Preach a series on Jesus’ parables and title it something like “Stories Jesus Told.” That’s my plan for the summer. Such a series can capture the attention of emerging generations who, in Dan Kimball’s words, “like Jesus but not the church.” Then, there is the ‘story factor.’ People love stories and tend to listen more attentively when they hear the words, “Let me tell you a story.” This idea also works because it provides some continuity without making people feel lost if they spent the last two Sundays at their summer home in Maine or Colorado.

As far as resources for this series, start by reading the chapter on “Parables: Hidden Land Mines” in Preaching With Variety by Jeffrey D. Arthurs (Kregel). In addition to the standard commentaries on the gospels, you can’t do without Interpreting the Parables by Craig Blomberg (IVP). Most pastors will simply peruse Part I. Part II, though, offers a 2-4 page summary of every parable – complete with a summary of each parable’s main idea! Blomberg has provided another helpful volume titled Preaching on the Parables (Baker) in which he provides fifteen sermon manuscripts on the parables along with a “commentary” explaining why he used this illustration or made that point. David Wenham’s concise volume, The Parables of Jesus (IVP) is another worthwhile purchase. Finally, I recently picked up Stories With Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus by Klyne R. Snodgrass (Eerdmans). It’s a massive volume with 566 pages of text before the appendices, notes, and indices even begin! I haven’t used it yet, but it appears to be a great resource by a fine New Testament scholar. Snodgrass helps preachers by grouping the parables in topics: parables on discipleship, parables about money, parables about God and prayer.

In my next post, I’ll share an “end of the summer” series idea for that brief window between the beginning of school and the first Sunday after Labor Day.

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