Sunday, October 31: The Parables

The ballerina Isadora Duncan was once asked backstage what a particular dance meant, and she responded, “If I could explain it with words, I wouldn’t have to dance.”

Sometimes, the medium is the message.

On Sunday, we will continue our series on the parables of Jesus. In many ways, describing the meaning of a parable is like trying to describe the meaning of a dance.

Parables speak to our hearts in ways that normal speech cannot. If Jesus could have described the kingdom of God in another way, he would have. But he chose to use parables.

Describing the meaning of a parable is like describing the meaning of a joke.

If you explain a joke, it isn’t funny! Similarly, explaining a parable robs it of the emotional punch that is integral to the medium.

So, instead of explaining the parables of Jesus, I have decided instead to rewrite them in modern contexts that make sense to you. I wrote a short story. I am going to read it, then I am going to read the original parable of Jesus, and then at the end I am going to take some time to connect the dots before the Lord’s Supper.

It’s not going to feel like a normal sermon. But then again, Jesus’ parables didn’t feel like normal sermons either.

This is a creative departure from the sermons I normally preach. I can’t wait for Sunday!

Service times are at 9:30 & 11:00. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch live at those times.