Transcription
BROWNSONMEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHA missional community called to love and live in Christ“Who Are You in the Story?”A Study on the Parables of Jesus
“Who Are You in the Story?”A Study on the Parables of JesusTABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction4Group Covenant7Lesson 1 (March 10 - 16) – Good Samaritan or Entrenched Lawyer?9Lesson 2 (March 17 - 23) – Searching for You? Can it Be?15Lesson 3 (March 24 - 30) – Lost, and Found: the Prodigals19Lesson 4 (March 31 - April 6) – A Risky Call25Lesson 5 (April 7 - 13) – There is Still Room29Lesson 6 (April 14 - 20) – Grace in the Marketplace?35My StoryBibliographyAdditional ResourcesAbout the Authors40454647In this season of Lent, may you experience the transformative presence of Christin ways that enrich every area of your life.
IntroductionWhy a Lenten Study?Lent is the approximately 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday, the daybefore Easter is celebrated. Traditionally, this season in the life of the church has been seen asa time for preparation and reorientation. For well over 1,500 years, Christians have used theseason of Lent to seek God’s forgiveness and direction. Like an annual health and wellnesscheck-up, Lent can be an opportunity for us to do some self-assessment and take stock of ourlives. As we prepare for the joy of Easter and God’s radical, saving love that can save us fromanything—even ourselves—we take time to reflect on what God longs for us in our lives.The hope for this study is that the collection of Scripture readings, ideas, questions, andresource materials will foster meaningful and relevant conversation among the Brownsoncommunity during the season of Lent and beyond. May this season of Lent be a time for us togrow more faithful as followers of Christ doing God’s work in the world.The CurriculumLent, a season of reflection and study, provides a meaningful opportunity for each of us toconsider how to faithfully respond to God’s call. “Who Are You in the Story?” A Study on theParables of Jesus invites us to journey into the Gospels and find ourselves there.Jesus spoke in parables so that all would listen with their hearts and turn to God. Whether wehave read the parables over and over or are studying them for the first time, we will find thatJesus still teaches through them today - and we just might be surprised by what we will learn.Through concrete images, candid language, and intriguing characters, the parables provideentry into understanding our own stories of faith and the story of God. The parables encourageus to ask: who or where am I in the story? What is required of me?Studying the parables encourages change which in turn fuels growth in our lives of faith. Thesefirst-century stories invite us to get outside of our comfort zone. In the parables, we find theunexpected; what first appears to be a simple story is often a challenge to a deeper truth,sometimes even evoking more questions than answers. Parables never leave us in the sameplace. They challenge us to dig deeply within, examining the soul and honestly wrestling withone’s relationship with God. They inspire us to reach out, examining our relationships withothers and the world.In studying the parables of Jesus, may we better grasp the mysterious power, relentless love,and incomprehensible grace of God who calls us, and let it impact and inform us in the journeyof faith.4
This BookletThis booklet provides a weekly lesson to be discussed in your small group as well as guidancefor individual faith formation. Unless otherwise noted, scriptural passages included in thecontent of the study are the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Your group’s first meetingwill discuss Lesson 1 .Small Group WorkDiscuss one lesson each week following a similar pattern: Gather Opening Prayer Scripture Conversation Prayer & SendingIndividual Faith Formation WorkMake every effort to read through the assigned lesson in advance of your small group timeeach week, so that you may prepare and share your thoughts more thoroughly. In addition, weencourage you to attend to your own spiritual work in the weekly “My Story” section explainedbelow. Through investing in your relationship with God, the intent is to grow more grounded inyour faith and more faithful as Christ’s hands and feet in the world.Introduction to “My Story” ExerciseStudying the parables is a wonderful opportunity to intentionally reflect on our own stories. Thiscurriculum will provide open-ended guidance for you to compose your own story of faith by theconclusion of the study. If these exercises inspire you to explore more deeply, additional resources can be found in the back of the booklet.The intersection of your life’s story and God’s story is sometimes called a spiritual autobiography. Spiritual autobiographies are about how God has worked in our lives and the people whohave walked with us along the way. There are many reasons to explore the journey of faith butperhaps the most important one is to better understand God, ourselves, and our relationshipto the world around us. You may think, “I have nothing to write about,” but each person has astory to share. It is important to remember that the seemingly insignificant and ordinary waysGod works in day-to-day life is just as much a story of God as is the mountaintop experience.A spiritual autobiography, which includes recalling the times you have moved toward, as wellas away from God, tells the story of how you have come to your beliefs. It is the contrail of yourfaith up to this point, recognizing that the future is still in God’s hands.Each week, the study of the characters in one of the short stories of Jesus will give shape toour own. How do the questions they face resonate in our stories? Your answers to these questions can be written in the space provided in the booklet or created digitally in your own document to facilitate expanding at a later opportunity. Another wonderful option is to partner witha trusted friend or family member. Your listener will provide the prompting questions to guideyour conversation.5
