The BBB: Bigger, Better Barns

/ First United Methodist Church of Orange/

Luke 12:13-21
Rev. Jerry Owyang, Guest Preacher

Have you ever said this prayer? “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray my HDTV to keep. I pray my stocks are on the rise, and that my analyst is wise. That all my data is on the cloud, and that my music is not too loud. That all my investments are enough, that all my sushi’s fresh enough. That my iPhone still works, that my career won’t lose its perks. I pray my microwave won’t radiate, my condo won’t depreciate. I pray my health club doesn’t close, and that my money market grows. But if I go broke before I wake, I pray my Tesla they won’t take.” (Adapted from Family Survival in the American Jungle, by Steve Farrar.)

This Sunday, we'll take a look at what Jesus says about our "stuff" in Luke 12:13-21. Take a "sneak peek" at the text and 

  • Count the number of times you find "I," "me," and "my" in the text. What's the significance of this?
  • How would you define greed? What other areas of life besides material wealth can greed affect?

  • Is it more likely for a rich or a poor person to be greedy?

  • How does one become rich towards God?

Jesus never condemns ownership-but he does give great insight to our attitude and wise use of our possessions.

Jerry Owyang has been serving Cal-Pac since 1989 in a variety of cultural and ministry settings—churches, camps, and correctional facilities. He previously served here at FUMCO (2002-04) as the Associate Pastor to oversee Youth & Christian Education Ministries. For the past 12 years, Jerry has served as the Senior Pastor at Cornerstone UMC in Placentia and is now taking a renewal leave of absence for a holy conversation with God!

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, he graduated from UC San Diego and the University of Santa Clara School of Law. Married to Julie, they have three married adult children. He loves good food, good books, good music, solitude, and would rather be on a zip-line than filing papers!