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Stories Jesus Still Tells: The Parables

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John Claypool remains one of the most important voices in the Church, and on behalf of the church to the world. In this book, he provides a deeply insightful but articulate and understandable examination of a number of Jesus' parables. As foreshadowed by the title, Dr. Claypool's exegesis reveals how the stories Jesus told his listeners almost 2000 years ago remain just as relevant and alive for his listeners today. While he is anything but naive about the human condition and the difficult world in which we live, at the heart of Claypool's theology is a deep grasp of the generosity of God; a theology shaped not only by his study of Scripture but also by the profoundly painful event of his daughter's death and his pastoral ministry as an Episcopal priest. Drawing directly from the stories themselves, Claypool's task is the same as that of Jesus in His parabolic teaching: to show us the true nature of God and how that understanding, if taken to heart, can profoundly impact the way in which we live our lives.

Bob Claypool shows in his book, "Stories Jesus Still Tells, The Parables" a profound understanding of an ancient teachng method. He shows how a parable (in the right hands) can draw the listener into an appreciation of an abstract concept by making use of his own cultural substrate. By carefully disecting several chosen parables, Claypool takes a walk through the mind of Christ and shows His wisdom at work. He also draws upon his own experience and insight to add contemporary flesh to lessons which might otherwise seem confusing or obscure. Rev. Claypool has shown me in this writing the timeless value in this type of teaching. He has also demonstrated the craft involved in using this often underestimated teaching method