Sermons and Parables

What is a sermon? A spoken or written discourse (communication) on a religious subject

Sermon on the Mount Is a summary of Jesus’ teachings recorded in the Bible (New Testament- Matthew 5-7) Teaching of Jesus that speaks of discipleship (one who accepts and spreads the Good News of Jesus) Jesus speaks of his coming to fulfill the law and the prophets and instructs the multitude as “one who has authority” The Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) are included in the sermon

Sermon on the Plain Found in Luke 6: Set of teachings given by Jesus that also summarize Christian ideals Similar in nature to Beatitudes on Sermon on the Mount where the central focus of the teaching is on: Love (compassion) Forgiveness (merciful) Faith (spirituality)

Jesus’ Miracle: Feeding the Five Thousand The best-known of Jesus' miracles. The only miracle recounted in all four of the Gospels

The Story: Jesus' disciples said to Jesus that he had better send the people away as it was getting late and the people were probably hungry and did not have enough food Jesus said NO, and told his disciples to feed the multitude The disciples told Jesus that they could not feed so many because they had only five loaves and two fishes. Jesus said to bring the loaves and fishes to him. Jesus took them and gave thanks to God for them. Then he told everyone to sit down on the ground. Jesus gave the food to the disciples to pass to the people -5,000 men, as well as women and children. Jesus then sent his disciples across the sea in the ship. He stayed and sent the multitude away. Then Jesus was alone, and he went up into the mountain to pray.

The Story: Are we supposed to take literal meaning from this story? What is similar between this story and the two sermons?

How do you express experiences to your friends? How can we communicate experiences that go above the use of the average language? Jesus is the “Word” that speaks God to us… through his teaching, deeds and self.

The human language has the power to reach into areas beyond our capacity, through the use of poetic language Using Metaphors to speak about God Poetry has the ability to bring to mind feelings and to talk about the imaginary world Jesus said “whoever sees me sees him who sent me” (John 12:45). o What does he mean by this?  He means that through his teaching, his life, and his self, he is able to show us God.

 How can we understand God?  Jesus used metaphors to understand the simple things to bring us to God  These metaphors create images that bring the reality of God within the reach of language  The metaphors create resemblances between God who we cannot see or hear, and those things that we can see and hear that surround us  The Bible speaks about God using many metaphors  Our actions are metaphors too o Jesus said to the crowds “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) o Our actions can only resemble God’s perfection, because we can never really be as perfect as Him.  “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23)  “The Lord is my rock” (Psalm 18)

“[Jesus] did not speak with them except in parables” (Mark 4:34) Parables are a way of speaking about God and God’s ways of acting among us. Jesus’ parables are metaphorical illustrations about the kingdom of God or about God.

What is a parable? A story with a spiritual meaning Usually has a surprise twist that helps us see things in a new way A story that compares something we don’t know with something that we do know Used by Jesus to give us a glimpse of the mystery of the kingdom of God In the gospels, Jesus tells us about 50 parables

Example #1: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ [a] ; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ [b] ”ab 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

Lesson From the Good Samaritan Parable: Set aside our prejudice and show love and compassion for others. 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii [c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’c 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Trait of a ParableAnalysis A parable is a story Is a story about a traveller between Jerusalem and Jericho who falls into the hands of robbers, is wounded and receives help from a Samaritan A parable is a comparison Compares the Kingdom of God with the story of the man wounded by robbers who is lying on the ground. A parable contains a crisis The wounded man expects to be helped by the priest and Levite, who are after all, fellow Jews and religious people. But they both pass by an avoid him. A parable has an ending A Samaritan, assists the wounded man, brings him to an inn and pays the innkeeper for any expenses. A parable is about God’s kingdom or way of acting among us God’s help comes from an unexpected source.

Example #2: The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. [c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’c

Lesson From the Parable of Talents: Jesus teaches that God will reward those who are productive with the traits (talents) he gave them, act responsibly and use them appropriately. And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.