Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

We will be starting our series today on the Parables of Jesus.

If you like Today is an Introduction to the Parables of Jesus.

We have three short bible readings today.

They will be on the screen.

Each is the first time we see the word Parable in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Also called the Synoptic Gospels because they describe many of the same accounts of Jesus and his teaching.

The Greek word for Parable is , “Para-bol-a”.

There are no Parables are found in the Gospel of John.

Introduction

(Slide)

The Parables of Jesus - “A Picture is worth a thousand Words”

The Rich Man

There was a very rich man who lived in the Capital City.

He had started life in the countryside with nothing, living with his parents and brothers.

But opportunity, fame and fortune had come His way.

Now He was rich, famous and lived in a beautiful mansion.

His business empire was second to none.

He gave speeches at all the big business conferences and sat on the executive boards of many large corporations.

His advice was sought out by all.

He was also a prominent member of the church, funding many important building projects.

He had a lovely family.

A wife of many years and three grown children, all doing so well in University and in their careers.

One day while everyone else was out working hard he decided to take a day off and just relax.

After all he did deserve some me time.

He went for a walk and then saw a beautiful woman who he knew was the wife of one of his hard working employees, who had been sent to a distant land to work on a key business opportunity.

The Rich man wanted her.

He took her.

In due time she sent him a message to say she was with Child.

The Rich man decided to have the husband brought home from his business assignment oversea so that the child could be his.

But the business man refused.

He was in the middle of a key deal and wanted to show the Rich man, his boss, his dedication.

The Rich man feared the consequences on his reputation and his business empire that a scandal would cause, so he decided to have his employee killed overseas.

He then divorced his wife of many years and married the woman pregnant with his child.

He would even seem to be doing a noble thing in looking after the widow now with child.

And his wife of so many years would be well looked after financially subsequent to the divorce.

After some time his close church friend came to the Rich Man and told him this Parable.

The Rich Man’s name was David and his friend’s name was Nathan.

(Slide)

(Slide)

After some time his close church friend and counsellor came to the Rich Man and told him this Parable.

The Rich Man’s name was David and His Friend’s name was Nathan,

There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.

3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children.

It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

(Slide)

As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.

3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children.

It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

uch did they pay these guys?

It still remember the event well.

Then Nathan replied, “You are that man”

About 200 of us were invited to a two day meeting in San Francisco.

We were all working on a major new project, the introduction of a major new enterprise Computer System that would be rolled out worldwide in Hewlett Packard.

From “Quote to Cash” was the term used for its scope.

To be honest, the project was not going well.

Part of the conference was to improve team work, especially virtual teams.

Act out a some movements with our body, hands and feet and then the other person had to mirror the same movements.

To say the least it was beyond weird.

I was paired with the German man who showed even less emotion than the British person

Only in San Francisco.

How much did they pay these guys?

Bottom line, I still remember it today and I still remember what it was trying to teach us.

How many of us remember a sermon 7 days later or even 24 hours later?

Now at this point you may be worried I am about to ask you all to stand up, find a partner...

You would remember it!

What would you say was the

I hope I did not offend anyone by giving the story of David and Nathan a modern twist.

Nathan’s parable is timeless and can be applied to many situations today.

I beleive

David’s repentance for what he did is captured in .

It is heart felt and comprehensive.

It is a model of true repentance.

David was forgiven and David was restored.

But there were consequences that affected David for the rest of his life.

God would have us learn these lesson so we avoid such trials and self inflicted wounds to our hearts

In this account we have one of the most famous Parables in the OT.

That can be applied today, even if murder is not involved.

I would even suggest this parable is very relevant for today with the selfish pursuit of wealth and pleasure for the few often at the expense of the many.

In all these accounts, God would have us learn key lessons so we avoid self inflicted wounds to our hearts.

“Then He taught them many things in Parables”

In Mark it says,

(Slide)

Today we are introducing our series on the Parables of Jesus.

The series will start with the first parable in February.

Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus taught using Parables?

Have you been in a situation where there is clearly and visibly something wrong wioth someone but no one is saying anything to them.

Person with Food on their chin or between their teeth. .

Some food or something.

It would not surprise me if Jesus acted out dramatically some the these parables as He told them

We just had an example of a parable in the OT.

There are parables in the OT.

We just read one.

We just read one.

But so few compared to the Parables of Jesus.

That all changes in the NT.

Jesus taught extensively using Parables.