questions
- Read Matthew 20:1-16. What is your initial reaction to this text and/or to the sermon?
- The sermon pointed us toward the fact that the difference between those who worked all day and those who only worked part of the day is that nobody hired those in the second group. That's it. How does this shift how we think of those who aren't working or haven't worked "hard enough" in some way?
- Can you think of a time when you were not "chosen?" How did this impact you?
- In this story, generosity toward others feels like injury toward the ones who "worked harder" or are more "deserving" in some way, even though nothing was taken away from those who worked the full shift. How can you relate to that feeling? Why does it feel like that?
- How can we counteract that instinct to divide the world into those who deserve and those who do not? Where do you see people in your life, in your community, or in the world refusing to divide people up that way?