The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

Jesus told the following parable or story about a farmer and the seeds that he planted: “‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang…

What is a Parable? A List of Parables in the Bible

A Parable is a story. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand various principles. A Parable is an illustration or comparison told to increase the listener’s understanding. In those cases, the stories usually symbolized something else. The following classification of parables is adapted from A. B. Bruce, The Parabolic Teaching of Christ (1904), pp. 8ff. Didactic…

Bible Scriptures about Autumn and the Harvest

James 5:7-8: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” Isaiah 40:6-8: “A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What…

Listening for the Voice of God

A couple of weeks ago, I visited with two ladies who have been friends almost their entire lives. At various times, Estha Mae Coleman Parker and Virginia McKibben Vanlandingham lived and worshiped at the old country church at Pilgrims Rest in Yalobusha County, and now, both of them live only a couple of farms away…

Memory of an Old Country Revival in the Wildwood

Last week, I visited with Estha Mae and Porter Parker. They are dear, sweet people from Calhoun County, and they have lived near Pilgrims Rest Church and School almost all their lives. Because Mary Sue Stevens has known the Parkers for a long time, she took me to visit them. After we turned left on…