Embracing Presence: Creative Stewardship and Radical Love

Devotional

Day 1: Faithful Stewardship in All Things

Jesus calls us to be wise and faithful stewards, using what we have for the good of others and not just ourselves. In the parable of the shrewd manager, we are reminded that our resources, whether great or small, are entrusted to us by God, and our integrity in handling them reflects our faithfulness. The challenge is not only to avoid dishonesty but to be intentional and creative in serving others, recognizing that we cannot serve both God and wealth. Each act of stewardship, no matter how small, is an opportunity to participate in God’s work of justice and compassion in the world. [16:14]

Luke 16:1-13 (ESV)
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Reflection: What is one small resource or responsibility you have today that you can use creatively to bless someone else in your community?

Day 2: Creative Love and Service

God invites us to stretch beyond our comfort zones, to serve others with creativity and compassion, even when the work is messy or inconvenient. True ministry often means doing the humble, unseen tasks—scrubbing the deck, preparing meals, or offering a listening ear—and finding ways to love our neighbors in new and bold ways. Each act of service, no matter how ordinary, is an opportunity for transformation, both for those we serve and for ourselves. In these moments, we are shaped into a new people, embodying the radical love of Christ in practical, tangible ways. [39:16]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Reflection: What is one humble or inconvenient act of service you can offer this week, and how might you invite God to transform your heart through it?

Day 3: Embracing Change and Newness

Life is full of transitions—loss, new beginnings, and unexpected changes—and God’s Spirit guides us through these wilderness seasons with strength and courage. Whether you are leaving behind something familiar or stepping into an uncertain future, you are not alone; God walks with you, inviting you to embrace newness and trust in the journey ahead. In times of grief or upheaval, the community of faith becomes a source of support, and together we discover resilience and hope, even when the path is unclear. [17:18]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you being called to let go of the old and trust God to lead you into something new?

Day 4: Holy Discontent and Active Peacemaking

God stirs in us a holy discontent with the brokenness of our world, calling us not just to mourn injustice but to become active peacekeepers and agents of change. In the face of violence, division, and suffering, we are invited to move from passive sorrow to courageous action—using our voices, resources, and faith to work for justice, reconciliation, and the flourishing of all people. This is not easy work, but it is the work of the kingdom, and God gives us the compassion and resolve to see the humanity in everyone we meet. [19:09]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: What is one specific injustice or need in your community that stirs your heart, and how can you take a concrete step toward peace or justice this week?

Day 5: Radical, Transformative Love

Jesus shows us how to build a beloved community by reaching out to outsiders, the marginalized, and those labeled as “other,” offering not just small gestures but big, beautiful, radical love. Even when wounded or uncertain, we are called to forgive, to wonder, and to love boldly, knowing that every act of compassion matters. As we open ourselves to new ways of being and serving, we are transformed, and the world around us is changed by the audacity and creativity of God’s love at work in us. [41:03]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection: Who in your life or community is on the margins or often overlooked, and how can you show them radical, Christ-like love in a tangible way this week?

Sermon Summary

In the quiet of this morning, we are invited to set aside the noise and urgency of our daily lives and enter a space of presence and reverence. This is a time to let go of our to-do lists and anxieties, and to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit. We gather as a community shaped by both joy and grief, holding the complexities of our lives and the world around us. We remember those among us who are suffering, grieving, or in transition, and we lift up prayers for healing, comfort, and courage. Our hearts are especially heavy for those affected by violence and division in our society, and we ask God to stir in us a holy discontent that moves us from passive sorrow to active peacemaking.

Turning to the words of Jesus in Luke 16, we encounter the parable of the shrewd manager—a story that challenges our comfort and calls us to wise, creative stewardship. Jesus uses the example of a dishonest manager not to endorse dishonesty, but to urge us to be as resourceful and motivated in doing good as the world often is in pursuing self-interest. We are called to apply our creativity, intelligence, and energy not just to our own advancement, but to the work of love, justice, and service. The invitation is to be faithful in small things, to use what we have—our resources, our time, our compassion—for the good of others and the building up of God’s kingdom.

