"Parables" Series - Lent 2020

NOTE: During the suspension of worship, Pastor Brian and church staff will provide weekly recordings of music, prayers, a message for children, as well as a new sermon from this series. 

Series Overview

Jesus told short stories to provoke us into examining what we value.  During Lent, our series “Parables” will be guided by the book Short Sorties by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish New Testament scholar at Vanderbilt University.  “Even though I'm Jewish,” says Levine, “I find Jesus to be inspirational, profound, edgy, remarkable.  When I listen to the parables, I try to hear them as first-century Jews would have heard them.  What did Jesus sound like to the people who first heard them?  What messages were those first-century Jews hearing when Jesus told them the parables?” 

Parables are designed to shake us up and help us to see life differently.  Levine aims to recover Jesus' provocation and the original controversy.  As we learn to hear the parables of Jesus as first-century Jews, we might better understand why some of them decided to follow Jesus in the first place.  It could also help us follow him better today.

February 26 – Ash Wednesday

TWO IN THE TEMPLE: In Luke 18:9-14, two men stand in the temple and offer their prayers: one offers thanksgiving and the other asks for mercy.  We all stand in need of God’s grace.  What is the prayer of your heart?

March 1 – Lent 1

THE LOST IS FOUND: In Luke 15:1-10, a shepherd finds a missing sheep, and a woman discovers a lost coin.  With similar devotion, God searches for us when we are lost because everyone matters to God.  Who are the people who get lost in the crowd or receive little attention?

March 8 – Lent 2

THE GOOD SAMARITAN: In Luke 10:25-37, an unlikely figure assists a person in trouble.  God shows mercy to us and calls us to show mercy to others.  Who would prefer not to have as your neighbor?

March 15  – Lent 3

A PRECIOUS PEARL: In Matthew 13:45-46, a man sells everything he has in order to own one thing.  Christ gave up everything for us.  For what (or whom) have you been willing to do everything it takes to secure?

March 22 – Lent 4

MUSTARD SEEDS: In Mark 4:30-34, Jesus describes how small things, like a mustard seed, can become significant.  God is the source of life and makes all things grow.  When has someone’s small gesture made a big difference?

March 29 – Lent 5

VINEYARD LABORERS: In Matthew 20:1-16, an employer pays all his employees, but some of the workers really didn’t deserve as much as they got.  God is generous to all, and there’s nothing fair about it.  When have you received something worth more than the effort you put forth?

April 5 – Palm Sunday

THE WIDOW AND THE JUDGE: In Luke 18:1-8, a crooked judge relents and does the right thing.  We can count on God to deliver justice for an unjust world.  Where is justice needed today?

April 9 – Maundy Thursday

YEAST: In Matthew 13:33, a woman hides some yeast in a container of flour that leavens the whole batch.  God’s kingdom is alive among us everywhere.  How is Jesus “bread for the world”?

April 12 – Easter Sunday

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS: In Luke 16:19-31, a man realizes too late that he failed to help a person who was suffering.  Christ’s promise of eternal life requires us to love our neighbor in need.  What obstacles keep you from helping the poor?