dialogue around the meaning of the words we use when speaking of the mystery we call GOD
This week let's consider and ponder the parable of The Mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32) In order to understand this scripture, it’s important to put it in its first century context and ask ourselves "How would the first hearers of this comparison understood it?" https://soundcloud.com/user-165947833-151164563/small?si=24f7deff9d6c49f782b3d66e3c9bba8c Well, for the Israelites (the Jewish people) of Jesus’ time, there... Continue Reading →
The parables of Jesus are little “stories with a mystery.” There is no “right” or “wrong” way to understand them - we are simply invited to ponder and tease them out a bit. For me, one of the more baffling parables is that of the Dishonest Steward or Manager found in Luke 16:1-13. https://soundcloud.com/lisa-abad-brown/money?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing The... Continue Reading →
The parables we hear today in Luke 15: 1-32 speak to our deep longing for a sense of wholeness and belonging. By God’s design, all of creation is connected in ways that we couldn’t even begin to understand. Just like a bee is drawn to pollen and a flower turns towards the sun and soaks... Continue Reading →
Most scholars agree that the parables are the most authentic and original words of Jesus found in our sacred scriptures. Parables not only brilliantly elucidate WHAT Jesus taught, but also HOW He taught. The parable in and of itself is a method of teaching. We can even say it is THE method of the teaching... Continue Reading →
The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard found in The Gospel of Matthew 20:10-16 is arguably the most infuriating words of Jesus ever to make it to print. There is a deep sense of something gone wrong when we hear that the ones who only worked one hour are paid the same as the... Continue Reading →
STRONG LANGUAGE: 