“The Parables of Jesus”
Someone has defined a “parable” as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” While that may be true in some ways, the parables Jesus told were illustrations of how Jesus expected His disciples to live in this world. It would be more accurate to say that a parable was a spiritual lesson intended to instruct those who were born again by the Spirit on godly living. While Jesus sometimes spoke in parables to large crowds, He knew that those without the Spirit would not understand their meaning. Even the disciples were often confused! It would not be until they received the Spirit at Pentecost that they would fully understand these things. The same is true today. While some who are not true disciples of Jesus may be able to gain some “moral teaching” from the parables of Jesus, only those who are instructed by the Spirit are empowered to apply the unchanging truths and principles that are contained within them to living life in this world as citizens of God’s kingdom. From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. As God’s anointed King, who else could reveal to those who were given ears to hear the “secrets of the kingdom”?? In reading, hearing, and learning from these parables today, we who are disciples of Jesus gain knowledge that is taught nowhere else … knowledge that produces confidence, peace, and hope in the hearts of those who understand that there is nothing more important than being part of God’s kingdom! Listen carefully to the “the parables of Jesus”, knowing that in doing so you will find the path of life as a disciple of Jesus Christ!!
Sermon Titles and Dates
June 5th: “The Parable of the Sower” ~ Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15
June 12th: “The Parables of the Kingdom” ~ Matthew 13:24-52; Mark 4:26-34; Luke 13:18-21
June 19th: “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” ~ Luke 10:25-37 ( Matthew 20:25-28)
June 26th: “The Parable of the Rich Fool” ~ Luke 12:15-34
July 3rd: “The Parable of the Great Banquet” ~ Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:12-34
July 10th: “The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant” ~ Matthew 18:21-35
July 17th: “The Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Sons” ~ Luke 15:1-32; Matthew 21:28-32
July 24th: “The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard” ~ Matthew 20:1-16
July 31st: “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager” ~ Luke 16:1-17
August 7th: “The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus” ~ Luke 16:19-31
August 14th: “The Parable of the Persistent Widow” ~ Luke 18:1-8
August 21st: “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector” ~ Luke 18:9-14, 14:7-11
August 28th: “The Parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents” ~ Matthew 25:1-30