3. The Beauty of the Parables Matthew 13:16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear”

4. Nature of parables Teaching by comparison Word means “to place beside” One idea ‘like’ another; Matt. 13:31, 33 Stories from nature, everyday life Not for entertainment—but for teaching Earthly stories with heavenly meaning

5. Why Jesus used parables Short, pithy stories easy to absorb and remember. They are not complex! Jesus used to CONCEAL truth from the merely curious or hard-hearted Jesus used to REVEAL truth by using physical patterns to teach spiritual realities

6. Most of Jesus’ parables focused on His Kingdom Character of the kingdom itself Character of the king Character of the subjects of that kingdom

7. (encouragement) Exhortation (encouragement) Read and study the parables Use the parables to teach others and to learn how to teach… See their value in self-discovery teaching—2 Samuel 12

8. If you are LOST… 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. GOOD SHEPHERD LUKE 15:1-7

9. Christian: Do you need to repent? Poor use of talents Being unforgiving Of pride Of letting sin mix in with good aspects of your life

10. How will you receive this message? Parable of sower helps answer this question. But what type of soil or hearer are you? Roadside—hard and unreceptive? Stony—slightly interested, shallow heart? Thorn-filled—life too busy for gospel? Good soil—a good and honest heart?