If possible, before your group’s first meeting, complete the background to your story below.Background: My StoryDescribe your childhood briefly, including where you lived, who was important in your life (parents, siblings, other key “characters”) what you enjoyed, and early encounters with God.6
Group CovenantSmall groups are wonderful opportunities to grow in faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, alongsideothers in our community. An essential component of the small group experience is to operate witha sense of trust and accountability to one another. Please prayerfully consider the covenant belowas a way to affirm one another in this group setting.I will make attending this group a high priority, missing only when ill or out of town.I will strive to be on time to all of our group meetings.I will come willing to fully participate, preparing for each meeting and being open to God’s presence and to others in the group. No one will be asked to share what they do not want to share.The group will respect each person’s position.I accept that group members have the right to their own opinions. I will respect and receive whatothers offer, even if I have a different perspective.I will respect the confidence of each group member. What is shared in this group stays in thisgroup, unless otherwise directed.I will listen to and care for the members of my group.I will pray for our group time and for each member of my group.Participant signature:7
Lesson 1Good Samaritan or Entrenched Lawyer?GatherOne of the gifts of small group study is the opportunity to develop and nurture relationships in thecommunity of faith. If your group is newly formed, take time to make introductions and considersharing where you grew up and what brought you to this church. For all groups, welcome eachother and share one thing that you are looking forward to in this small group study.Opening PrayerMerciful God, you have gathered us here today and you are with us.Engage our hearts, minds, and souls in the study of your Wordand in the fellowship with one another.Bless this group and our conversation as we enter your storyand may your story shape our story.Amen.ScriptureLuke 10:25-37Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternallife?” 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered,“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all yourstrength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And Jesus said to him, “Youhave given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he askedJesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalemto Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away,leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and whenhe saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to theplace and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling camenear him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandagedhis wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal,brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gavethem to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay youwhatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the manwho fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus saidto him, “Go and do likewise.”9
ConversationRead Luke 10: 30-35 (in bold above).The Parable of the Good, or Compassionate, Samaritan might just be the most well-known ofall of Jesus’ parables. It has been referenced in political speeches on both sides of the oceanand pops up in everyday conversation on a regular basis. This Samaritan is the example held upfor emulation by grade-school children and adults alike. It is the basis for the naming of multiplecharities, hospitals, and even a donkey sanctuary in Australia.1The parable follows a familiar story format which includes a “rule of three” convention that buildson a trio of related ideas to make the story more engaging and effective. Think of the three littlepigs, or even the Christian understanding of the Trinitarian God - Creator, Redeemer, Spirit.However, in Jesus’ parable, the third character couldn’t have been more surprising!When Christians study this parable, we might give someattention to the priest and the Levite, but we often focus on theSamaritan. What enabled him, despite deep enmity betweenthe Jews and Samaritans, to come to the aid of the man in theditch? What enabled him to imagine the impossible? To give hisresources to aid a mortal enemy?In Judaism, the priesthood is an inherited position. “Priest” refersto one in the Jewish religious hierarchy who is amale descendant of Aaron (brother of Moses).Priests, such as Zechariah, the father of John theBaptist, are of a lesserrank than a “chief” or“high” priest. Becausewe are told the priest isgoing “down” the road,the first-century audience (and by extension,us) knows that he is goingaway from Jerusalem.