Faithelement Conversations

Light Living For the session to be discussed on March 14, 2021 John 3:14-21 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd Daniel Glaze What is the difference between belief and trust, and how does that distinction affect how we live out our faith? Is it enough to believe? Or are we called to go deeper and […]

Turning the Tables For the session to be discussed on March 7, 2021 John 2:13-22 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery David Adams In this episode we consider Jesus’ angry response to the commerce and corruption happening in the temple. As he flips the tables, we wonder about how greed and corruption can creep into […]

Lose to Gain For the session to be discussed on February 28, 2021 Mark 8:31-38 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery David Adams This episode features Peter pulling Jesus aside to ask, “did you really mean to say that?” We discuss the ways our expectations can get in the way of our ability to really […]

Walkabout For the session to be discussed on February 21, 2021 Mark 1:9-15 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we talk about temptation. We discuss taking temptations seriously, for they have consequences that are real and often go beyond ourselves. What did it mean for Jesus to be tempted and […]

Friends in High Places For the session to be discussed on February 14, 2021 Mark 9:2-9 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we talk about mountains and high places as we consider this passage on the transfiguration of Jesus. What are our “mountaintop experiences” like and how do they influence […]

Rest Time For the session to be discussed on February 7, 2021 Mark 1:29-39 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we explore the notion of rest and our need for it. How does our culture’s fixation with busyness and productivity hinder real rest? What is the cost to our spirits […]

Teaching that Heals For the session to be discussed on January 31, 2021 Mark 1:21-28 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we discuss Jesus exorcising a demon from a man. What demons possess us? What demons possess our society and culture? How do we cast out these demons with the […]

Repent and Believe For the session to be discussed on January 24, 2021 Mark 1:14-20 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we discuss Jesus calling a collection of fishermen to follow him. What does it mean to answer that call — to follow? We discuss the sacrificial nature of following, […]

Follow Me For the session to be discussed on January 17, 2021 John 1:43-51 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze In this episode we discuss Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael. What does it mean to follow someone? This leads to a conversation about evangelism, both good and bad expressions. In the midst of […]

Much Ado About Baptism For the session to be discussed on January 10, 2021 Mark 1:4-11 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery Daniel Glaze This episode considers the mystery of baptism, and in particular, the baptism of Jesus. Why was Jesus baptized? What is the meaning of our baptisms? Learn more about our team. Notes […]

Precious Gift For the session to be discussed on January 3, 2021 Ephesians 1:3-14 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman David Adams Bert Montgomery This episode considers the season of Ephiphany and the kinds of gifts we might bring to Christ. How has the pandemic changed our sense of the kinds of gifts we have and might […]

Love Instead of Fear For the session to be discussed on December 27, 2020 Galatians 4:4-7 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman David Adams Bert Montgomery Today’s passage from Galatians leads us to discuss the role of the law, of love, and of fear in how we live out our faith. Why are people so prone to […]

Revealing Love For the session to be discussed on December 20, 2020 Romans 16:25-27 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Daniel Glaze Bert Montgomery The fourth Sunday of Advent is the Sunday where we focus on love. This year is showing us many forms of love that are costly and expensive, as we care for one another […]

Choosing Joy For the session to be discussed on December 13, 2020 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd Bert Montgomery The third Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on joy. How is joy possible in times of hardship and suffering? What makes joy different than happiness? How do we choose joy as a […]

While You Wait For the session to be discussed on December 6, 2020 2 Peter 3:8-15a David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Daniel Glaze Bert Montgomery Advent is a season of waiting. In the midst of so much darkness this year, how do we go about waiting? Not only how do we celebrate hope, but how do […]

Wait Well For the session to be discussed on November 29, 2020 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd Bert Montgomery Advent is a season of waiting. Why is it that many of us have difficulty waiting and are filled instead with impatience? What does our impatience say about our trust in God’s […]

Good God For the session to be discussed on November 22, 2020 Psalm 100 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Bert Montgomery David Adams Psalm 100 is well-known as the “make a joyful noise” psalm. We discuss the kinds of “noises” God finds pleasant and contrast them with our more limited palate. How comfortable are we at […]

Suffering for Good For the session to be discussed on November 15, 2020 Matthew 25:14-30 David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd Daniel Glaze The parable of the talents is our topic for this session. We take issue with the traditional interpretation that assumes the owner is a figure for God. Instead, we wonder if the […]

Ready or Not! For the session to be discussed on November 8, 2020 Matthew 25:1-13P David Cassady Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd David Adams The parable of the bridesmaids is offered as another clue as to the nature of the Kingdom of God… but what does it mean? We discuss the limitations of the traditional interpretation […]

Do As I Say For the session to be discussed on November 1, 2020 Matthew 23:1-12 David Cassady Daniel Glaze Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd The Scribes and Pharisees drew Jesus’ ire as they used their status to impose legalistic structures to faith. How might we do the same? How do we follow Jesus’ example of […]

The Greatest For the session to be discussed on October 25, 2020 Matthew 22:34-46 David Cassady Daniel Glaze Nikki Hardeman Crystal Shepherd Jesus summarizes the law into two statements: Love your God and love your neighbor. What makes these so difficult? Which is harder? Do we show our love for God by how well we […]