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           We grew up hearing that a Biblical parable is, “An earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” We carry that definition in our collective memories. Any time we study a parable of Jesus in a class it is repeated. That definition is okay, but inadequate since the word means, “a throwing alongside.” That is, one thing is placed alongside another for purposes of comparison.  

             When we think of parables we think of Jesus. They were a trademark of the ideal teacher. His use of parables has intrigued countless Bible students over the centuries. How many of his parables have you read and found easy to understand? On the other hand, how many have you read and struggled to understand? How many are a continuing mystery, always giving you pause to wonder exactly what Jesus meant by it?

           What is it about the parables of Jesus that make them so captivating? It seems we never tire of studying them. I pray we never do! It also seems that each time we look at them something new jumps out at us. That is the reward of continued Bible study. You will never master it (in terms of learning all there is to learn), but it will master you in terms of changing your life!

            The first Bible class book on the parables of Jesus that I ever acquired was when I was 15 years old. It was from The Living Word series (Sweet Publications), The Parables of Jesus, Part 1, by Neil R. Lightfoot. It was from a class at congregation where I grew up. It still have that book, along with twenty-five others that I have collected over the years. In 2014 I preached through some of the parables of Jesus. It was a challenge then as it would be now. If I were to do it again I am sure I would approach it a little differently than I did ten years ago. You say, “Truth never changes.” True but we are always learning more as we get older, and in the process approach things differently.

            Recently, I came across a new book by Dan Winkler, called, Some of Jesus’ Favorite Stories: Study of Our Lord’s Parables. It caught my eye. I have used brother Winkler’s material on Forgiven, Forgiving and Free and Grace: Simply Incredible and Incredibly Simple for my Wednesday night classes in the past. Knowing that brother Winkler has a unique way of constructing a fascinating and challenging Bible study I have decided to use his book on the parables for our All Comers class.

            This book addresses fifteen of Jesus’s parables. Each lesson will follow the same format:

 

  1. Study “Starter” Questions.
  2. Introduction
  3. Background to this Story.
  4. Break Down of this Story.
  5. Lessons Found in this Story.
  6. Conclusion
  7. Study “Harder” Questions (consisting of true or false, multiple choice and fill in the blank or short answer questions).

 

           We can easily make two classes out of each lesson, getting twenty-six studies from this book. Since the book contains thirteen chapters we will need the same number of weeks for All Comers class this fall. The fall session is typically the short session (ten weeks). In this case, however, we must begin by August 27th in order to allow thirteen weeks for this study. We will follow the same thirteen week schedule for the winter-spring session in 2025.

          The arrangement of teachers for this session is yet to be determined. I hope that you will want to be a part of our All Comers class this fall. Our study of some of Jesus’s parable will be rich and rewarding. You know you need it! Plan to join us on August 27th and thereafter!