This call to creativity and faithfulness is not always easy. Sometimes it means doing humble, even unpleasant tasks for the sake of others. Sometimes it means stretching beyond what is comfortable or familiar, and being transformed in the process. We are reminded that ministry and discipleship are not confined to the sanctuary, but are lived out in the ordinary and messy moments of life. God invites us to be a people who respond to need with imagination and generosity, who build beloved community with radical love, and who are willing to be changed as we serve.

As we share in communion, we remember that Jesus offers us a new way of being—a covenant of love that is lived out in community. We are invited to dream together, to imagine what God has in store for us, and to go forth rooted in the audacity and creativity of loving as Christ loves.

Key Takeaways

1. Presence and Stillness as Sacred Work In a world that constantly demands our attention and productivity, there is a holy invitation to pause, to be present, and to let the Spirit speak in the quiet. This kind of stillness is not idleness, but a deep work of opening ourselves to God’s presence and to the needs of those around us. It is in these moments of intentional presence that we are most receptive to the sacred and most available to be shaped by God. [05:15]
2. Grief, Transition, and the Ministry of Compassion We are called to hold space for grief—both our own and that of others—recognizing that loss and transition are woven into the fabric of our lives. Compassion is not just a feeling, but an active ministry: comforting the sorrowful, supporting those in transition, and walking alongside those who are navigating new and uncertain paths. In doing so, we embody the love and faithfulness of God, who meets us in every wilderness. [17:18]
3. Creative Stewardship and Resourcefulness in Faith Jesus’ parable of the shrewd manager challenges us to be as creative and resourceful in our spiritual lives as we are in our economic or personal pursuits. The call is not to dishonesty, but to a holy ingenuity—using our gifts, time, and energy to serve others and advance God’s justice. Faithfulness in small things prepares us for greater responsibilities, and our creativity in love can transform both our community and ourselves. [33:26]
4. The Transformative Power of Humble Service True discipleship often requires us to do work that is humble, unseen, or even unpleasant. Yet it is precisely in these acts of service—scrubbing decks, preparing meals, caring for the vulnerable—that we are changed. God uses these moments to stretch us, to cultivate compassion, and to remind us that no act of love is too small to matter in the kingdom. [39:16]
5. Building Beloved Community through Radical Love Jesus models a way of building community that centers outsiders, the marginalized, and those labeled as “other.” We are invited to love boldly and creatively, to welcome and include, and to let ourselves be inspired by the wonder and imagination of even the youngest among us. In doing so, we participate in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation and become a people marked by audacity and grace. [41:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:15] - Meditation and Centering
[09:50] - Announcements and Prayer Requests
[11:45] - Sharing Peace and Community Prayer
[16:14] - Prayers for Grief and Transition
[19:09] - Prayers for Justice and Peace
[20:04] - Faithfulness in Small Things
[28:12] - Ordinary Time and Community Life
[29:06] - Reading the Parable of the Shrewd Manager
[31:19] - Lessons from the Parable: Resourcefulness
[33:26] - Applying Creativity to Love and Justice
[36:16] - Finding God’s Will in Everyday Encounters
[38:21] - The Challenge and Gift of Humble Service
[41:03] - Radical Love and Building Beloved Community
[42:17] - Inviting Creativity and Wonder
[45:38] - Communion and New Covenant
[55:48] - Invitation to Dream and Closing Blessing
[59:27] - Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 16:1-13 (ESV) – The Parable of the Shrewd Manager —
> He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

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## Observation Questions

1. What actions did the manager take after he learned he was going to lose his job? What was his motivation? (Luke 16:3-7)
2. How did the master respond to the manager’s actions, and what reason did Jesus give for this response? (Luke 16:8)
3. According to the sermon, what does Jesus want us to learn from the shrewd manager’s example? [33:26]
4. What does Jesus say about being faithful in small things? (Luke 16:10)

