Nadia Boltz Weber.

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Problematic Texts

For the session to be discussed on February 26, 2023

Romans 5:12-19

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

Some things are just hard to explain and we can tie ourselves in knots trying to do so. In this text, we might see Paul as having one of those moments. In his intro, David Adams says, “There are laws against treating people the way Paul sometimes treated logic.” Together, we grapple with why explaining grace can be so difficult.

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Notes

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Bigger

For the session to be discussed on February 19, 2023

Matthew 17:1-9

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

David Adams

Bert Montgomery

Mountains appear in the scriptures – often as the sites for major events. We discuss one such event, the Transfiguration of Jesus, in today’s text. Those who were on the mountain with Jesus discovered he was bigger than they had imagined. How might we need to enlarge our understanding of Jesus?

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Notes

* Video using Daniel Bailey’s song “The Mountain”

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Rigid Rules for Reconciliation

For the session to be discussed on February 12, 2023

Matthew 5:21-37

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a passage that deals with diverse issues including anger and adultery, noting the ways this entire set of verses call us to examine how our choices affect our relationships with others.

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Notes

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Salt, Light, & Laughter

For the session to be discussed on February 5, 2023

Matthew 5:13-20

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We do a good bit of laughing in this episode, but also delve into the notion of our being called to be salt and light in the world. What does that mean and how do we even begin to live up to those ideas?

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Notes

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Do, Love, Walk

For the session to be discussed on January 29, 2023

Micah 6:1-8

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

This well known passage presents the prophet highlighting the disconnect between the people’s professed allegiance to God and their actions. In our time — how do we deal with our own ability to claim to follow God and yet avoid the necessary work of justice, kindness and humility? What do the communities around our churches most need? What acts of justice is the world begging the church to engage?

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Notes

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

Nothing Never Happens

For the session to be discussed on January 22, 2023

Isaiah 9:1-7

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

When people are facing uncertain and difficult times, this text brings comfort and hope, as it was written during a similar season in the time of Isaiah. Is a better future on the way? As this is a text for Epiphany, we are reminded that God is still at work in the world. How can we be part of God’s work of bringing light and hope?

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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’s the Servant?

For the session to be discussed on January 15, 2023

Isaiah 49:1-7

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

This week we have another servant song from Isaiah. We discuss how the passage reminds us that God works through us and relies on us to carry out God’s work in the world. How does a people living in a tattered world know that God is still with them? As Daniel argues, “we are an interconnected web of humanity and it’s time we believe it.” What does it mean to “bring light to the nations”?

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Notes

* David references the book, The Wounded Healer, by Henri Nouwen.

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