How Do We Make a Difference? Faith, Community & Putting Belief Into Action | Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast S4E7
Nov 01, 2026
Summary
How do we make a difference in the world? And what if it takes more than one person to make it happen? What does it really mean to put your faith into action? Is making an impact about how much we give or what we accomplish on our own … or is it about showing up, building relationships, and discovering what becomes possible when we work together?
Detail
How do we make a difference in the world? And what if it takes more than one person to make it happen?
What does it really mean to put your faith into action? Is making an impact about how much we give or what we accomplish on our own … or is it about showing up, building relationships, and discovering what becomes possible when we work together?
In Luke 10:1-9, Jesus sends his followers to out in pairs to share peace, serve others, and experience the generosity of the communities they encounter. But there’s an important twist: they’re not just going out to give. They’re also being asked to receive.
In this episode of Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast, Revs. Hannah and Brittany explore what this story teaches us about faith, stewardship, community and making a difference today.
The female pastors discuss:
- Why ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact when they work together
- How a scarcity mindset can keep us from recognizing the abundance around us
- Why meaningful impact requires vulnerability and mutual relationships
- What it means to give AND receive when serving others
- Why stewardship is about more than money: it’s also about sharing our time, talents, and gifts
- How offering peace and building relationships can transform communities
- Why we need one another to create meaningful change
This episode is part of our “What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus Today?” series, exploring how the teachings of Jesus speak to our lives, our communities, and the world around us.
Reflection Questions:
- How does working alongside others change what we are able to accomplish and the impact we make?
- What would a church look like if we truly understood everyone as both a giver and a receiver?
- How might our understanding of stewardship change if we focused less on individual contributions and more on what becomes possible through our collective participation?
Continue the Conversation
Whether you're exploring progressive Christianity, deconstructing your faith, studying the Bible, pursuing justice, wrestling with theology, or simply asking honest questions about Scripture, we invite you to join the conversation:
- Convergence discussion group (Sundays at 12 PM)
- Join our Patreon community
Coming Next: Who gets invited into the Christian Kin-dom? We'll be joined by Jeremy Steele, the "Skeptic Pastor" and host of the UnBelief podcast, for a conversation about who belongs and who's included.
Timestamps
00:00 What If We Could Make a Difference Together?
00:27 Jesus Sends His Followers Out in Pairs
02:24 From Scarcity to Abundance
03:43 Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact
05:16 Why We Need Each Other
06:27 The Vulnerability of Serving Others
07:36 Why Mission Is More Than Charity
09:25 What We Receive When We Give
10:53 Rethinking Individualism and Community
12:23 Why Peace Comes First
15:52 Stewardship Is About More Than Money
17:14 What Is the Church Really Here to Do?
19:36 How Community Reminds Us We Are Beloved
21:09 What Happens When Someone Rejects Your Peace?
24:07 Finding Your Place and Purpose in Community
25:32 Why We Can't Wait for Someone Else to Act
26:44 The Joy of Doing Ministry Together
29:14 Reflection Questions
