Parable And Paradox

Since the publication of the bestselling Sounding the Seasons, Malcolm Guite has repeatedly been asked for more sonnets. This new collection offers a sequence of 50 sonnets that focus on many passages in the Gospels: the Beatitudes, parables and miracles, teachings on the Kingdom, and the ‘hard sayings’ - Jesus’ challenging demands with which we wrestle. In addition this collection includes: •A sequence of seven sonnets on 'The Wilderness', exploring mysterious stories of divine encounter such as Jacob’s wrestling with the angel. •Poetic reflections on music, hospitality and ecology. •Seven short poems celebrating the days of creation. •A biblical index pairing the poems with scripture readings for use in worship.

God invites you on an epic journey as a faithful steward of his mysteries. When seeking to understand God's larger plan, he speaks of mysteries and hidden things. He purposely speaks through puzzles, parables, riddles, and paradox. Even so, he implores you to take up the challenge and travel with him on an amazing adventure of discovery. This is not an exploration that is for the faint of heart. It is a selective process designed only for those who will seek first the kingdom and who will search for God with all their heart. It is a journey that involves understanding God's secret wisdom, his hidden knowledge, and his fantastic mysteries. "We speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began."(I Corinthians 2:7-8) Even though God's communication with mankind often appears fuzzy or cloudy, as if shrouded in secrecy, he invites you to become actively involved and understand more of the mystery of his kingdom and what he wants for your life. What does God want?He wants you to see answers everywhere you look,but only if you're looking.He wants you to hear the clues and their meanings,but only if you're listening.He wants you to understand the mystery of his kingdom, but only if you want to be part of the kingdom.He wants to point you in the right direction,but only if you choose to go on the journey with him.Why does God hide his wisdom in the form of a mystery? Why go to such great lengths to keep things secret from the moment the world begins and then go even further to make them simple and obvious to us? Why speak through puzzles, parables, and paradox? How do we understand the mysteries of God? How do we tap into the bold clues that are everywhere around us? How do we learn and grow from the process? That is the focus of this book - to understand God's plan, his purpose, and his process through these mysteries.

This follow-up to Sounding the Seasons offers a sequence of 50 sonnets that focus on many passages in the Gospels: the Beatitudes, parables and miracles, teachings on the Kingdom, and the hard sayings- Jesus' challenging demands with which we wrestle

Scholarship on the Gospel of Mark has long been convinced of the paradoxical description of two of its primary themes, christology and discipleship. This book argues that paradoxical language pervades the entire narrative, and that it serves a theological purpose in describing God's activity. Part One focuses on divine action present in Mark 4:10-12. In the first paradox, Mark portrays God's revelatory acts as consistently accompanied by concealment. The second paradox is shown in the various ways in which divine action confirms, yet counters, scripture. Finally, Mark describes God's actions in ways that indicate both wastefulness and goodness; deeds that are further illuminated by the ongoing, yet defeated, presence of evil. Part Two demonstrates that this paradoxical language is widely attested across Mark's passion narrative, as he continues to depict God's activity with the use of the three paradoxes observed in Mark 4. Through paradoxical narrative, Mark emphasizes God's transcendence and presence, showing that even though Jesus has brought revelation, a complete understanding of God remains tantalizingly out of their grasp until the eschaton (4:22).

Here in one volume is Robert Farrar Capon's widely praised trilogy on Jesus' parables — The Parables of the Kingdom, The Parables of Grace, and The Parables of Judgment. These studies offer a fresh, adventurous look at all of Jesus' parables, treated according to their major themes. With the same authorial flair and daring insight that have earned him a wide readership, Capon admirably bridges the gap between the biblical world and our own, making clear both the original meaning of the parables and their continuing relevance today.

A fresh look at the meaning of Jesus' parables for Christian living today. The parables recorded in the Gospels are central for an understanding of Jesus and his ministry. Yet the parables are more than simple stories; they present a number of obstacles to contemporary readers hoping to fully grasp their meaning. In this volume, thirteen New Testament scholars provide the background necessary to understand the original context and meaning of Jesus' parables as well as their modern applications, all in a manner easily accessible to general readers. Contributors: Stephen C. Barton Craig A. Evans Richard T. France Donald A. Hagner Morna D. Hooker Sylvia C. Keesmaat Michael P. Knowles Walter L. Liefeld Richard N. Longenecker Allan W. Martens Klyne R. Snodgrass Robert H. Stein Stephen I. Wright

An evaluation of the writings of Kafka.