For more than a decade, the Parable of the Bicycle has touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. Parents, youth leaders, and teachers of all ages will especially love this new picture book that again shares the good news of the gospel- this is, although we can never pay the price of admission into the kingdom of God, "Christ is the answer. He knows the worth of a soul is priceless. He is our Savior."

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.

A parable is a story used to illustrate a lesson or moral. in the case of the Kryon parables, the stories are simple—even childlike—and sometimes their real meaning is only clear after repeate examination. The parables, or "journeys", in this wonderful book relate to individual human beings and how they react in specific circumstances. Kryon speaks of new gifts from God as we enter the next century. He relates good news for the future, instead of "doom and gloom" predictions that almost always accompany each millennium change. If you are already familiar with the Kryon books... or if this is your first exposure to the world of Kryon... you will find this work to be an inspiring and moving adventure that will take you to places in your mind and soul that you had only imagined up to this point!

Like yeast, parables are explosive stories of Jesus that invade our lives and transform us into citizens of the kingdom of God. But they are also cryptic, and that's where this book is useful. More than an explanation or interpretation of each parable, this definitive work is primarily an exercise in hermeneutics. In it, readers are taken through a process of discovering which sayings of Jesus are parables, problematic questions related to counting and categorizing them, and Jesus' rationale for speaking in parables. The work then analyzes four distinct ways that parables are structured and three levels at which they do their work in us. The final chapter presents parable-related hermeneutical guidelines, and the book ends with seven extensive Appendices and two Indexes. It is a "must read" for every biblical scholar!

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.

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.