The Old, Old Story
Illustration
Stories
Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week? When Pastor Luke asked him, he had been all excited and enthusiastic. He knew the parable of the prodigal son inside and out having read commentaries and stories about it before. He had actually preached a sermon on the passage when Pastor Luke was away and received great feedback from the congregation.
Yet as he read the parable and then reread it, he found himself stuck about what to say. After all, what could he add to the wonderful story of grace and redemption? He sighed and looked at his empty coffee cup and headed toward the coffee maker in the church kitchen.
“Care for a cookie?” Mary smiled at him as he came into the room. “I made them for the youth group, but I always make extras.”
“I’d love one.” Paul took the offered cookie and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“You look like you’re deep in thought.” Mary gestured at a chair. “Why not tell me about it while I wait for the next batch to cook?”
Paul took the offered chair and bit into the cookie. “These are great. You make the best cookies.”
“Thanks. So what are you up to this morning?”
“Pastor Luke has a funeral this week so he asked me to lead Bible study for him.”
“You love Bible study and know everyone who attends so that sounds like a good fit.” Mary frowned. “So why does it seem like it’s a burden rather than a joy for you?”
“The scripture is the parable of the prodigal son.”
“A great rich topic for discussion I would think.” Mary tapped her chin. “I know you had some insightful thoughts that week you preached on it.”
“Thanks.” Paul sipped his coffee and took another bite of the cookie. “I’ll have to get this recipe from you. The last time I tried to make these cookies, they didn’t turn out.”
“I’ll email it to you.” Mary paused. “So why are you changing the subject? What could be so hard about leading a Bible study on the familiar beloved story of the son who wanders and is welcomed back?”
“That’s the problem,” Paul said. “Everyone knows the parable by heart and everyone remembers the sermon I preached on it. I look and I look and I look and all I see is the same things I’ve already said.”
“And?”
“I want people to leave Bible study with something new and interesting to think over. Remember when Pastor Luke took us through the Book of Revelation? I was more excited than I have ever been by the Bible.” Paul took a sip of coffee. “That’s how I want people to feel after my Bible study and I’m frustrated because I can’t find anything new in the story to share.”
“Ah.” Mary got up, checked the cookies in the oven, and sat back down. “Why did you want my recipe for the cookies?”
“Why?” Paul held up the small piece of cookie he had left. “I want the recipe because these are delicious. They have a great taste, they smell heavenly while they are cooking, and are probably the best cookie I’ve ever had.”
“How many of these cookies do you think that you’ve had over the years?”
“Hundreds if not more.” Paul shrugged. “I never miss the chance to have them when you bake them for a sale or supper.”
“So you’re not disappointed because they are the same old cookie that you’ve always had and they taste the same each time?”
“Why would I?” Paul furrowed his brow. “They are great and I want one because I know they are going to be great.”
“Exactly. New things are wonderful, and they are exciting to try and experience, but there is also a place for the familiar and well know too. Just because we’ve had them before doesn’t mean we don’t want them again.” Mary held up her cookie. “The parable of the prodigal son is beloved and familiar because it is a powerful story of grace and love. We want to hear it and we need to hear it because we hunger for God in our lives.”
“So what you’re saying is that just because there is nothing new for me to say the parable is still important for us to discuss and study?”
“That’s precisely what I’m saying. Maybe we’ll discover something new or maybe we’ll hear the familiar message of grace that we all need to hear in our lives.” Mary shrugged. “What matters is that we’re exploring and listening to the Word of God.”
Paul tilted his head to one side. “Mary, why hasn’t Pastor Luke ever asked you to lead Bible study?”
The timer dinged and Mary headed over to the oven. “What makes you think that he hasn’t?”
Paul laughed and headed back to read the parable one more time. This time he wasn’t going to look for something new but for the familiar and beloved message of God’s love.
Yet as he read the parable and then reread it, he found himself stuck about what to say. After all, what could he add to the wonderful story of grace and redemption? He sighed and looked at his empty coffee cup and headed toward the coffee maker in the church kitchen.
“Care for a cookie?” Mary smiled at him as he came into the room. “I made them for the youth group, but I always make extras.”
“I’d love one.” Paul took the offered cookie and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“You look like you’re deep in thought.” Mary gestured at a chair. “Why not tell me about it while I wait for the next batch to cook?”
Paul took the offered chair and bit into the cookie. “These are great. You make the best cookies.”
“Thanks. So what are you up to this morning?”
“Pastor Luke has a funeral this week so he asked me to lead Bible study for him.”
“You love Bible study and know everyone who attends so that sounds like a good fit.” Mary frowned. “So why does it seem like it’s a burden rather than a joy for you?”
“The scripture is the parable of the prodigal son.”
“A great rich topic for discussion I would think.” Mary tapped her chin. “I know you had some insightful thoughts that week you preached on it.”
“Thanks.” Paul sipped his coffee and took another bite of the cookie. “I’ll have to get this recipe from you. The last time I tried to make these cookies, they didn’t turn out.”
“I’ll email it to you.” Mary paused. “So why are you changing the subject? What could be so hard about leading a Bible study on the familiar beloved story of the son who wanders and is welcomed back?”
“That’s the problem,” Paul said. “Everyone knows the parable by heart and everyone remembers the sermon I preached on it. I look and I look and I look and all I see is the same things I’ve already said.”
“And?”
“I want people to leave Bible study with something new and interesting to think over. Remember when Pastor Luke took us through the Book of Revelation? I was more excited than I have ever been by the Bible.” Paul took a sip of coffee. “That’s how I want people to feel after my Bible study and I’m frustrated because I can’t find anything new in the story to share.”
“Ah.” Mary got up, checked the cookies in the oven, and sat back down. “Why did you want my recipe for the cookies?”
“Why?” Paul held up the small piece of cookie he had left. “I want the recipe because these are delicious. They have a great taste, they smell heavenly while they are cooking, and are probably the best cookie I’ve ever had.”
“How many of these cookies do you think that you’ve had over the years?”
“Hundreds if not more.” Paul shrugged. “I never miss the chance to have them when you bake them for a sale or supper.”
“So you’re not disappointed because they are the same old cookie that you’ve always had and they taste the same each time?”
“Why would I?” Paul furrowed his brow. “They are great and I want one because I know they are going to be great.”
“Exactly. New things are wonderful, and they are exciting to try and experience, but there is also a place for the familiar and well know too. Just because we’ve had them before doesn’t mean we don’t want them again.” Mary held up her cookie. “The parable of the prodigal son is beloved and familiar because it is a powerful story of grace and love. We want to hear it and we need to hear it because we hunger for God in our lives.”
“So what you’re saying is that just because there is nothing new for me to say the parable is still important for us to discuss and study?”
“That’s precisely what I’m saying. Maybe we’ll discover something new or maybe we’ll hear the familiar message of grace that we all need to hear in our lives.” Mary shrugged. “What matters is that we’re exploring and listening to the Word of God.”
Paul tilted his head to one side. “Mary, why hasn’t Pastor Luke ever asked you to lead Bible study?”
The timer dinged and Mary headed over to the oven. “What makes you think that he hasn’t?”
Paul laughed and headed back to read the parable one more time. This time he wasn’t going to look for something new but for the familiar and beloved message of God’s love.
