This Sunday we’re kicking off a brand-new summer series called Stories That Shape Us: Unveiling the Heart of God Through Parables. Jesus didn’t come handing out abstract theology. He came telling stories that stuck. Stories that spoke to fishermen, farmers, tax collectors, and everyday people like you and me. And those stories still speak. They don’t just inform us; they form us. They hold a mirror to our lives and a window into the Kingdom of God. I’ll be introducing the summer series with a message that helps us understand why Jesus spoke in parables and how they reach into the deepest parts of our hearts today.
We’ll see much more than good moral lessons, we’ll see Jesus Himself. He’s the Sower, the Shepherd, the Samaritan, and the Father running to meet us. These are His stories, but more than that, they are invitations to examine what we’re building our lives on, to receive grace, to give forgiveness, to live in light of the Kingdom. This week, we’ll also reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 13, where He reveals that parables both reveal and conceal truth depending on the heart of the listener. It’s a powerful reminder that spiritual growth starts not with more information, but with humility and hunger before God.
As Jill and I prepare to step away for a few weeks of sabbatical, I’m encouraged knowing that you’ll be well-fed with the Word each Sunday. Next week, you’ll hear from a man who shaped my walk with Jesus, Pastor Darryl DelHousaye. In the meantime, every three weeks or so, I’ll be sharing a few books and podcast recommendations. You can find these in the weekly update or on our website. Let’s be a church that leans in to listen well and responds with obedience to the good words of Jesus.
