Surprised by the Parables: Growing in Grace through the Stories of Jesus

Jesus' 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 his listeners to open or close their hearts to the kingdom.Jesus understood the power of stories, but we lose things 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 we're unfamiliar with the underlying points of reference.In Surprised by the Parables, Michelle Lee-Barnewall explores the ancient context for Jesus' parables. These stories of grace reveal mysteries central to God's character, and understanding the ancient world behind them will help us see the parables from a new perspective. Read more