Sunday, February 28, 2010

This Week's Parables

Monday March 1 Mark4:3-8
Tuesday March 2 Matthew 13:24-30
Wednesday March 3 Matthew 13:44
Thursday March 4 Matthew 13:45-46
Friday March 5 Matthew 20:1-16
Saturday March 6 Luke 15:4-7

Thanks to everyone for adding to the discussion in the blog. Looking forward to the adventure ahead this week.

Monday, March 1

Mark 4:3-8

3‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. 6And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. 7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’

Blog Discussion Question: If this parable is about God, what does it say about God?

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Sunday, Feb. 28

Luke 7:31-35

‘To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another,
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
 we wailed, and you did not weep.” 
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: If you can't win for losing.....why even try?

Friday, February 26, 2010

Saturday, February 27

Matthew 7:24-27

‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: Why would anyone build a house on sand?

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Friday, February 26

Matthew 5:21-26

21 ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.


BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: The parable is really verses 25 and 26. Is Jesus overstating things here.....is there really no difference between physically killing someone and being angry with them?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Thursday, February 25

Mark 13:32-37

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: What does this parable say about examining world events and trying to determine what they say about the date of Christ's return?

Wednesday, February 24

Matthew 21:33-46

33 ‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ 41They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

42 Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected
 has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
 and it is amazing in our eyes”? 
43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.


BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF VERSE 44? IS THAT GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS?

Monday, February 22, 2010

Tuesday, February 23

Luke 13:18-19

18 He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: There was a gardening rule in Jesus' day that prohibited planting a mustard plant in one's garden. Knowing that, what do you think Jesus is trying to tell us in this, the third telling of this parable?

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Monday, February 22

Matthew 13:31-32

31 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: THIS IS THE SECOND OF THREE TIMES THAT JESUS TELLS THIS PARABLE. NOTICE THAT IN THIS TELLING THE BIRDS OF THE AIR MAKE NESTS IN ITS BRANCHES. WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK JESUS IS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE IN THIS TELLING OF THE MUSTARD SEED PARABLE?

Monday, February 22

Here's the parables for this week:

Monday, Feb. 22 Matthew 13:31-32
Tuesday, Feb. 23 Luke 13:18-19
Wednesday, Feb 24 Matthew 21:33-46
Thursday, Feb. 25 Mark 13:32-37
Friday, Feb. 26 Matthew 5:21-26
Saturday, Feb. 27 Matthew 7:24-27

Thanks to everyone who is joining the blog and adding their comments!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Sunday, February 21

Mark 4:30-32

30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

Blog Discussion Question: Is other shade shadier?

Friday, February 19, 2010

Saturday, Feb 20

Mark 4:26-29

26 He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: IN LIGHT OF THIS PARABLE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO CAME TO CHURCH AFTER A RECESS FROM WORSHIP, AND SAID TO YOU, "YOU KNOW...I'VE COME TO CHURCH FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, NOW, BUT I DON'T SEE IT HAVING MUCH EFFECT ON MY LIFE OR FAITH."?

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Friday, Feb. 19

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Blog Discussion Question: If a Christian person were to pray the first prayer, might we not say that it merely contained the evidence of the maturity of that one's faith? What do you think?


By the way....feel free to comment as you wish on the parable. I offer the discussion question as a catalyst for blogging.

Thursday, Feb. 18

Matthew 13:45-46

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.


BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: DOES THIS PARABLE FEEL LIKE A COMMAND TO YOU?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Ash Wednesday

Luke 15:11-32

Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’


Blog Question: What title would you give to this parable? Why?

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Parable A Day

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and also the beginning of our mutual commitment to READ A PARABLE A DAY.

Here's the parables for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

Feb. 17 Lk 15:11-32
Feb. 18 Mt. 13:45-46
Feb. 19 Lk 18:9-14
Feb. 20 Mk 4:26-29
Feb. 21 Mk 4:30-32

After you read Luke 15:11-32 think about this question, What would you name this parable?
Post your ideas on the blog!

Looking forward to sharing this Lenten journey with you.

Pastor Jerry

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Blogging Again!

Time to restart! This Lent, I am inviting every member of Willow Creek and Benton Lutheran Churches to read A PARABLE A DAY. As we follow the footsteps of Jesus to the Cross and the empty tomb, we will listen to his faith generating words. The voices of the world are constantly ringing in our ears giving us half truths and empty hopes. Lent has been a time that Christians have turned down the volume of the world, and turned up the volume of Jesus' voice. That is what we'll be doing this Lent as we read a PARABLE A DAY.

In my next post, I'll list the parables that we will read each day. Some are only a verse or two long, but some are a dozen verses, or so. It will not take much time to read a parable a day, but it will take discipline and commitment. I am certain that filling our ears with Jesus' words for the days of Lent will bring a change in us, a change filled with the hope, courage, peace, and joy that only God can give.

When you attend worship on Sunday, you will be given a pamphlet each week with the parable for each day of the week printed out. Place the pamphlet somewhere you will see it and have a moment to read the parable for that day. You can even take home several pamphlets so you can place it at several locations....on a kitchen countertop, on your pillow, on your easy chair, at your job's work station, in your pocket....

Each day, I'll post a blog with a discussion question for the parable for that day. I hope that you will come to the blog and post your comments. I'll follow up on the next day with some comments of my own. My hope is that this journey and blog will be a place for us to gather our insights and impressions of these story-pictures that Jesus told.

As I said, it will not take much time to READ A PARABLE A DAY, but it will take your commitment. Join me this Lent in a commitment to READ A PARABLE A DAY, and let's see what change will take place in our hearts when Lent is over.

Pastor Jerry