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## Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to use a dishonest manager as the main character in this parable? What point is he making about resourcefulness and motivation? [33:26]
2. The sermon mentions that faithfulness in small things prepares us for greater responsibilities. How might this principle play out in everyday life? [20:04]
3. The pastor talked about the difference between passive sorrow and active peacemaking. What does it look like to move from one to the other in response to suffering or injustice? [19:09]
4. In what ways does humble service, even when it’s unpleasant or unseen, have the power to transform us? [39:16]

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## Application Questions

1. The sermon began with an invitation to set aside distractions and be present with God and each other. What is one practical way you can create space for stillness and presence in your week? [05:15]
2. Think of someone in your life or community who is grieving, in transition, or struggling. What is one specific act of compassion you could offer them this week? [17:18]
3. The parable challenges us to use our creativity and energy for good. What is one area of your life where you could be more resourceful or creative in serving others or advancing God’s justice? [33:26]
4. The pastor shared about doing humble, even unpleasant tasks for the sake of others (like scrubbing the deck). Is there a “humble” job or act of service you tend to avoid? What would it look like to approach it with a prayerful heart this week? [39:16]
5. Jesus calls us to build beloved community through radical love, especially toward those who are marginalized or “other.” Who in your life or neighborhood might need to experience this kind of welcome from you? [41:03]
6. The sermon mentioned that ministry and discipleship happen in the ordinary and messy moments of life, not just in church. Can you share a recent “ordinary” moment where you sensed God inviting you to respond with love or generosity? [36:16]
7. As we share communion and remember Jesus’ new covenant, what is one dream or hope you have for our church community? How can you help make that dream a reality? [45:38]

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Closing Prayer: — Invite the group to pray for creativity, courage, and compassion as they seek to be faithful in both small and big things this week.

Sermon Clips

``I want you to be smart in this same way, but for what is right, for what is good. Using every adversity to stimulate you to creatively survive, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so that you'll really live and not complacently, just to get by on good behavior. God sees behind appearances. [00:31:19] (24 seconds) #CreativeFaithInAdversity

He urges us, those early disciples as well, to be resourceful, to be at least as resourceful as the crooks, right? But to be resourceful and motivated for different reasons, the right reasons. He said, be just as shrewd, in fact, as we often are in our economic lives, as you are in your spiritual lives. [00:32:41] (28 seconds) #ShrewdnessForJustice

Be as crafty and creative and generous to your impoverished neighbors, for example, as you are in finding ways to get a promotion or advance your own career, or build relationships that might help you down the road. Be creative in how you serve. Apply that same effort, that same acumen as if you were going up the ranks in the military or being a doctor and doing your internship and then your residency and the next thing. But apply that to love and justice. That's the thing for which you were born. [00:33:09] (35 seconds) #ServeWithStrategicLove

Jesus has a bold and subversive streak in him. Many of his teachings or actions involve bending or touting or flouting the rules, brazenly calling out Pharisees or religious authorities. Powers that be are lifting up questionable characters as admirable role models. [00:33:58] (23 seconds) #BeyondIdols

The job here of ministering, being ministers of God, being people of the table, being believers and followers of Christ sometimes means I get to scrub the toilet and the deck. And the same thing was on the deck as was in the toilet. And Jesus tells us to get creative. So what did I do when I was scrubbing that deck? I said a prayer. I told God to use me and to fill my heart with compassion for whoever decided that was a place to go. [00:38:57] (37 seconds) #TransformativeService

That's the good news though, right? We get to be changed by this work. Not just change others. We get to be transformed in being new people in this new space. And the good news of the gospel is that God calls us to stretch and to create, not just with our money, but with our faith and our hands and our feet and our minds. [00:39:49] (31 seconds) #NewPeopleNewWays

And friends, in this space, that is what God is inviting us to do, to do things in a new way, to be a new people, to love our neighbors creatively, and to know that every drop that we pour into this matters. [00:41:03] (17 seconds) #RadicalLoveForOutsiders

Jesus shows us how to reach out and build up a beloved community of outsiders, of marginalized people, of women, of tax collectors, of people labeled as sinners, and to do so with, what, tiny love? Right? No, big, beautiful, radical love. Even when we're wounded. [00:41:20] (27 seconds) #ChildrenLeadWonder

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