Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable by Dr William H Marty

There are many parables in the Bible and some are difficult to understand. Marty has done a good job of giving us historical and cultural information as well as possible meanings. He includes two parables from the Old Testament as well as those Jesus told. The New Testament parables are divided into two categories, those describing the nature of the Kingdom and those revealing the ethics of the Kingdom.

I have studied the Bible for decades yet received new insight from this book. A good example is Marty's comments on the story of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:10-15). I had never considered that the reduction in debt might have been the debt collector's commission and not the principle. While there is absolutely no evidence that this is certainly the case, it does explain why the man is commended for an otherwise example of theft. (97)

Marty also includes good spiritual lessons. An example is from his teaching on the unforgiving servant. “...Jesus' point is that no true believer should ever be so unloving and hard-hearted that they are unwilling to forgive others.” (108-109)

Marty has included good questions for reflection and discussion as well as a suggested Scripture passage to memorize. Each chapter is short, just a few pages. That means this book would be a good one for daily devotional use as well as for group study.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Dr. William H Marty taught at Moody Bible Institute for 37 years and is the author of several previous books. He and his wife live in Colorado.

Bethany House Publishers, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Mondays with My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo

Jose Navajo had just celebrated his forty-sixth birthday. As he put the birthday cake leftovers away, he knew he was experiencing something more than mere tiredness. “Deep in some uncertain part of my soul persisted a strange exhaustion that was difficult to explain and hard to endure.” (xi) An evangelical pastor, he heard his doctor's diagnosis: burnout. In the midst of his enduring the tunnel of discouragement, his wife suggested he visit his old pastor.

Thus began regular visits with the pastor of his youth, a seasoned eighty-three years old man who had been in ministry at the same church for fifty-five years.

Many Mondays the wise pastor told a story with a life changing message. There was profound wisdom to be gleaned from these stories. As the weeks went by, Jose could tell his old pastor was declining. He was losing the battle to cancer. Even as he grew weaker, he continued to encourage Jose with stories from his own experiences, from literature, and from legends.

The stories and the wisdom are inspiring. Some of the lessons Jose learned include, “Self-sufficiency is a highly sought after quality on earth, but it's a real hindrance in the things of the kingdom.” (22) “Nothing,” the old pastor tells Jose, “absolutely nothing is as important as taking time to be with God.” (34) “You have two options: serve the Lord or work in the church. They are not the same... Don't work for God, work with God.” (44) “Love those who least deserve it more, because they are the ones who need it most.” (60)

This book thought provoking wisdom that will challenge every Christian. Those in ministry needing inspiration to continue on will find treasure in this book. Each chapter is a simple lesson on deepening one's walk with Jesus. Yet the wisdom shared is profound.

The book is well written in a style of fictional prose that compels one to continue. While some of the stories are fables and legends, each one illustrates a thought provoking truth.

And the final lesson, even after the old pastor had gone to be with the Lord, was, “Everything is by grace.”

Jose Luis Navajo is part of the pastoral team of the Salem Evangelical Church in Madrid, Spain. While the pastoral ministry is his calling and vision, he loves literature and is the author of several books. He and his wife have two daughters.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 207 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

The Company by Chuck Graham

This short novel is an allegory, a parable.

On what became known in the village of Brigos Glen as Last Day, the earth went dark. Terrible black clouds covered the protected valley. For a while, generators and batteries provided light. But finally, all was dark.

The elders sent out teams to venture out of the valley to find help. Some are never heard from again.

Then one day, a voice is heard, asking if they would like some help. And so begins the story of The Company bringing power to the village, establishing The Plan. A smaller company came in to train the villagers on the management of the power and The Plan. Another company communicates with the village leaders after The Plan and the power is set up.

Some seventy years later, six people from the village are summoned to meet with The Company. Much of the story is what happens as they leave the village and meet with the leader of The Company.

I knew this was a parable so, as I read it, I tried to understand the idea communicated. I have to admit, I totally missed it. (I am sure that says more about me than the author.) Much was made of the three power companies that had developed over the years in Brigos Glen. One adhered strictly to The Plan. If it wasn't written in The Plan, it wasn't done. If people wanted power, they had to come and ask for it. Another power company believed in expanding on the plan, reaching new people, doing new things, keeping up with the times. The third power company was all about developing a new source of power, finding a new way of life not depending upon others. They didn't even bother to read The Plan, something so old and certainly outdated.

Much was made of these three approaches to The Plan and I immediately thought of how we approach the Bible and how we “do church.” I was surprised at the end of the book, where Chuck explains the motivation, that the aim of the parable is to explain the Trinity. The Trinity is represented by the three companies that brought power to Brigos Glen. Much less is written about them in the parable than the ones I mistook as the focus of the parable.

Nonetheless, there is much to think about and discuss in this story. It would make a good summer read for a book or discipleship group.

I was surprised to read at the end of the book that many of the names had symbolic meaning. Looking at that section before you read the book might help understand the parable, but then again, might distract from it.

Chuck Graham is the Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa (Christ is Lord of All), an international ministry devoted to sharing God's encouragement with the world. Find more about this ministry at www.Ciloa.org. Chuck practiced law for thirty one years and left his practice in 2010 to devote more time to Ciloa and writing. He continues to work with churches and ministries in areas of encouragement, mediation, reconciliation and frequently speaks on such topics. He and his wife live in Atlanta, Georgia and have three grown children.

Winepress Publishing, 264 pages.

Please visit your local Christian bookstore to buy this book.

I received a complimentary digital edition of this book for the purpose of this review.