Faithelement Conversations

Heroes

For the session to be discussed on January 8, 2023

Isaiah 42:1-9

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

What does it mean to be a hero? In this passage, drawn from the Exile experience of the Israelite people, we discuss how we each hold the power to make a difference, even when the challenges seem large and impossible. As a new year begins, how does this text call us to live and share God’s love?

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Notes

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

Looking Up?

For the session to be discussed on January 1, 2023

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Daniel Glaze

Nikki Hardeman

Bert Montgomery

David Adams

Sometimes we are so focused on doing and producing that we fail to pay attention to the importance of just being. We discuss the way our lives journey through seasons of life — being shaped and finding God along the way. How can we embrace the season we find ourselves in, noticing that God is here?

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Notes

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

An Earthly Christmas

For the session to be discussed on December 25, 2022

Luke 2:1-20

Daniel Glaze

Nikki Hardeman

Bert Montgomery

David Adams

Merry Christmas! In this episode we discuss the dirty, messy, chaotic scene that was the birth of Jesus into this crazy, scary, beautiful and amazing world. How do we better understand the nativity story when we avoid sanitizing or otherwise avoid removing the grit that is so clearly there?

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Notes

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

A Non-Advent Advent Lesson

For the session to be discussed on December 18, 2022

Romans 1:1-7

David Cassady

Daniel Glaze

Today is 4th Sunday of Advent. It’s almost Christmas. Why then does the Lectionary offer us this passage from Romans? We look at what Romans has to do with Advent and Christmas. What is God calling you to this Advent season? What is God calling your church to do? Is there a commitment you need to follow through on?

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Notes

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

Practicing Patience

For the session to be discussed on December 11, 2022

James 5:7-11

David Cassady

Bert Montgomery

Patience is one of those things, Bert tells us, that is hard to practice — especially when we are living in a world dealing with war, hunger, sickness, injustice and mass shootings. This Advent, how do we practice patience awaiting the coming of the One who will set things right? How do we endure more suffering, more heartache, more disillusionment?

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Notes

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

Harmony

For the session to be discussed on December 4, 2022

Romans 15:4-13

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Bert Montgomery

David Adams

This passage reminds us that we do not get to decide who is “in” or who is “out” — or who God chooses to call or work through. We also discuss the ways this passage has wrongly been used by some to push anti-semitic themes and theologies. Why is it so difficult for us to allow that God’s love and grace is large enough to be available to all?

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Notes

* Cassady references a blog post “Let’s Build Bigger Banquet Tables” by Rachel Held Evans.

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

Wake Up!

For the session to be discussed on November 27, 2022

Romans 13:8-14

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Bert Montgomery

David Adams

For the first Sunday of Advent we are talking about hope — Advent is hope returning to a darkened world! Maybe Advent is really about giving others a reason to hope. What if it is through giving hope to others that our hope is fully realized? We discuss the ways Paul calls us to wake up to the needs of others around us. Can hope be generated and created?

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Notes

* Adams references Bert Montgomery’s books. Find them here!

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

Present Help, Helpful Presence

For the session to be discussed on November 20, 2022

Psalm 46

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

We discuss the ways this Psalm, in calling us to find refuge in God, to find God’s presence the way to make it through difficult times, is both comforting and challenging. How have others heard this psalm and what meaning did it offer in the midst of pain and fear? We discuss how our own experiences of this troubled era in which we live has caused us to also hear this psalm anew.

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Notes

* David Cassady read from Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the End of the World by Claudio Carvalhaes.

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

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

For the session to be discussed on November 13, 2022

Isaiah 65:17-25

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

In this passage from Isaiah, God stands ready to bring forth a vision of heaven that surpasses everyone’s hopes. Given the struggles of Isaiah’s community, these words offered encouragement, strength, and hope. Today, what vision helps sustain us through difficult times? Do we see God as working toward a brighter, more just, future? What might that look like?

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Notes

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

In Pursuit of Justice

For the session to be discussed on November 6, 2022

Job 19:23-27a

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

Job clings to hope in the midst of despair, even as he accuses God about the unfairness of his situation. We discuss the reasons it can be helpful to argue with God, knowing God is there and listening. How we respond to suffering — both ours and others — is affected by how we understand God’s presence. How do we respond when nothing adds up anymore and meaning seems hard to find?

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Notes

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