Preaching Parables to Postmoderns

Top Highlights

“What has changed and to what degree has that change affected the way people may think and respond to the Scriptures and thus preaching?” (Page 1)

“Ten Thousand Talents. The amount is staggering.² One talent equaled six thousand denarii, and a single denarius equaled roughly a day’s income. In today’s economy—for an average wage earner—the debt of 10,000 talents is roughly equivalent to $9 billion.” (Pages 46–47)

“Alasdair MacIntyre agrees: ‘Truth has been displaced as a value and replaced by psychological effectiveness’” (Page 8)

“Those listening to Jesus were struck by the power in his stories for he taught them ‘as one having authority, and not as the scribes’ (Mark 1:22). The messenger, unique as God-in-humanity, employs a storytelling technique familiar to his people but with a remarkable twist. Jesus goes beyond merely reinforcing biblical maxims and instead introduces revolutionary ideas about God. So, regardless how much the hearer knows about Hebrew writing or theology, he gave little opportunity for people to leave without a response.” (Page 13)

“Parables always speak to our vision of God and his means of salvation” (Page 18)