“Levite” refers to an evenlesser inherited position,from Levi the third son ofJacob. Each is an ordinaryreligious man who fallswell short of what Jewishlaw would have them do.1In this parable, we might alsoconsider ourselves as the onein the ditch. That’s as easyfor us to imagine as it was forthose in the first century. We’veall experienced times whenwe’ve been wounded, afraid,or leading dead lives. Whatis more difficult, perhaps, isto imagine allowing ourselvesto be helped, especially by aperson we find repugnant. Toacknowledge our vulnerability,despite having consideredourselves flush with our ownresources, and to be willing toaccept resources from anotherperson often proveschallenging.The people of Samaria,known as Samaritans,trace their roots to theNorthern kingdom ofIsrael (see 1 Kings). Asthis land, along with theSouthern kingdom of Judah, was subjected to atortured history of conquest and repatriation,animosity between theSamaritans and Jewsdeveloped. While bothgroups claim to be descended from Abraham,they disagree about theinterpretation of the Torah, the correct priesthood, and the right formand place of worship.To put it more simply,the divisive rift betweenSamaritans and Jewscould be described as anantagonisticdisagreement between cousins.We can learn valuable insight from considering all of thecharacters in this parable.Spend a few moments sharing insights and questions generatedby discussion of the parable. Describe the generosity of the Samaritan toward the man inthe ditch.http://www.donkeyrescue.org.au/10
Do you ever struggle with accepting help? Especially from someone you detest ordon’t respect, or someone whose version of the truth is different from your own? Sharethese experiences with one another. Many interpretations of this parable suggest that the Samaritan does for the man in theditch what God does for us; that is, having compassion for God’s creation, God acts withmercy in our lives. Do you agree? Why or why not?Why didn’t the priest and Levite stop? MartinLuther King Jr. offers this possibility: “ButI’m going to tell you what my imagination tellsme. It’s possible that those men were afraid.You see, the Jericho Road is a dangerous road.I remember when Mrs. King and I were firstin Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove fromJerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon aswe got on that road I said to my wife, ‘I cansee why Jesus used this as the setting for hisparable.’ It’s a winding, meandering road.It’s really conducive for ambushing. Youstart out in Jerusalem, which is about twelvehundred miles, or rather, twelve hundred feetabove sea level. And by the time you get downto Jericho fifteen or twenty minutes later,you’re about twenty-two feet below sea level.That’s a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus,it came to be known as the ‘Bloody Pass.’And you know, it’s possible that the priestand the Levite looked over that man on theground and wondered if the robbers were stillaround. Or it’s possible that they felt that theman on the ground was merely faking, and hewas acting like he had been robbed and hurtin order to seize them over there, lure themthere for quick and easy seizure. And so thefirst question that the priest asked, the firstquestion that the Levite asked was, ‘If I stopto help this man, what will happen to me?’“But then the Good Samaritan came by, andhe reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop tohelp this man, what will happen to him?’” 2In verses 30-35 we find the parable proper.But as Luke recounts it, the parable isactually bookended with a conversationbetween Jesus and a lawyer who asks thequestions that prompt the telling of theparable. Let’s see what we might learn fromshifting our perspective to the lawyer.In the first century, lawyers were generallywell regarded by Jews, in part becauseof their connection to the Law (Torah).However, in Luke’s gospel, lawyers areoften seen in an unfavorable light (cf. Luke7:30) and this one is no exception. It is likelythat Luke’s readers would be aware that hedoes not consider this man righteous. Let’ssee what we can discover as we look moredeeply into the lawyer’s conversation withJesus.Read Luke 10:25-29.The passage begins: Just then a lawyerstood up to test Jesus. What strikes you immediately when youhear or read that opening line?Share your thoughts with one another. How does the lawyer “test” Jesus? Can you think of another narrative in theGospels where Jesus is tested?One particularly provocative example isfound in Luke 4:1-13, where we encounterthe exchange between Jesus and Satanin the wilderness. What does Jesus say tosilence him? Do not put the Lord your Godto the test . Yet testing is precisely whatLuke tells us the lawyer intends to e-of-the-good-samaritan/211
The lawyer asks Jesus a question. He asks, Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Does anything new strike you about the lawyer’s question? A trick question is one that cannot be properly answered “yes” or “no.” Throughout thegospels, Jesus often encounters people employing this type of rhetoric(cf. Luke 20:20-26). Do you think that’s what this lawyer is doing?If the lawyer was concerned about righteousness, he might have asked it differently. In askingwhat he must “do,” the lawyer appears more concerned with checking off items on a list thanliving a life of faithful following. Amy-Jill Levine writes, The [lawyer’s] question presumes eternallife is a commodity to be inherited or purchased on the basis of a particular action rather than agift freely given.3Jesus’ response is to answer the lawyer’s question with a question: What is written in the law?What do you read there?We can presume from Jesus’ response, and the use of “written” and “read,” that the lawyer isliterate. The “law” refers to the Torah, in which the lawyer would be an expert. Instead of onlyasking what is written, Jesus asks “how do you read (it)?”