Fresh Eyes on Jesus' Parables
Discovering New Insights in Familiar Passages
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4.6 • 11 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
How does the parable of the good Samaritan redefine acts of social justice, not just acts of mercy? What does the story of the five talents teach us about daily spiritual life?
Fresh Eyes on Jesus’ Parables offers a new perspective on the stories Jesus told to His closest disciples. As in every book in this unique series, Pastor Doug Newton provides life-changing techniques for reading Scripture, such as skills in interpreting one passage using another. Readers will love discovering familiar parables again as if for the first time.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Newton, director of the National Prayer Ministry of the Free Methodist Church-USA, provides a valuable addition to literature aimed at helping general readers understand Jesus's parables. Newton believes it is important that Christ followers understand the "elasticity of the parables." He proceeds to "stretch" nine of the best-known parables, demonstrating that traditional interpretations fall short of fleshing out the full meaning of the stories. His interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount as a call for optimism is particularly revealing. Newton stresses that one must read each parable in full historical context; scripture that surrounds the story can also contain helpful clues to unearthing new depths and shades of meaning. At the end of each chapter, a section titled "20/20 Focus" invites readers to engage with the insights learned, and a "Vision Check" discusses how the stories relate to modern topics, such as women's empowerment and the deleterious power of stereotypes. The author's personal experiences are also generously sprinkled throughout the text, bringing the biblical lessons to life. While any reader will enjoy Newton's biblical unpackings, pastors will be most pleased with this book of ample source material for sermon preparation.
Customer Reviews
Thought Provoking
I loved this book because it challenged me on things that I thought were finalized in my understanding of God’s Word. Not only that, I now try to see different perspectives in the Bible as a whole. God’s Word is alive and applicable to every life. This book is a reminder of that.