Parables – A teaching tool of the Master “Teaching, in its simplest sense, is the communication

of experience” John Milton Gregory – 7 Laws of

Teaching

Jesus, the Master Teacher, used many things around His disciples to teach them truth. He realized the benefit of visualizing spiritual truths. Much of His recorded teaching was done with parables.

A parable is an extended simile - it compares the commonality between two unlike things in order to demonstrate a truth Familiar facts that teach spiritual truths A brief story that is true to life comparing two different things

to illustrate a point

Parables The Old Testament has about 5 parables

Example: 2 Samuel 12:1-7; poor man and lamb

In the New Testament, parables were used to conceal truth from those who were hardended Matthew 13:13

… and to reveal truth to those with an open heart Matthew 13:34-35

We may also teach spiritual truths by common things around us – much care is needed not to imply too much

Lessons from a Postage Stamp Background on Postal Service

1639 – first post office opened in Boston 1775 – Ben Franklin appointed first Postmaster 1847 – first US postage stamps issued; 2¢ per ½ ounce 1954 Liberty stamp – first with “In God We Trust” 28,000 post offices in the US handle over 200 billion

pieces of mail a year Recent coincidence: June 13, 2005 – the Bureau of

Printing and Engraving printed their last stamp after 111 years; to be passed on to industry

Postage stamps were made A postage stamp does not just appear out of

thin air Man was created by God –

we did not “just happen” Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7 Psalms 100:3

No house ever came into existence as a result of accident or chance from a hurricane Hebrews 3:4

Scopes Monkey Trial

July 1925 – 80th anniversary “Goo to Zoo to You”

John Scopes

Hunter’s Civic Biology(1914)

Darrow and Bryan

Charles Darwin

On the Horizon:

Intelligent Design in the classroom- Kansas – Summer 2005; President Bush – August 3, 2005

Postage stamps were made

Teleological arguments The study of design or purpose in natural phenomena;

Intelligent Design William Paley’s “watchmaker” argument (1802) Behe’s Irreducible Complexity argument

Vs.

Skepticism Abounds…

Over 400 Scientists Convinced by New Scientific Evidence that Darwinian Evolution is DeficientAugust 6, 2005 Discovery Institute August 6, 2005 SEATTLE — More than 400 scientists have signed onto a growing list from all disciplines who are “skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life.”

…

Discovery Institute first published its Statement of Dissent from Darwin in 2001 and a direct challenge to statements made in PBS’ “Evolution” series that no scientists disagreed with Darwinian evolution.

http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=443http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2732

A stamp bears the image of dignity

Stamps do not bear negative images Man is made in the image of God (his maker)

We can reason/think, and have an eternal soul Genesis 1:26-27 Matthew 9:4 Mark 2:8

Side comment:

www.photostamps.com

Stamps are governed by an authority

US Law regulates use of postage stamps Location of stamp, postage

rates, etc. http://pe.usps.gov/text/qsg300/Q602.htm

Ignore the rules and your letter will not be delivered Place a 30¢ stamp on your next

letter to see what happens Conservative/liberal view

We are also governed, but by a divine authority Matthew 28:18-20 Hebrews 5:8-9

Stamps are available in various values Stamps have different values

Each stamp is to do its best 10¢ stamp works as hard as if it were the 37¢ stamp

As Christians, our own talents differ Matthew 25:14,30

We must do what we can, and that means doing our best Mark 14:3-9 Even a cup of water Mark 9:41

Stamps cooperate on various tasks A 5¢ stamp works with a 32¢ stamp Sometimes, a 1¢ stamp is the only size to fulfill the

needed combination Christians are to work together

2 Corinthians 6:1 John 17:20-22 1 Corinthians 1:10

A postage stamp will work with a letter or package – large or small

Christians should be humble and work on any task – large or small Romans 1:14-16

Stamps work until reaching their destination

“Come rain, come shine, come sleet, come snow…” A stamp is valid and working toward its goal until it

reaches its final destination Romans 2:5-10 Revelation 2:10

Before delivery, stamps are cancelled out

A stamp is cancelled out prior to delivery To become a Christian, the old life of sin must be

cancelled out Romans 6:6

Stamps have to be purchased

Stamps are not valid until purchased

Christians are first purchased with the blood of Christ Acts 20:28 Ephesians 1:7 1 Peter 1:18-19 Revelation 5:9 The next time you purchase a stamp,

remember that you were purchased with the blood of Christ.

Stamps can be counterfeited Digital imaging technology

enables counterfeiting

USA Today, March 10, 2004: $80,000 in counterfeit postage

stamps in one seizure

Discontinued Subway Sub Club Rampant selling of counterfeit

stamps on eBay

Many churches do not resemble the Bible Named after men

Menno Simons, Jacob Amman, Martin Luther Romans 16:16 (Curtis Porter debate)

Purpose, function, and evangelistic methods Luke 19:10 Paul at Athens (Acts 17)

Stamps do no discriminate – deliver to all A stamped letter needs a mail carrier Similarly, the gospel needs evangelists

Romans 10:14-15

A stamp can be used to send a letter from anywhere, to anywhere – a stamp does not discriminate on who may be a receiver

The gospel is also open to all Galatians 3:26-28

Stamp is of no benefit until “licked” Man often gets “licked” before he is of much

benefit Before Paul became a chosen vessel, he had

to become an empty vessel (Luke 14:11) This licking comes in the form of various trials

(e.g., sickness, poverty, loss of loved one, persecution)

Hardships are good for us if we endure 2 Timothy 2:1-5 James 1:2-4

Stamps have ragged edges

Perforation, wear and tear give stamps a ragged edge Before coming to Christ, many of us also were ragged

1 Corinthians 6:11 Ragged edges continue to need refinement

1 Corinthians 12:18-27 Stamps are ragged, but get to their destination just the

same. The same is true of Christians, if we to stick to the task Colossians 1:22-23

Anxiously awaiting Often, a receiver is awaiting the delivery of a properly

mailed package The Parable of the Prodigal Son or

The Parable of the Loving Father Luke 15:20-24