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with allyour soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; andyour neighbor as yourself. The lawyer responds appropriatelyfor these “love commandments” (Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18) arethe touchstones for Israel by which all the commandments ofthe Torah are understood. These commandments are linked inJewish theology as the love of God is ground and a guide forone’s life, made evident in outward expressions of love. Consider your own faith and the collective faith. Howdoes one’s love for God encourage action? Shareexamples of ways God’s love is acted out. Will they know we are Christians by our love? Whatkeeps us from showing love through our actions?In Deuteronomy we findwhere commandmentscontained in the Torahare primarily concernedwith present rather thaneternal life. As an interesting excursion intoscripture, read Deut.30:11-20 and pay attention to the words andways that God is exhorting the people tochoose life in the present.Jesus’ response echoes the lawyer’s, with a point. Do this and live. Some scholars suggest that Jesus is shifting the focus from eternal life to life lived in thepresent, that the commandments to love God and love neighbor are particularlyconcerned with how we live out our faith. What do you think? Why?The lawyer - like us, perhaps - is not satisfied. He asks another question, this one promptingJesus to answer with a parable. Notice the reason we are given for him asking the question: tojustify himself. From aligning margins to describing the sinner’s relationship to God, “justify” has manymeanings. Explore together the ways the word is used.Now consider the question itself: Who is my neighbor?3Amy-Jill Levine, Short Stories by Jesus , p.8512
On one level, it’s an understandable question. The word that our English-language Bibletranslates as “neighbor” has multiple references in the Hebrew scriptures (what we call the OldTestament). It can mean literally the person (or nation) whose property borders your own; it canmean friend, it can mean someone with whom there is a legal relationship, and it can even meanbrother. Even today, we probably define “neighbor” in multiple ways. Discuss.The parable proper ends with a generous act of benevolence on the part of the Samaritan. ButJesus isn’t finished with the lawyer and asks him, Which of these three, do you think, was aneighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?Jesus takes the lawyer’s original question of “who” - a question of identity - and reframes it into aquestion of action, asking which man acted as a neighbor to the man in the ditch. The answer?It’s the one who did something, who showed mercy. The Samaritan may have been moved bypity but he acted with mercy. The lawyer answers accordingly but Jesus, sidestepping whetherthe lawyer has “justified himself” at all in this exchange, does not tell him he is right (or wrong) butsimply directs him to act. Go and do likewise . Go and do : action verbs indicating movement andinvolvement in the world around him. What do you imagine the lawyer did after this encounter? Do you think the encounter with Jesus changed the lawyer - was he convicted? If so, doyou think he made a radical shift or did the change come more slowly over time?Scripture does not tell us how the lawyer responds. Perhaps it’s just as well because it’s really aquestion for all who hear the parable, who read the scripture, then and now. It’s really a questionfor us. Could we be the lawyer? How do we respond? How do you respond?Prayer & SendingAs you prepare to conclude your small group time, please share prayer concerns and joys withone another. Include these concerns as you pray together and hold them in prayer throughout theweek. We pray for In your mercy, Lord God, hear our prayer. Guide us in our comings and goings that we willact with mercy as the Samaritan did. Through Christ our Savior. Amen.13
S WEEKTHI MY ST O RYWe considered the man in the ditch.When have I been “in the ditch,” at a low point in my life?Did someone reach out to me - who?We considered the compassionate passerby who helped the bereft man.How have I responded to Jesus’ instruction to “go and do likewise?”How have I put my faith into action?We also talked about a shift in perspective.Name 1-3 occasions/turning points in my life when my perspective about a belief,person/group, or expectation changed.14
Lesson 2Searching for You? Can It Be?GatherCan you name and share a time when you have had to sacrifice to buy, purchase, or earn something? It could be working for college, buying that first car, or helping your kids go to school.Opening PrayerLoving God,open our eyes to the mystery of your sacrifice.Open our eyes to the majesty that you arethe Creator of the Universe and you know us by name.Bless this group and our conversation as we enter your storyand may your story shape our story.Amen.ScriptureMatthew 13:44-4644 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then inhis joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding onepearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.ConversationHave you ever been to the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.? When you are there, oneof the things you begin to notice is how small you are. You also learn a lot of facts about the universe. Earth is one of nine planets in our solar system. Our solar system is part of the Milky Waywhich contains about 400 billion other stars. The Milky Way is one of 125 billion other galaxies inthe universe. When you begin to think of that reality, you might feel quite insignificant. It echoeswhat we read in the psalms, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon andthe stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortalsthat you care for them? (Ps. 8:3-4) and [The Lord] determines the number of the stars, he gives toall of them their names. (Ps. 147:4). When you consider the depth and breadth of God’s handiwork, how do you feel?Share with each other. Ask someone to read aloud Psalm 8. Describe the image of divine majesty in the psalm. What does it mean to you that God would make human beings “a little lowerthan God” (vs. 5)? Psalm 8 is bookended with the declaration: O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is yourname in all the earth! What do we mean when we declare God is “sovereign?”Does it change the way we live our lives?15
