On Sunday, September 21st, 2025, Daniel Melvill Jones spoke on the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, which is famous for being a difficult parable to understand. The master set out to fire the manager because the manager was squandering his wealth (same word used from the Parable of the Prodigal Son). Knowing that he'll be destitute and a social outcast, the manager makes a reckless and unauthorized action to reduce the debt of all of his master's debtors as a means of buying off goodwill. Instead of getting angry, the master commends the manager for being shrewd (same word as prudent or wise).

What was Jesus' message when he told this parable, and right after the Parable of the Prodigal Son too? One thing we see is that God is generous by nature. Recklessly generous, in fact, and his generosity offends. And like how we can't tell God how generous he should be, we also can't force Jesus to fit in a respectable, inoffensive mold that we want him to fit in. Most importantly, we should take Jesus' conclusion to heart—we should be generous with our worldly wealth so that we can gain friends for ourselves and be welcomed into a shelter that lasts for all times. [JL]

Passage: Luke 16:1-13
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event:
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No

Speaker: Daniel Melvill Jones
Worship Leader: Dave Bruce
Song Leader:
Pianist: Deberah Shears
Usher:
Zoom Coordinator: Caleb Yang
Children's Feature Leader:

Bring Flowers:
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:

Child Care Volunteer: