Why did Jesus use parables? – January 7, 2026

Let's face it....sometimes people just could not understand what in the world Jesus was talking about! A Samaritan helping a Jew?! A king where EVERYBODY gets invited, or Jesus calling Himself the Bread of Life? What did it all mean? Let's see if we can dive down and figure out what Jesus was trying to accomplish with all His story-telling.

Does it seem to you that folks are treating each other a little....‘rougher’ these days? There does not seem to be much allowance for the challenges that each of us face – Why do we do that? Can we resolve to be nicer, to be kinder and having more understanding toward each other? How would we do that? Let's check it out.

Where did the term "Palestine" come from? [Hint: it actually goes way back to about 100 years after Jesus.] And when was the Al-Aqsa mosque built? What does it have to do with the Dome of the Rock? And what is under that dome? Let's explore some history, and what the Bible says about that land area during the time of King David, AND the time of Jesus.

As the aches and pains increase, the older you get, you may hear or even say this phrase more often: “I guess I’m just going back to the dust!” But where does that phrase come from? How were our bodies originally created? And why are they gradually disintegrating? Let’s examine....

There are a number of Bible verses that give hints as to where the actual Mt. Sinai is located. This includes an very unique rock that sits east of the Gulf of Aqaba arm of the Red Sea. We will also check out Paul's letter to the Christians in Galatia, where he seems to suggest that this location is exactly due south of Jerusalem. Let’s explore.

There has been a lot of talk this week about how humans might be able to affect the weather of this massive planet. How should Christians respond to these arguments? What exactly are our responsibilities? What does God expect from us? Let’s explore.

The rumblings in the Middle East suggest that there might be some action soon in this volatile area. But do we know the history of this area of the world, that at one time was the epicenter of the Medo-Persian Empire? The Bible has many things to say about Persia, including the extraordinary king who enabled the reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem and its Temple. Let's check this history out, so that we can better understand the background of any events that happen this weekend.

Please note that downloading the PDF below will reveal 12 pages of maps that show how various political powers have controlled this part of the world.