THE STORY OF A FATHER'S OUTRAGEOUS LOVE
Luke 15
Human beings are creatures that love to tell stories. We tell stories because we experience life as an unfolding story. Aware of this, Jesus often used stories as a vehicle for his teaching. He used stories to challenge the way we think about God, life, and our own selves.
On one occasion, Jesus told a story of a father who had an outrageous—some might even say irresponsible—love for his son.
THE STORY OF THE DIFFERENT SOILS
Jesus tells a story of a farmer sowing seed on different types of soil, all of which respond differently to the seed. In the same way, people respond differently to the message that in Jesus the reign of God is coming to bear on the earth.
THE STORY OF THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT
Jesus tells a story of a servant who preserved his master’s money instead of putting it to work. Though he returned the money in full, he was banished and labeled “unfaithful” by his master because of his refusal to actively put the money to work. This story raises the important question: What does it mean to be faithful to Jesus?
THE STORY OF A RICH FOOL
Jesus tells a story about a farmer who had a lucrative harvest and decided to build bigger barns to accommodate it all. But he is then faced with his own mortality, which raises the question of who will receive his wealth after his death. The story confronts us with our own tendency to build “bigger barns” rather than sharing what we have with others.