Faithelement Conversations

You’re Out of Your Tree

For the session to be discussed on October 30, 2022

Luke 19:1-10

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

Our text this week is the story of when Jesus went to visit Zacchaeus. While we often learn this story as children, there is actually a depth of grown-up issues raised. Why did Jesus “see” Zacchaeus? Why was it important for Jesus to go to his home? What effect on the community did Zacchaeus’ transformation have?

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Notes

* David shares a “spicy” passage from Frederick Buechner about this narrative.

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Sinners and Scumbags

For the session to be discussed on October 23, 2022

Luke 18:9-14

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

Today we discuss a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. In the parable, the Pharisee is proud of his good deeds and looks down on others. The tax collector prays modestly and in humility. How often do we compare ourselves to others — maybe not in prayer, but in other ways that leave us feeling like we are better than someone else?

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Notes

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

Approaching God

For the session to be discussed on October 16, 2022

Luke 18:1-8

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a lesser-read parable that Jesus tells about a widow and an unjust judge. In it, the widow’s persistence pays off, as the judge finally acquiesces to her requests. Are we to take away from this parable that we are like the widow and God like the unjust judge — and if we are persistent and pray hard enough our requests will be granted? We discuss what we believe are better and more challenging interpretations of this 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!

Learning from Lepers

For the session to be discussed on October 9, 2022

Luke 17:11-19

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

Jesus heals 10 lepers, and one returns to say “thank you” — a Samaritan. We explore some of the obvious questions, including why this one returned to give thanks and why it was the Samaritan. We wonder about Jesus’ instruction for them to go to the temple and healed them “on the way” there. But most of all, we wonder about the gift of sharing gratitude for blessings that come our way.

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Notes

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

Live, Love, Serve

For the session to be discussed on October 2, 2022

Luke 17:(1-4)5-10

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

Maybe faith, as it turns out, is about a little more than fulfilling an obligation. Maybe it contains an element of constantly pushing the envelope – constantly reaching higher – and looking to discover what Jesus sees in us when he calls us in the first place. Our God is a god of wonder and surprise. We celebrate when God showers love and grace upon us – especially when we didn’t see it coming – but what are we doing to surprise God? How can we top ourselves in showing a bit MORE grace; a bit MORE love; a bit MORE faith? What sorts of plans are we making to show God that there is yet more faith in us than anyone has a right to expect, and that we intend to bring it out?

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Notes

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

So Close Yet So Far

For the session to be discussed on September 25, 2022

Luke 16:19-31

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss a well-known parable featuring a rich man who cannot seem to express even the slightest amount of compassion for a poor man. In fact, the poor man is largely unseen by the rich man until they both die, sending the poor man to heaven and the rich man to hell — a reversal of their previous positions. We discuss the incredible inequities of our era, wondering how we and the church might bring a return to the care for the poor that Jesus demands.

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Notes

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

Gotta Serve Somebody

For the session to be discussed on September 18, 2022

Luke 16:1-13

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

This episode has us grappling with an unusual and even confusing parable. In it, a manager acts in ways that are manipulative to the owner of the endeavor, while also doing things that benefit others. He cheats to do good! We look at take-aways from the passage and how the real-world nature of this parable reflects the true complexity of our lives and decisions. How is my well-being wrapped up in your well-being?

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Notes

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

Sheep and Sweep

For the session to be discussed on September 11, 2022

Luke 15:1-10

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

Our discussion revolves around two parables Jesus shares — both dealing with something lost and then found. In one, a shepherd loses a sheep, and in the other a woman loses a coin. Would we really act in the ways the shepherd and woman do in the parables? Is Jesus sharing these to instruct us on how to live, or to reveal something 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!

Expensive Faith

For the session to be discussed on September 4, 2022

Luke 14:25-33

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

David Adams

Today’s passage leads us into a conversation about what things are really worth in “the economy of heaven.” Jesus seems intent on removing any doubt that discipleship is easy, or cheap. How costly is your faith? We marvel at how we often work to attract people to the church, while Jesus is putting the real cost out in the open.

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Notes

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

Cracked Cisterns

For the session to be discussed on August 28, 2022

Jeremiah 2:1-13

David Cassady

Nikki Hardeman

Daniel Glaze

Bert Montgomery

We discuss an emotional text from Jeremiah, where God expresses deep hurt over the abandonment by the people of Israel. How does God react to this betrayal? In what ways have we and our churches betrayed God? In what ways do we trade the valuable tenants of our faith for that which is actually garbage or worthless?

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Notes

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