The Power of Simple Stories: How Jesus’ Parables Shape Discipleship

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” Leonardo da Vinci 

In Matthew 13 there is a collection of stories Jesus told to those who gathered to hear him teach. His stories are called parables. The web site Got Questions defines a parable this way: 

"A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth." 

For example, in Mathew 13, he told about a farmer:  "A farmer went out to sow seed ..." Another parable started this way: "...the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ..."

Jesus told parables because everyone in the audience could identify with what he was talking about. When he started to talk about sowing seed many in the crowd had first hand experience performing this task. Others had seen it done many times. Sometimes the listeners could not make the connection between the practical story and the spiritual implication. By using parables Jesus was able to reveal truth to those who wanted to know it and conceal it from those who were not truly interested. 

Scholars play a vital role in community of believers. But unless the well educated adopt the principal espoused by da Vinci, what they say has little value to the vast majority of people.

Foundations 4 Living discipleship material is written so that any Jesus follower can be discipled and trained how to explain the Gospel and to disciple others who also want to follow Jesus.