Tag Archives: Sharing our Story

Parables

Living in the Spirit

June 13, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Mark 4:26-34
He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet 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.’

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

We need not only to learn the wisdom shared in Jesus’s parables, but we also need to understand the power of a story taking us out of our comfort zone and enabling us to see the world around us in a clearer light. The prophet Nathan did this with King David when he challenged David about his relationship with Bathsheba. You might remember the story Nathan described a man with a pet sheep he dearly loved. His wealthy neighbor was planning a feast and ordered his servants to slaughter the pet sheep and roast it for the rich man’s guests. At hearing the story, David became outraged and demanded the rich man be punished. Nathan responded that the rich man was David and the sheep represented Bathsheba*.

We rarely know the inside story of people we judge to be out of sync with our values. Jesus saw people for who they could become. We are called to do the same. I love the report of Jesus healing the man described in the scriptures as demon-possessed. He was a nuisance to the neighborhood. After Jesus returned him to wholeness, the man begged to stay with Jesus. But Jesus said, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ This formerly demon-possessed man had a mighty witness to share among people who knew him well.

Prayer: God of Mercy, help to see and serve others as you do. Amen.

*See 2 Samuel 12

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Telling the Story of Jesus

Eastertide
April 24, 2018

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:26-40

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. —Acts 8:34-40

A theology class I attended had a requirement that each participant writes his or her own creed. What did we believe? It was a challenging and interesting experience. One well worth doing. Who is the man Jesus Christ and what does he mean to me? Son of God, God Incarnate, Messiah, loaded word steeped in religious tradition and meaning role off our tongues. Our scripture today simply says that Jesus was good news. Philip did back this statement up with scriptures probably because he was talking to a man reading scriptures. I wonder how he expressed it to less educated seekers?

When I toured Turkey a few years ago, I visited the conical landscape of Cappadocia where the Apostle Paul established one of his first churches. The conical geological wonders were put to good use. We visited one home that was created from a cone. There was one area where several of the conical shapes were honed out and used as churches created several hundred years after Paul’ visit. They were of varying ages resting in a semi-circle. The oldest was covered with basic stick figures on the walls telling the stories of Jesus in pictures. As we climbed through each church the art grew more and more ornate and sophisticated. These churches were created for people who could not read. They were taught the stories that went with the pictures and each time they entered one of the churches they could review the message.

Sharing our creed, our stories is an important part of our faith, but we must remember we share them to enhance the understanding of the hearer. After all, we are describing one of the best storytellers of all.

Prayer: Teacher, guide us to discern the needs of the people with whom we share our experiences of following you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.