The parables for this week are the shortest of the parables and only appear in the gospel of Matthew. In the second parable, a merchant is searching for something very little. A pearl. The pearlis hidden but the merchant is actively searching for it. Once it is found, the merchant sells everything he has to buy it. Have you ever lost something small and valuable? Maybe it was inconsequential toothers but important to you. Did you search for what was lost? Did you find it? If so, howdid you feel? If not, what happened to make you give up the search? As you consider this parable (vs. 45-46), who do you believe the merchant to be?Many scholars interpret the merchant to be God. In this parable we see the activeness of God’ssearching. Minister Michael Lindvall writes, The journey of faith is not so much “to find God” as itis the struggle to follow the God who finds us.4 Do you ever have the sense that God searches for you? If God is searching for you, what do you think God might want to say to you?Another theme in the parable is of reversal. The pearl is of great value but is relatively small. Fromour perspective, it probably seems a little foolish to sell every possession and all property just fora tiny pearl. A similar paradox is found in the first parable, when we might wonder why someonewould find a hidden treasure and hide it again. What do you think the pearl represents? Why might finding and hiding the treasure bring “great joy” to the one who buys the field?What can we learn from this parable?What the Parable of the Pearl adds to our understanding of Godis the idea that the kingdom of God is of extraordinary value andit was bought at a great price for us. This truth is so important toremember in the context of Lent as we prepare for Easter. Whenwe recognize that God gave everything for this kingdom, weunderstand that with joy and awe. Joy that God has given us thekingdom and all we have to do is accept the invitation from thesearching God. Our awe comes from the fact that the kingdomwas secured through divine means, impossible for us to devise.God gave God’s only Son as a sacrifice so that we could inheritthe kingdom. The kingdom was bought for each of us at a tremendous price through the blood of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. What does it mean to you that God, the Creator of theuniverse, would give everything for you?For additional examples in the parables onthe theme of reversal,see Matthew 18:12-13and Luke 15:8-10. Does itseem foolish to you for ashepherd to leave ninety-nine sheep in searchof just one? Is it foolishto turn the house upside down looking forone coin? What do youthink Jesus is teachingus about God in theseparables?As with many other parables, in this parable there is a mysterysurrounding how God acts in the world and in our lives. It is amystery because God’s ways are not our ways. In the parables for this week, we see that themystery operates out of love. God’s love for creation illuminates the mystery of the kingdom andof God. Why would the merchant search for something as tiny as a pearl? Why would God giveeverything for something as insignificant as we are in comparison to the universe?4Michael Lindvall, The Christian Life: a Geography of God.16
The answer lies in that God is not like us. God does not work by our rules. God gave God’s mostprecious thing, God’s self, for us. This ultimate sacrifice illuminates the shocking nature of Godwho searches for the little, the lost and the last one of us in order to bring us into the glory of thekingdom. How does this parable give fresh insight to Lent?Prayer & SendingAs you prepare to conclude your small group time, please share prayer concerns and joys withone another. Include these concerns as you pray together and hold them in prayer throughout theweek. We pray for Eternal God, who searches for each one who is lost, open our lives to the presence ofyour love. Amen.17
S WEEKTHI MY ST O RYThe merchant searches unfailingly for something seemingly insignificant, as God does.When in my life have I been aware that God is searching for me?Does God feel real to me?List the churches or religious groups I have attended throughout my life thus far. Whatcircumstances did I learn from them? What was I looking for and did I find it? Name my reasonsfor either joining or leaving these groups.18
Lesson 3Lost, and Found: the ProdigalsGatherTake a few moments to share with each other what comes to mind when you hear or read theword “prodigal.” Is it a word common to everyday language? Then, ask someone to look up theword in a dictionary (or check out the sidebar below). Note any similarities or differences betweenits definitions and use.Opening PrayerGod of everyone,thank you for bringing us to this place today.Open our minds and hearts to this familiar teaching, so that we may learn from your Word anew.Bless this group and our conversation as we enter your storyand may your story shape our story.Amen.ScriptureLuke 15:11-3211 Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his propertybetween them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distantcountry, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So hewent and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feedthe pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no onegave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired handshave bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longerworthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and
Jesus spoke in parables so that all would listen with their hearts and turn to God. Whether we have read the parables over and over or are studying them for the first time, we will find that Jesus still teaches through them toda
