Preaching Parables

A guide to preaching the parables that shows how to first interpret the parables, then proclaim their significance.

Preachers, in their call to preach the Scriptures, are not only charged with the responsibility of speaking its truth but of speaking in such a way that people of this age and culture understand. To do this, the preacher builds a bridge between todays people and the gospel of both testaments. For some, this task is more difficult than for others. Preaching to those living in an inner-city housing project is far removed from an outpost mission in the two-thirds world. Each community has its own way of thinking and attaches different values to symbols of its own making. For those called preach to a generation raised on MTV and late-night comedians or those rooted in various economic culturesfrom governmentsponsored jobs overseen by union bosses to entrepreneurial dot-com companiesor generations stretching from high school students to "freedom fifty-fivers," the task is enormous. When one adds to that the complexity of a radical shift in underlying intellectual and cultural assumptions, the task of preaching becomes even more complicated.

This text is the first to systematically look at the type and style of parables as a genre across literary and religious lines to help readers understand and use the unique transformational process themselves.

The third volume in the Biblical Explorations series from bestselling New Testament writer Paula Gooder explores a major exponent of the Gospels: the parables of Jesus. Covering every parable, this volume focuses on some of the best-known stories in the gospels, mining their meaning afresh today. It considers why Jesus spoke in pictures and opens up the world behind the parables to reveal just how striking, memorable and challenging they were for their original hearers. Biblical Explorations is an exciting series that offers an accessible and informed study of the best loved texts in Scripture. Rooted in the conviction that greater understanding of the Bible leads to deeper discipleship, it is an essential resource for preachers, teachers and study group leaders, as well as those who simply wish to get to know the Bible better.

The parables of Jesus are timeless stories -- and with the current popularity of narrative preaching, the parables are a familiar topic in the contemporary pulpit. But preaching on the parables is not as easy as it looks at first glance. Should we simply tell the parable in our own words and let it stand on its own feet, or is its lesson most effectively communicated by constructing a sermon around the central theme? Or should the preacher spiritualize the parable by probing for allegorical meaning? Master homiletician John Brokhoff aids preachers in answering these key questions with rigorous and enlightening background information on parables from Mark and John appearing in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. He offers not only exegesis and interpretation for each passage, but also rich material for sermon development, suggested outlining approaches, and preaching illustrations. Parables included are: - The Doorkeeper (Mark 13:32-37) - The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18) - The True Vine (John 15:1-8) - A Strong Man (Mark 3:20-25) - The Miracle Seed (Mark 4:26-34) - Bread To Eat (John 6:35, 41-51) - Eat The Bread (John 6:51-58) A popular preacher, teacher, and writer, John R. Brokhoff served as Professor of Homiletics at Candler School of Theology, Emory University from 1965 to 1979. Prior to that he pastored Lutheran congregations in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Brokhoff is the recipient of the George Washington medal from the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and is the author of many CSS titles, including This You Can Believe and Pray Like Jesus.

Many resources have been written to offer assistance in exploring and understanding the lectionary texts for the purpose of preaching. However, few have sought to provide this kind of preaching commentary on texts that do not follow the lectionary's grouping. For those whose preaching does not customarily follow the lectionary, and for those who depart from the lectionary text during certain periods of the year, little guidance has been offered for how to select, and preach on, important biblical texts. The Parables: A Preaching Commentary, the third book in The Great Texts series, gives guidance to preachers on preaching about this central part of faith. The principles by which volumes in The Great Texts series have been chosen are primarily two-fold: -Thematic: Texts on certain overarching themes or ideas of the Christian faith are brought together. -Biblical/traditional: Texts have long been recognized as belonging together, and as being particularly beneficial to the work of preaching.

Perfect for a preaching series on the parables Jesus told, this handy book can also be used by Sunday school teachers and speakers.

Craig Blomberg surveys the contemporary critical approaches to the parables--including those that have emerged in the twenty years since the first edition. This widely used text has taken a minority perspective and made it mainstream, with Blomberg ably defending a limited allegorical approach and offering brief interpretations of all the major parables.