THE PARABLE OF THE TWO TREES by Steven W. Hunter (Use this original example of parables to teach students about Jesus's parables. Start by explaining parables, read some of Jesus's parables, then follow-up with this modern parable. Then, encourage them to write or make a video telling their own unique parable under 5 minutes in length.) There once grew a tree unlike any of the others. Immediately it began shooting upward growing quickly. It became stronger, with incredible large sun attracting leaves, and bark tough like iron. Its roots grew a mile in the soil, and its branches began reaching upward day by day toward the sky. Eventually, this great tree through its own efforts pierced the canopy of the forest and began overshadowing even the most ancient of great trees. This tree’s height continued unhindered as it reached still higher for the sun until one day it hit its zenith far above all the others. Having achieved ...
Finding Happiness in the Christian Life "He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." -Proverbs 16:20 This verse breaks into two distinct parts: 1. A ligning our lives with the word, we find good things as we seek to line up our will with God's will. This means embracing good things and shedding those that lead us in other directions. 2. Trusting we in faith follow Jesus Christ alone. We no longer trust that we know better than God and embrace things contradictory to the word. These 2 simple rules are easier said than done but nothing of great value comes easily. There is always a cost, sacrifice, and submission to become teachable moldable to gain a new thing of value. Those things earned here may have some value here but not for eternity. All things gained with God have eternal value and reward. Where are you laying up treasures? “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, an...
We know Jesus waited 4 days to raise Lazarus. But why so long? Of course, we know raising Lazarus showed Jesus's deity glorifying Jesus and glorifying God. We also know it was good for strengthening the faith of the disciples but here is one thing many might not know... Jewish mysticism of the day was that the soul stayed near the body for 2 days after death. The Bible contradicts that belief; however, that was a commonly held belief at that time. In the same way, today many believe incorrectly that being a good person alone will allow them into heaven. We know this is also incorrect and contradicts scripture (John 14:6). So, we can see some of the commonly held beliefs even of religious people of each era often have nothing to do with scripture. Jesus may very well have raised Lazarus well past that 2-day time frame so that ALL would realize that he had power over death and believe in Him.
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