“Once upon a time…”
We love stories. Fictional stories. True stories. Someone else’s life story. Our own story. Stories capture our attention, hold us captive by the action, and teach us valuable lessons.
The Bible is full of stories – historical narrative that tells us God’s story in human history and parables. Jesus taught with stories because He knows their impact.
Parables and Word Pictures from the New Testament
Author Cheri Cowell also knows the value of stories. Cheri’s newly released 13-week Bible study, Parables and Word Pictures from the New Testament, is a comprehensive look at the New Testament parables. The study explores the parables of Jesus in the four gospels and those of Paul and the apostles in Acts.
Cheri Cowell tells the story behind the study
Cheri graciously stopped by today to chat with us about her new study. She is also giving
away a gift basket overflowing with her study and other great resources. Leave a comment on this blog for your chance to win! (The winners will be chosen July 6th. Please leave your email.)
What should readers expect to gain from this study?
This study will help readers develop an ear for the message the parables convey – that the Kingdom of God is both here and near. Through this study, readers will be challenged to live faithful and holy “Kingdom lives” in a broken and unholy world.
How can we use the power of parables in our own lives to reach people for Christ?
I believe this is the most important reason to study the parables. If we allow our own lives to be shaped after Jesus then when others “read our lives” they see Him. How we treat others, how we respond to sorrow and obstacles tells a story. When asked how and why we are able to be at peace, or turn the other cheek, we don’t need a canned presentation. We simply share our story of how God’s story has changed us.
The study concludes with a look at the Parable of all parables. Tell us about this because this is the heart of your study.
Jesus didn’t just teach in parables, He was also a living parable. Jesus lived His life as an example of what a life shaped by the truths taught in the parables should look like. Jesus invites us to live parable-shaped lives so we can show God to the watching world.
Comment on the blog for a chance to win the gift basket. Ask Cheri a question, leave a comment about the topic, or answer the following:
If your life was a parable, what would people learn from it?
More about Cheri Cowell and her new Bible study
Cheri Cowell, who describes herself as a “sidewalk theologian,” is passionate about discipleship and challenging believers to holiness of heart and life. Cheri’s love of story and the Word shines through in her writing and teaching. Cheri is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary where she learned the Inductive Bible study method used in this study to encourage, challenge, and equip the body of Christ to live story-shaped lives.
You can purchase Cheri’s study at Amazon
Watch the book trailer now!
I am online today to chat with you and would love to hear from you. Here is a question to get the discussion going…
Do you have a favorite parable?
Hi Cheri! I’m thrilled to be able to share about your Bible study today. Thanks for stopping by. Honestly, I’ve never considered what my “favorite” parable is. I love all the stories. One I especially like though is Jesus’ parable about the wise and foolish builders.
I love this parable, too. Perhaps it is because all of us can relate to the word pictures of a house built on sand versus a house built on bed rock. I live in Florida and today marks the beginning of hurricane season so this parable is relevant for me today.
Do you remember why Jesus told this parable? He said, “Therefore, if you hear my words and put them into practice than you are like…” Jesus was talking about “walking the talk.”
My favorite is the parable of the sower in Mark 4. Makes me think about my walk with Christ and how I respond to it – making sure I am not of stony ground so that I do not stumble when trials arise or of thorns where wordly things take over.
That is a terrific parable and you offer such great insights. It is always good for us to examine our own “soil.”
Did you know this parable is part of a whole series of parables all built around the same theme-the Kingdom of God? I devote a whole week to these 8 parables in my Bible study because they are “ripe” for picking. Matthew, chapter 13 contains these Kingdom Parables, including your favorite. Thanks for posting!
No – I was not aware that this was part of a whole series of parables. I guess I have never even looked at them that way. I am very excited about your bible study. How wonderful it will be to really dive into this!
I learned a lot about the parables while preparing to write the study. I can’t wait to hear how you and others are falling in love with the parables all over again.
Many blessings.
Hi Cheri, Yoour study on the parables sounds wonderful. It would be a great study for one of our churches Ladies Blble Studies. Thank you!