Sunday, May 8th, 2016
What is a parable? A parable is a fictitious or made up story designed to teach a lesson through comparison. When you hear the story, you can relate it to your own life. It is like an illustration for the points in a sermon. It conveys its message of truth through analogy, through comparison or contrast.
Parables are told so that only those who really care will come to know the truth. Not so much because they understand the parable, but because they care enough to ask what it means after the story is finished and hang around long enough to have it explained to them. The others don’t really care and leave. Remember, the disciples didn’t understand the parables, but they asked what Jesus meant after the crowds left. They had a soft and open heart. Understanding is an issue of the heart. Those who have a hard heart, also have closed eyes and closed ears and they don’t understand. Another purpose for parables was to reveal truths about the kingdom of God. (Content taken from Bible.org)
As you read and study together, make sure to work hard at hearing from everyone that has gathered together. Pray for one another and be accountable to applying the word of God to your lives.
Questions for this week:
- How can we learn about persistence of faith from the widow? What is a situation that you need to be praying more persistently about? Has there been a time in your life where God moved in a powerful way due to your persistent prayers?
- How do we see Jesus referring back to Luke 11:11-13?
- If we aren’t hopeful, what are our other options? What are characteristics of people who don’t walk by faith and hope?
- Are there any prayers that you have failed to pray consistently about because you didn’t think they would be answered?
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Why do you think Jesus uses the example of a judge hearing the woman’s pleas to communicate his message?