Dear EM family,
Greetings. I pray that this email finds you well physically and spiritually.
First of all, happy “dragon boat festival.” It was on Thursday, June 25, 2020. I hope you have a chance to taste some delicious bamboo-leaf-wrapped rice dumplings. You can learn more about this festival here.
Second, if you have pictures of Mrs. Su-Chih Sun and family, please send photos directly to David at sun4him@gmail.com.
Recently I have a chance to do a deeper study on Jesus’ parables. There were over 30 parables of Jesus recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, and of which most of them used situations common to the first-century peasant life. Parables are meant to compare one thing to another. But using parables to communicate ideas, few assumptions have to be established:
- The teller understands the mechanism of the parables. Usually, it is from the teller’s line of work or something the teller is good at.
- The teller thinks the parable is an analogy to the intended message.
- The teller thinks the parable can help the audience to understand the message.
PC: Anchored in Christ.
What fascinating is, being a son of a carpenter, and Jesus was likely a carpenter/craftsman himself before his ministry(Matthew 13:55; Mark 6;3). Jesus must be very familiar with his line of work and could easily use carpentry into one of his parables. However, there was none! The closest parables related to wood were the speck and the log (Matthew 7:1-5), the budding fig tree (Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-33), and the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9). Even these parables were not very related to carpentry. So, why?
PC: gospelgeek.net.
PC: SFGate.com.
Jesus taught the crowd with parables was because
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
(Matthew 13:13, ESV)
Jesus did not intend to conceal the teaching from the crowd; he wanted them to know the kingdom had come! But the crowd failed to understand his teaching, and the scribes and the Pharisees refused to understand. So Jesus had to lower the bar and used parables to compare daily encounters to his teachings (assumptions #2 & #3 above).
Parables themselves are meant for the hearers to understand. But the parables also have to make sense in nature; otherwise, the speaker of parables is likely challenged and cause more harm than good.
Did Jesus know more about other people’s trade better than his own? A good example was Jesus asked Simon to cast his nets for a catch:
5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
(Luke 5:5)
This is Simon’s way of telling Jesus, “we have been fishermen for our entire lives, we know how and when to catch fish better than you. But out of respect, let us listen to you once and prove you wrong!” Did Jesus know how to catch fish? Apparently, Jesus did!
By not speaking any parables related to carpentry tells me that assumption #1 is really not an important factor for Jesus to consider. Even as a reader, I can’t say I understand every reason behind the parables (e.g., Allowing weeds to eat away nutrient in the parable of the wheat and the weed, Matthew 13:24-30). Then who can use all aspects of daily human lives and tell them as parables without being challenged?
I think only God can. Do you agree?
Announcement:
- Again, if you have photos of Mrs. Sun and family and would like to contribute to her memorial service, please forward the photos to Mr. David Sun at sun4him@gmail.com.
- Friday Night’s Bible Study will continue to study the book of Romans. You may dial in or login via your phone or personal computer:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Dial-in from your phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
- This Saturday (June 27, 2020) is the Children Ministry 6th graders’ graduation commencement. There will be live streaming starting at 10:30 am EDT. You are invited to observe via Zoom.
Topic: 6th Grade Graduation Ceremony
Time: Jun 27, 2020, 10:30 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85419767406?pwd=dnFhNEpXZk5MYkJRZFlBOG1DenlNZz09
Meeting ID: 854 1976 7406
Password: Mrs.Diep
Dial-in number: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 854 1976 7406
Password: 596967
- This Sunday (June 28, 2020), CBCGL will hold its 76th Baptism ceremony at 2 pm EDT. This is the first time we hold an outdoor baptism while the pandemic phase-out plan and water ban in Chelmsford are in effect.
Topic: 76th Baptism Ceremony of CBCGL
Time: Jun 28, 2020, 02:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/81523864875?pwd=bVB5cVFwaU5CRGZLNFRncDMvYm1pQT09
Meeting ID: 815 2386 4875
Password: 197791
Dial-in number: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 815 2386 4875
Password: 197791
- This Sunday, Elder Sean Lee will be sharing God’s word with us:
- Live stream Youtube: http://cbcgl.org/resources/live-stream/
- Title: How to be a disciple of Jesus.
- Text: Luke 14:25-35 (ESV).
- Coworker reminder:
- Sunday bulletin: http://cbcgl.org/ministries/english-ministry/em-weekly-bulletin/
- EM Sunday School
Topic: CBCGL EM Sunday Class “52 Major Stories of the Bible” (9:45 am – 11:00 am):
Join Zoom Meeting (Note the different link)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Dial-in from your phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
YAs Sunday School (via Microsoft Teams)
YAs Sunday School signup sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H0oSS1kpU8JUZAv0JcmivEIzR-tvDtihkrEtBLE8tJo/edit?usp=sharing
- Returning to church plan is tentatively laid out as follows:
The move of this plan depends on the reopening guideline from the Massachusetts governor office.
- Chinese QR Code for 2020-2021 Registration form:
- All other announcement items can be found here.
Prayer Request:
- Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 pm – 9:15 pm)
Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Young Adults:
Wednesday night EM prayer meeting @ 7:45 – 9:30 pm – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85357847170?pwd=OC9EbmY2OXltalNuRVRZUDF6RjkwQT09
Meeting ID: 853 5784 7170
Password: 197791
- Here is our list of prayer and service requests. The service request tab is for brothers and sisters to ask for assistance, or announce any give-away items. It is a new attempt from EM to reach out and take care of those in need among us. You may also enter yours: