SURPRISED BY THE PARABLES
GROWING IN GRACE THROUGH THE STORIES OF JESUS
Transformed by the Parables of Jesus: Growing in Grace through His Stories of Surprise
Copyright 2020 Michelle Lee-Barnewall
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Print ISBN 9781683592990
Digital ISBN 9781683593003
Library of Congress Control Number:2019950882
Lexham Editorial: Derek R. Brown, Sarah Awa
Cover Design: Lydia Dahl
A PRECIOUS GIFT OF
GOD’S GRACE.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
The Parable of the Two Debtors
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight
This book represents a bit of a departure from my usual writing and research, and so I am very appreciative of the opportunity to pursue the project, first from Jim Weaver, and now from Lexham.
My friends and colleagues June Hetzel and Joanne Jung at Biola University provided support and encouragement especially in the early stages. My teaching assistant, Elaina Cray, read the entire manuscript and offered valuable critiques and suggestions.
For all writers and researchers, time is a most valuable commodity. A seventh-semester research leave from Biola gave me the time to complete the manuscript. Much-needed funding for the leave came from a Biola research and development grant and a grant from the Biola biblical and theological studies division.
My editor at Lexham, Derek Brown, kindly and enthusiastically guided me through the process and gave helpful feedback. I am grateful to him and everyone else at Lexham who has helped this project see the light of day.
And as always, I am very thankful for a patient and supportive husband who constantly encourages me to share my thoughts and write what I believe.
One of my all-time favorite stories is O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” Set in the early 1900s, it tells the story of Della and Jim, a young couple who want to buy Christmas presents for each other, but have very little money. They do have two prized possessions: Jim’s gold watch, which had belonged to his father and grandfather, ...
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About Surprised by the Parables: Growing in Grace through the Stories of JesusJesus’ parables can’t simply be interpreted, they must be experienced. In the gospels, Jesus used parables to teach transformative lessons and convey deep spiritual truths about the kingdom of God. But he often used them to confront and challenge his audience as well, forcing them to open or close their hearts to the kingdom. Jesus understood the power of stories, but there are some things lost in translation when we try to interpret those same stories thousands of years removed from their original context. The unexpected twists and surprises in the parables might be missed by a modern audience because they’re unfamiliar with the underlying points of reference. In Surprised by the Parables, Michelle Lee Barnewall explores the ancient context these parables drew from. These stories of grace reveal many of the mysteries central to God’s character, and understanding the ancient world behind them will help us see the parables from a new perspective. |
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