Caleb Drahosh \\ In this parable, Jesus tells us about a man who entrusted three of his servants with his property. The first two act as good stewards of the portion given to them, while the other one fails to steward his portion well. Everything in creation belongs to God and He entrusts us with a portion of His resources. The parable calls us to be good stewards of what God has given us and warns us of failing to use these gifts for His service.

Caleb Drahosh \\ In this parable, Jesus tells us about two men––a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisees were highly regarded in Jesus' day while tax collectors were hated. But Jesus turns this understanding on its head. The tax collector acts humbly, while the Pharisee acts pridefully. The humility demonstrated by the tax collector is the evidence of God's merciful activity on his behalf––the Pharisee on the other hand, trusts in his self-righteousness to be justified. The tax collector goes home justified, while the Pharisee does not.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Luke indicates that this parable was told by Jesus in order that we would pray and not lose heart. There are two characters: a widow and a judge. The judge is not just, but still administers justice when the widow persists in her requests. If this unjust man could dispense justice, how much more will our righteous God who is for those who are marginalized like the widow?

Kalen Heller \\ The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about a loving Dad and his two wayward boys. Throughout the parable Jesus tells His audience about the consequences for those who are full of discontentment or self-righteousness. The dad in the parable provides believers with a model for living a life saturated with grace.

Caleb Drahosh \\ This parable is a response to a demand that Jesus mediate a dispute over inheritances. The parable helps us understand better covetousness and contentment. Jesus boosts our understanding by reminding us that life does not consist of the the accumulation of temporary material wealth. Rather, the call is to be rich toward God.

John Baumgartner \\ In this parable, Jesus shows us the immeasurable forgiveness God has given us. Because of God’s mercy, He forgave us more than we could ever repay. Jesus warns us against receiving such amazing forgiveness but refusing to forgive others. If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. No one who receives Jesus’ love can bear to keep it to themselves.

Blaze Culliton \\ Aligning with the other kingdom parables, these parables reveal that the kingdom of heaven will look different than we anticipate. Those who give up all things for the Gospel will receive all things in the treasure of the Gospel. The parable of the net provides a reminder of the Final Judgement. When Jesus asks if we understand Him, our answer comes from faith in Him and not in our own abilities. The old covenants and Law and our old selves come along with the new – the new covenant in Christ Jesus and our new selves adopted into the kingdom - for us to fully know and cherish the treasure of Christ Jesus.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Each of these parables shows us what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus wants his followers to see that the kingdom of heaven will look different than they anticipate. Good and evil will still be present together in the world. It will seem small and unproductive. But God will take what appears to our human minds to be polluted, insignificant, and inefficient and through it establish and realize His perfect kingdom.

Caleb Drahosh \\ This parable teaches us that the Word of God is spread among all kinds of people, but not all respond the same. Sometimes the word falls among those who ignore it entirely. Sometimes the word falls among those who show initial excitement but quickly find other things. Sometimes the word fall among those who cannot swallow the depth of discipleship required to follow Jesus. But sometimes the word falls on good soil and it grows and bears fruit. What does it look like to bear fruit? To live a life of repentance, maturity, and perseverance. And it means that we abandon all else for Jesus Christ.

Caleb Drahosh \\ As we see Noah's descendants populating the earth, we learn in Genesis 10 that they have different languages, clans, lands, and nations (10:5,20,31). The tower of Babel provides us with the event that divided the peoples of the earth into sub-groups. In the text, the pride of the people manifests itself in a desire for systemic autonomy that does not include God. And so God divides people and scatters them across the earth. This event provides us with the ability to see that human achievement will not unify us. It is only the gospel of Jesus Christ that has the ability to ultimately unify us for eternity.