(September) Session One: Money – What do we treasure?
From Genesis through Revelation, gold, silver and jewels serve as icons of God’s goodness. And yet, the love of money is a powerful source of argument, lies and literal enslavement. King Solomon, famously, chose wisdom over treasure. Jesus, leaning on his mother’s values, teaches his disciples to dig deep for real treasure.
(October) Session Two: Stewardship – How do we tend our treasure?
God madly, beautifully, entrusts human beings with the care of all creation, including time, talent and material wealth. Moses needs help with his time management. The practice of tithing could be considered a class in Material Management 101. Jesus confronts his disciples with disturbing words about God’s high expectations for tending treasure.
(November) Session Three: Generosity – A wideness in God’s mercy
God loves a cheerful giver, because our cheer in giving reflects God’s own cheerful mercies. Can the biblical practice of gleaning be considered a class in Generosity 101? We will consider the enemies of generosity: Pharoah, the stingy boss, and the “religion” of Mammonism. Finally, we will turn to the little-noticed women who were generous with Jesus, and the wild generosity of the first Christian churches.