John 10:1-10 Dear Partner in Preaching, It feels like a good time for a message about abundant life! The tenth and final verse of this passage is one of my favorites in Scripture and, in many ways, sums up the Fourth Evangelist’s distinctive take on the ministry and mission of Jesus: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly!” Abundant life. Not just getting by, but flourishing. Not just eking out an existence, but thriving. Not just prolong one’s existence, but living life to the fullest. Abundant life – what a promise! But before rushing to that promise too quickly, it may be of some value to slow down...

Mark 4:26-34 Dear Partner in Preaching, I love these couple of mini-parables in Mark. (“Mini” in the sense that they aren’t the extended stories like the Prodigal Son or Good Samaritan, etc.) They’re small, but pack a punch. In this case, I’d describe that punch as a kind of quiet and dynamic confidence. Before jumping into that fully, let me offer just a couple of words of background information that might help. First, what is a parable? In some ways, maybe it’s easier to say what it’s not. A parable is not simply an analogy for us to figure out, where A=God and B=Jesus and C=us, etc. Some parables do function analogically,...