We all have a money story, whether we recognize it or not. The worship series “Our Money Story” invites us to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s money story of liberation and justice. This series will encourage us to transform our stewardship practices into more full expressions of who we are and what we believe.
Three weeks ago, we Remembered many things! We remembered the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples on World Communion Sunday. We remembered stories from the Bible about love, justice, and forgiveness. Two weeks ago we Released many things: The money stories that no longer serve us, whatever is holding us back from trusting God wholeheartedly, our fear, our shame, our guilt, and our regrets. Last Sunday we Reimagined money stories from scripture and a world where our social and economic systems are not built to disparage or impoverish, but instead to provide for and benefit all. This Sunday we will Restore! Restoration is the final act after remembering God’s faithfulness, releasing previous narratives, and
reimagining a new way of being. Restoration requires courage in the form of vulnerability, and provides us with healthy narratives to work, play, and practice Sabbath.
Here are this Sunday’s scripture readings:
Genesis 33: 1-17
Jacob looked up and saw Esau approaching with four hundred men. Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two women servants. He put the servants and their children first, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went in front of them and bowed to the ground seven times as he was approaching his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, kissed him, and they wept. Esau looked up and saw the women and children and said, “Who are these with you?”
Jacob said, “The children that God generously gave your servant.” The women servants and their children came forward and bowed down. Then Leah and her servants also came forward and bowed, and afterward Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed.
Esau said, “What’s the meaning of this entire group of animals that I met?”
Jacob said, “To ask for my master’s kindness.”
Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what’s yours.”
Jacob said, “No, please, do me the kindness of accepting my gift. Seeing your face is like seeing God’s face, since you’ve accepted me so warmly. Take this present that I’ve brought because God has been generous to me, and I have everything I need.” So Jacob persuaded him, and he took it.
Esau said, “Let’s break camp and set out, and I’ll go with you.”
But Jacob said to him, “My master knows that the children aren’t strong and that I am responsible for the nursing flocks and cattle. If I push them hard for even one day, all of the flocks will die. My master, go on ahead of your servant, but I’ve got to take it easy, going only as fast as the animals in front of me and the children are able to go, until I meet you in Seir.”
Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”
But Jacob said, “Why should you do this since my master has already been so kind to me?” That day Esau returned on the road to Seir, but Jacob traveled to Succoth. He built a house for himself but made temporary shelters for his animals; therefore, he named the place Succoth.
John 21: 1-19
Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.”
They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus.
Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards.
When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”
Consider these resources for the texts:
- Sibling Rivalry in the Bible (including Esau & Jacob) & “The First Shall Be Last”
- “Breakfast on the Beach with Jesus” from the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics
Now consider these questions:
- As we have practiced remembering, releasing, and reimagining, we conclude our series by focusing on restoration. Ultimately, practicing faithful stewardship heals us as individuals and helps us restore right relationship with one another. In Genesis 33, Jacob and Esau experience a surprising reconciliation after years of strife and estrangement. Do you have relationships that need to be restored? How might that restoration take place?
- Restoration (the final act after remembering God’s faithfulness, releasing previous narratives, and reimagining a new way of being) requires courage in the form of vulnerability. What does “vulnerability” mean to you? How might you practice vulnerability in your life?
- This four-week journey began with Jesus and his disciples around the table, remembering stories, holding out hope for the new economy to come—a new way of being, a vision for how the church might be in the neighborhood, in the world. We end with Jesus and his disciples in virtually the same place: disciples gathered, confused around a meal, trying to figure out a way forward. What are still contemplating from this worship series? What would you like to know more about?
- Jesus moves into providing instruction that is embodied, tactile, physical. He gives a specific, clear instruction: “Feed my sheep.” The old way does not work. The old money stories we have told ourselves do not work. They gave us a foundation, but that foundation must be restored; it must be made new through God’s economy. What component of your money story no longer works? What needs to be restored? How may you restore your money story and relationships through the lens of God’s economy of grace?