Church Is Messy: The Lost Words of Jesus Week 3

Church is Messy

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea on today's episode. They dig into what is perhaps one of the most debated stories Jesus ever told, The Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16.

Show Notes

• 00:00 Intro Rick's story from the gym trying a new workout and being less than shrewd
• 03:13 Many preachers skip this parable because it can throw people off, but Caleb was excited to study and preach this passage.
• 05:03 Discussion of reading the Bible through the original, intended audience's perspective
• 07:40 There is some cutting room floor content that didn't make it into the sermon, as follows:

Some of the cultural aspects of the characters:
>The rich man was likely known throughout the region as having many ties in the community.
>The manager was "not going to dig", because that was almost as lowly as being a beggar.

• 10:55 We don't have to identify ourselves with any of the characters in this parable. The point Jesus was trying to drive home wasn't to be like either of the main characters. Western readers tend to read parables as ethical behavior examples.
• 11:46 We tend to focus on behavior modification as the most important thing. Jesus emphasizes our value modifications.
• 14:15 This parable is interesting because it is directed at the disciples rather than the pharisees like in the preceding three parables.
• 14:56 If dishonest people focus on relationships, then how much more should believers focus on relationships?
• 17:04 We need to put our mental energy to work to strategically focus on building relationships.
• 19:15 Two people can do the exact same things in relationships but have very different intentions, one being loving and the other not. Manipulators want from, not for.
• 21:18 Caleb is wearing yellow socks that are "actually orange and white for University of Tennessee".
• 22:05 Moments of crisis often reveal what we value most and what gives us security. We should establish our values and security before these crises come.
• 28:10 "Jesus was firing his disciples from a job he never gave them in the first place," meaning that our security in Jesus doesn't make it our responsibility to keep God safe from unrighteousness or imperfection. What jobs would Jesus fire us from that he never gave us in the first place?
• 32:13 Recommendation for Poet and Peasant by Kenneth Bailey and articles from the Bible Project on this parable in Luke 16.
• 32:50 Rick admonishes people to not wait to develop friendship until you need it. You can't wait to build friendships in a crisis moment. Our church is committed to support building friendships in what we do.
• 34:43 The next series coming up is Sunday School for Grown-Ups. We hope to bring new insights into these "kids stories".