3850  parabole-

 

1) a placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle

2) metaphorically,

a) a comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude

b) an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated

c) a narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God's kingdom are figuratively portrayed

d) a parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning

3) a pithy and instructive saying, involving some likeness or

comparison and having preceptive or admonitory force, an aphorism, a maxim

4) a proverb

 

God evangelism begins with you telling your story.  Nobody elses story but yours!!! 

ETERNAL PRINCIPLES:

 

#1
JESUS USED STORIES IN ORDER TO TEACH ETERNAL PRINCIPLES.

 

Matt 13:1-23

CHAPTER 13

 

1          The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2          And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3          And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4          And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5          Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6          And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7          And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8          But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9          Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10        And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11        He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12        For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13        Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14        And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15        For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16        But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17        For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18        Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19        When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20        But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21        Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22        He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23        But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

(KJV)

 

Principle #2
YOU ARE THE PARABLE THAT EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS READING.  ARE YOU BELIEVABLE?

 

 

2 Cor 3:1-2

 

CHAPTER 3

 

1          Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2          Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

(KJV)

 

Principle #3

THE STORY THAT YOU TELL YOURSELF IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.  What do you really believe about God and His will for your life?

 

 

1 Sam 13:14

14        But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

(KJV)

 

 

1 Sam 17:26-39

26        And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27        And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28        And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

29        And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

30        And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31        And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

32        And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33        And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34        And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35        And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36        Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37        David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

38        And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39        And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

(KJV)

 

 

1 Sam 24:16-22

16        And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17        And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18        And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19        For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20        And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21        Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22        And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

(KJV)

 

1 Sam 10:20-22

20        And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21        When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

22        Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

(KJV)

 

Principle #4 

THE BEGINNING OF SHARING YOUR FAITH IS JUST AS SIMPLE AS SHARING YOUR STORY.

 

 

Ps 19:7

7          The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

(KJV)

 

 

Acts 26:1-17

 

CHAPTER 26

 

1          Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2          I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

3          Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4          My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5          Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6          And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

7          Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8          Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9          I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10        Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11        And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12        Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13        At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14        And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15        And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16        But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17        Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

(KJV)

 

 

 Principle #5

YOUR STORY SHOULD BE TRUE.

  

John 8:32

32        And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

(KJV)

 

 

Prov 12:22

22        Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

(KJV)

 

Col 3:9

9          Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

(KJV)

 

 

 Principle #6

YOUR STORY SHOULD BE CLEAR.

 

 

1 Cor 14:1-20

 

CHAPTER 14

 

1          Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2          For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3          But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4          He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5          I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6          Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7          And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8          For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9          So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10        There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11        Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12        Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13        Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14        For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15        What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16        Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17        For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18        I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19        Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20        Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

(KJV)

 

 Principle #7

YOUR STORY SHOULD BE QUICK

 

 

1 Cor 9:22

22        To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

(KJV)

 

 Principle #8

YOUR STORY SHOULD BE EVOLVING.

 

 

Phil 3:14

14        I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(KJV)

 

Rom 12:2

2          And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(KJV)