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St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

215 N. 7th, Terre Haute, Indiana

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A Word: On Not Reading it Wrong

Sermons · September 21, 2025

choosing God over money
Proper 20C  |  Luke 16:1-13

You know, sometimes Jesus tells a story that leaves a person scratching their head. What does that mean? Or, as in this case, does he really mean what I think he means? 

The problem for the astute reader is figuring out, not just what to make of it, but in what way we are supposed to read this story. I mean that in quite literal terms. Like, what is the methodology of reading the assigned gospel for today?

I’m focused on this idea at the moment because it is part of a critical essay I’m working on about humor. It was inspired by an essay by David Foster Wallace about why he stopped trying to teach college students about why Franz Kafka is funny. That these stories by this long-dead German writer, which often deal with the twisted and the macabre are also quite funny. But Wallace kept finding his students struggled to see the humor. And, for years, he saw it as his mission to help them see it.

For a limited time, you may find the audio here.

Filed Under: Sermons Tagged With: Luke 16:1-13, mammon, parable of the dishonest manager, Proper 20C, wealth

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CONTACT

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
215 N. 7th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807

812-232-5165

officeadmin@ststephensth.org

ABOUT

St. Stephen’s is a sacramental community following Jesus’s Way of Love.

We worship on Sundays at 8 & 10.

AFFILIATIONS

St. Stephen’s is a member of The Episcopal Church and congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

St. Stephen’s is a member of the Homeless Council of the Wabash Valley

PARKING

St. Stephen’s is across from Indiana State University. Nearby parking lots are run by ISU and are free after 5pm weekdays and are free all weekend long. 

Five marked spots in the lot directly behind the church are available during the week.

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