Jesus was a master storyteller. His stories (called parables) were layered so they were accessible to all people, but also had deeper meanings that pointed people to the truths of God and the purpose He created us to live out. In this series, we are going to study several of Jesus’ parables and look at the ways God wants to tell greater stories through each of our lives.
If we are in Christ, we are new creations. The old is gone and the new has come. New creations should be open to new experiences and opportunities, rather than clinging to old traditions.
Good soil produces good fruit. When we focus on saying "yes" to the right things rather than just saying "no" to the wrong things, we grow and change. God calls us to assess what kind of "soil" we are and to make our hearts receptive to His word.
The racial tensions between the Samaritans and the Jews was real. Fear and prejudice can justify hatred and division, contrasting with Jesus' message of love and compassion. But those seen as "less than" are actually neighbors and image bearers of God.
