Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables

Written by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Narrated by Tom Parks

In Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, pastor and theologian R. Albert Mohler Jr. reveals the unique power of Jesus' parables for today's readers, showing how they announce the kingdom, communicate both judgment and grace, and call every human heart toward transformation in the light of God's love.

"He who has ears, let him hear…" The Prodigal Son. The Good Samaritan. The parable of the mustard seed. The stories Jesus told during his earthly ministry are packed with such memorable images and characters that they now permeate our culture's popular imagination. But what if their familiarity has muted their powerful message, causing today's readers to miss their ability to shock and transform?

In Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, renowned pastor and theologian R. Albert Mohler Jr. unlocks the power of Jesus' parables for readers today. Jesus perfected the art of telling parables--short stories with a surprising twist and an explosive message that confronted his listeners with surprising (and often uncomfortable) truths about the human heart and the kingdom of heaven. But two thousand years later, modern readers may not grasp the cultural and historical context that made these stories so compelling for Jesus' original audience. Mohler brings Jesus' stories to life, uncovering the context and allowing readers to hear these stories in all their shocking, paradigm-shifting power.

Readers will

• feel a deeper connection with Jesus by stepping into the shoes of his first-century followers and hearing with fresh ears the stories he shared with his closest followers;
• gain a deeper understanding of the gospel through Jesus' own words; and
• see the parables in a new light, experiencing--perhaps for the first time--their ability to draw people into Jesus' kingdom.

Every parable Jesus told contains judgment and grace. They hold up a mirror that reveals the human heart--and invites everyone to welcome Jesus' kingdom and reign. Will you have ears to hear their vital message?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9780718099251

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

R. Albert Mohler Jr. has been called "one of America's most influential evangelicals" (Economist) and the "reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement" (Time.com). The president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he writes a popular blog and a regular commentary, available at AlbertMohler.com, and hosts two podcasts: The Briefing and Thinking in Public. He is the author of many books, including We Cannot Be Silent and The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down, and has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and on programs such as NBC's Today, ABC's Good Morning America, and PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. He and his wife, Mary, live in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews for Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

[Peter Martin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Easy to follow lessons from a theologian. Dr Mohler knows how to communicate scriptures properly. Narration is decent as well.

[blbooks-14314 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First sentence from Introduction: Jesus came preaching the gospel of God--and he came telling stories. The most famous of Jesus' stories are the parables. They are not tame stories intended to deliver sentimental messages. They are not moralistic, like Aesop's famed fables. They are not fairy tales, such as the kind that abounded in medieval Europe. Nor are they stories intended for children, though children are often among the first to understand them. In the parables, Jesus was not concerned with mere self-improvement or trite moral messages. Not at all. God's own Son, God in human flesh, is who shared the parables with us. For this reason, Jesus' parables reveal nothing less than the kingdom of heaven and the power of almighty God expressed in both judgment and grace. They illuminate God's character and the hardness of sinful human hearts.R. Albert Mohler's written a book about the parables of Jesus. He doesn't cover every single parable from all the gospels. He covers a variety of parables--of all lengths and types. Reading his insights and thoughts about the parables helped me appreciate them more. Parables--and the gospel in general--can feel too familiar to pack a punch. It is good, sometimes, to be reminded of how they felt to the original audiences--and to those hearing them for the first time. For better or worse, Christians can take so many things for granted that things that should be powerful, engaging, and sometimes shocking, just fall flat. Believers should pray for hearts to receive the gospel--not just once but every time the Word is read or preached. Quotes:The parables are like hand grenades. Jesus took them out and set them before his hearers. Then...he pulled the pin out. Listen carefully, because the parable explodes. If you miss the blast of the story, you have missed the power of the parable. There is nowhere to hide when Jesus' parables come at us with their stabbing truth.There is not one unnecessary word in any of the parables. Only the quickening power of the Holy Spirit can open hearts that sin has made dull. Only God's work of regeneration can explain how ears now hear hear and eyes now see--and hearts now receive the gospel. Moralism says, whether explicitly or implicitly, that God expects us to behave. But what expects of us is to believe in Christ.