Jesus used his parables to teach ordinary people with common problems; yet because these simple stories contain universal truths that transcend time and culture, they still strike a powerful chord and provide us with important lessons about God's kingdom. Preaching the Parables offers a gold mine of informative background material on each of the seven parables appearing in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. Dallas Brauninger probes these familiar texts with a fresh, imaginative viewpoint, revealing what they tell us about God and inviting further reflection on what they mean for modern living.
Preaching the Parables is much more than just a sermon preparation resource -- it's also an excellent Bible study tool, exploring questions like:
• What dimension of the soul that needs tending does the parable address?
• What is the parable's surprise?
• What moves us into hope?
• How does its point become obvious?
• How do its characters relate to us today?
Brauninger identifies points of action, examines significant terms, and engages in imaginary exchanges with a variety of characters. The complete text of each parable is also included, along with an analysis highlighting similarities and differences in parallel passages. And there's a convenient "word study" index for locating key concepts from parables in all three lectionary cycles.
What a refreshingly helpful way to exegete the text. The succinct but substantive "Spadework," "Parallel Scripture," and "Chat Room" sections provide the preacher with an exciting array of ways to understand and give meaning to the parables. Brauninger's writing will afford the reader many "Ahas."
Diana Coberly
Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Great Bend, Kansas
This permission-giving resource encourages the reader to develop questions for the text. It's the kind of yeast which gives rise to new shades and flavors of meaning. Preaching the Parables nourishes a fresh receptivity to the speaking of the Spirit of God in the lectionary passage and in life.
Nancy B. Rohde
United Church of Christ minister
Charlevoix, Michigan
Dallas A. Brauninger, a cum laude graduate of Albion College, holds M.Div. and honorary D.Div. degrees from Chicago Theological Seminary. She is the author of numerous CSS preaching and worship resources, including the Preaching the Miracles series and the Lectionary Worship Aids series. Co-pastor with her husband Robert of a congregation in Burwell, Nebraska, Brauninger is currently engaged in the Pastoral Excellence Program of the United Church of Christ's Nebraska Conference.