Stories of the Kingdom

Jesus was a master teacher. His speeches weren't dull doctrine or abstract theology but lively discourses full of illustrations, metaphors, and stories that caught and held the popular interest.

Have you noticed how often Jesus used the “question” method? Instead of telling his answers, he often asked questions to engage his listeners in the working out of a solution in dialogue with him.

He answered questions with more questions. He made people think.

The parables also provoke thought. In each one Jesus communicated a truth about God or the kingdom of heaven that he wanted his listeners to remember, and so he told them a story. Who could forget how God loves lost people after hearing the stories of Luke 15 the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son? Each tale makes us ask, "Am I like that? Is God like that?"

Robert Frost defined a parable as a story that means what it says, and something else besides. And in the New Testament that something besides is the more important of the two. Jesus' stories have familiar settings. The farmer sowing seed, the employer hiring workers for his vineyard, the mustard seed, the traveller on the way to Jericho, the man who found a pearl his listeners immediately saw a picture in their minds as Jesus spoke. He joined that picture to something besides, a spiritual reality he wanted them to see.

A few of his stories needed explanation. Others, like the story of the Good Samaritan, have obvious meanings. Sometimes the disciples waited until they were alone with Jesus to ask for his explanation of a story. Some required persistent probing. Only those committed to Jesus would follow through in trying to understand.

These next few weeks, on Sunday afternoons at Haven,  we are going to reflect on some of these stories of the kingdom. If you want a copy of the study booklet, you can download one HERE.

We pray that you will be stretched and blessed as you reflect on these stories of the Kingdom.