Lent Forum

Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine
Sundays March 9 - April 13
10:45am
Church Library

Exploring the Parables Anew: Short Stories by Jesus for Lent

Lent is a season of reflection, renewal, and a return to the teachings of Jesus. This year, our Sunday forum invites you to journey through Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine, a book that challenges us to hear Jesus’ parables with fresh ears.

Too often, we read the parables with the comfort of familiarity, assuming we know their moral lessons. But Levine, a renowned Jewish scholar of the New Testament, encourages us to step back and approach these stories as Jesus’ first-century listeners might have—without centuries of Christian interpretation shaping our assumptions. What if the Good Samaritan isn’t just about kindness? What if the Prodigal Son challenges more than just wayward living? Levine’s insights reveal the depth, complexity, and sometimes unsettling nature of these well-known stories.

Throughout Lent, we’ll gather each Sunday to discuss a different chapter of the book, unpacking the historical and cultural context of the parables and considering what they ask of us today.

Join us as we read, reflect, and wrestle with these short stories, allowing them to shape our Lenten journey.