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What is a Parable? Unit 3

+What is a Parable?

A parable is a story which attempts to teach a lesson. The listener is to place him/herself in the story. The main purpose of Jesus’ parables was to reveal how to behave in order to bring about the Kingdom of God.

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+5 Traits of a ParableParables contain the following traits:

1. A Parable is a story.

2. A Parable is a comparison.

3. A Parable contains a crisis.

4. A Parable has an ending.

5. A Parable is a story about God’s Kingdom, God’s way of acting among us.

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+1. A Parable is a Story usually very short and deal with ordinary day-to-day events

Jesus’ parables were based on daily life among his people

they tell about being a good person and doing the right thing

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+2. A Parable is a Comparisoncompares something that we

don’t know/understand with something that we do know and understand

some comparisons are surprising and quite daring

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to everyday places and events

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+3. A Parable Contains a Crisis

all stories have a beginning, a crisis and a resolution

often, the resolution is the most unique/surprising part of Jesus’ Parables

what we expect to be normal is fulfilled in an unusual way

Parables challenge us to think differently about God and ourselves

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+4. A Parable has an Endingall have endings but some are sad and some are happy

the ending is not always predictable

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+5. A Parable is a story about God’s Kingdom, God’s way of Acting Among usthese are symbolic stories and give us a

brief glimpse into the mystery of God

they acknowledge that God is a mystery to us, but through Parables we get a glimpse of how He works and what he expects from us

they help us look for ways of acting as Christians in our culture

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+There are two types of Parables:

1. Window Parables

2. Mirror Parables

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+1. Window Parables

These parables give us some idea of what God is like.

Ex: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

– Matthew 13:31

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+2. Mirror Parables

These parables allow us to see ourselves and our behaviour reflected as we are or should be.

Ex: The Good Samaritan

- Luke 10:25-37

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+Homework:

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