Who Are the Least? (Matthew 25)
The focus of this passage is on the treatment of “the least of these.” But who are they, and what if they’re not exactly who we want them to be? We are reaching the end of the Lenten season, with … Continue reading
Forming Faith Blog
Tag Archives: Parable
Keep Awake! (Matthew 25)
What is the significance of the Parables of the Bridesmaids and the Talents? Simply put, Jesus calls us to stay awake and continue his ministry. We are now past the halfway mark in Lent. Each Sunday we have looked at … Continue reading
Teaching the Wedding Feast (Matt 22)
Jesus tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast to teach about the kingdom of heaven. The message: God welcomes everyone. But what about the violent details of the parable? With this reading from Matthew 22, we have made it halfway … Continue reading
Laborers, Lasts & Firsts (Matthew 20)
In the Parable of the Laborers, Jesus gives downright bad business advice. But God’s kingdom isn’t a business. God doesn’t give us what we deserve but what we need. As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, we … Continue reading
Ridiculous Forgiveness (Matthew 18)
Responding to a question about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus tells an over-the-top parable about a king, slaves, and a boatload of money. Lent: The Ways of the Kingdom Welcome to Lent. This first Sunday of Lent in the Narrative … Continue reading
The Subversive Kingdom (Matthew 13)
If you think that Jesus’ parables are easy to understand, then you might be getting them wrong. They illustrate our difficulty in wrapping our heads around God’s upside-down kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is like… a seed? Yeast? Wheat being … Continue reading
The Problem with Parables (2 Samuel 11 & 12)
Date: October 23, 2022 Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-27; 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9 Free Resource: Turning Around (Cross+Gen Education, NL) Unit Theme (October 16—November 6): Living Faithfully in God’s Promise The Point: We can always seek forgiveness when we sin … Continue reading
Whose Authority? (March 15, 2020)
Bible Readings: Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] Free Resource: Care for the Kingdom (Cross+Gen Worship, NL) Unit Theme (March 1—March 22): The Call to Serve The Point: We are called to serve God and build God’s kingdom. This week’s text is designated … Continue reading
Listen, but Not Understand (January 19, 2020)
Bible Readings: Mark 4:1-34 Free Resource: The Parable of the Everyday Item (Cross+Gen Education) Unit Theme (December 29—January 19): God’s Kingdom Announced The Point: Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God. We are now in the season of Epiphany, … Continue reading
Keep Awake! (March 31, 2019)
Bible Readings: Matthew 25:1-13 [14-30] Free Resource: Now and Then (Kids PK-2nd) Unit Theme (March 6–April 7): The Ways of the Kingdom We are now past the halfway mark in Lent. Each Sunday we have looked at a different parable, … Continue reading