Stories Jesus Still Tells: The Parables

Puts it in perspective perfectly. I loved it - short, concise and hard to put down.

Fr. John Claypool had one of the most unique deliveries of the message of God. As a former Baptist and Episcopalian minister, his interpretations transcended doctrines of individual denominations. For those who were blessed to hear him on a regular basis, one came away with a better understanding of God's word, and what truly was the "message." In STORIES JESUS STILL TELLS, Fr. John does more than probe the questions often raised when one tries to connect the dots in the gospel. He gives us the benefit of his knowledge in such a manner that we are allowed to decide, based on our own inclination, what it means. This, quite frankly, could give many an opportunity to misinterpret the message, but Fr. John, as does God, gives us credit to understand what is at the heart of God's word. For me, STORIES JESUS STILL TELLS is a guide for believers who stand on a teeter-totter at its fulcrum, swaying one way, then the next, as they wonder what does God require of them, and if they should venture too far towards God, what will they leave behind. The message as delivered by Fr. John is one that is fully understood by the time one finishes this book.

One of the great theologians and preachers of our time, John Claypool "puts the fodder down where the cows (goats, pigs and other vermin such as we) can get it," and in doing so, he helps us to more fully understand what Jesus came to do and be--an example of what we should do and be. God, and by inference Jesus, uses John Claypool to change lives and help us live richer, fuller, happier, more graceful and more loving lives. This book, looking again and anew at what Jesus said, is part of that blessing.

Not years since John retired in 2001 from his sophisticated St Pauls Episcopal Church in Birmingham, he began a joyful new career as Professor of Preaching at Mercer McAfee Theology School in Decatur, GA. In his Lectures Preaching Genesis and Preaching Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I had a good fortune to audit three classes. "Prepare your Sermons based upon the Stories of Jesus with careful preparation to reflect your own personal life's relationship with God the Loving Creator and Redeemer!" After John's Sudden Passing in the fall of 2005, there were three well-attended Memorial Services in Birmingham, Loisville, CRESCENT HILL, again in Atlanta at Second Ponce de Leon Church. Friends like Dr Truette Gannon and others quoted from books of Sermon Preparation! "It is a Wise person who knows what Time it is in his of her own Life." Gratefully, revi fredrick Hood

Having read all of St. John's creative priestly, pastorale, even preachable Books, I place his late book of Parables, at the top with THE HOPEFUL HEART! Now that John is already at home in his familiar "Great-Not-Yet," He may see his reviews at one Glance. Compared to his admired CS Lewis, in use of adverbs: From a most-quoted, FOUR LOVES, Lewis used 36 active adverbs in his early 6 pages! Looking through John's later, THE STORIES JESUS TELLS, I counted 16 adverbs in the first 6 pages. Of course, gracefully, lovely, obviously, suddenly, surprisingly, are found in both books! In my second reading, I grappled with "The Rich Young Fool; The Great Banquet; The Talents; The Treasure, The Pearl and the Net" all include themes: many-splendored universe, one of generosity, experiences of change, especially, "Life Is Gift." His attention to these recurring themes were first evident to me when Barbara and I heard John at Montreat in mid-1980's. Every morning for Chapel Worship Services, John in his freshness was exercising his themes in Sermon materials, Scripture texts, and particularly in his narrative stories from Anthony DeMello. I kept those tape cassettes of sermons, often sharing the same themes & stories in sermons preached to Prison Inmates in the early 1990's! It was a long, often tedious journey from our common training at Southern Baptist Seminary, into the Episcopal Priesthood for him and long struggles with Myeloma and healing through 2 stem cell transplants. When we looked back over our experiences of changes and discovering God's Generosity, we agreed that Life is Gift. Reading these Sermons on the Parables I reminded McAfee Students about their comments during discussions of his classic values of contrast, parabolic, even metaphor! Never can we dismiss his underlying themes of discovery in John's growth all thru his writings! Semi-Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

John Claypool remains one of the most important voices in the Church, and on behalf of the church to the world. In this book, he provides a deeply insightful but articulate and understandable examination of a number of Jesus' parables. As foreshadowed by the title, Dr. Claypool's exegesis reveals how the stories Jesus told his listeners almost 2000 years ago remain just as relevant and alive for his listeners today. While he is anything but naive about the human condition and the difficult world in which we live, at the heart of Claypool's theology is a deep grasp of the generosity of God; a theology shaped not only by his study of Scripture but also by the profoundly painful event of his daughter's death and his pastoral ministry as an Episcopal priest. Drawing directly from the stories themselves, Claypool's task is the same as that of Jesus in His parabolic teaching: to show us the true nature of God and how that understanding, if taken to heart, can profoundly impact the way in which we live our lives.