We have a definitive collection of parables

"36 Parables? I thought there were like... 38... 50 parables."

We are often asked one of two questions concerning the name of our company.

1. "So are there really only 36 Parables? Or
2. "How many parables are there?

Originally, we were going to be called, "The Parable Project" but the name seemed too open ended. Then I searched Wikipedia, since Wikipedia knows everything, and found references to 36 parables. I liked the sound of "36,"it was backed with the scholarly credibility of Wikipedia and I was a fan of Wu-Tang who had an album called "36 Chambers of Death." A friend who was also a Wu-Tang fan has often remarked we could be called "The 36 Chambers of Christ."

Today you'll find more than 36 parables listed at Wikipedia. For two millennia biblical scholars have debated how many parables Jesus told. It depends perhaps on the interpretation of the Hebrew word for parable, "mishal," the word Jesus and the Gospel writers were thinking of even though they may have been speaking or writing in another language. Like most Eastern languages Hebrew words are rich with meaning. Mishal is defined as a riddle, taunt, lesson or story. Different scholars use different definitions hence a different number of parables. We like 36.

36 Parables is meant to be a definitive collection of 12 DVDs with 3 modern adaptations of Jesus' parables on each one. But since there are more than 36 parables in the gospels and many more in the rest of the Bible, encourage the people you know to take some time and sit down with the 66 books of the Bible to discover many other mishals, riddles, lessons, taunts and stories. They won't be disappointed.

- Stewart H. Redwine

Our films are narrative

36 Parables films are a narrative account of connected events, a story. A story has to have a plot. A conflict that is resolved leaving something or someone absolutely and irreversibly changed. Narratives can be summed up in one sentence. When lonely boy meets girl he's absolutely and irreversible changed. The boy can never return to the state of having not met girl. You see?

This is the foundation for how John and I approach story telling. Jesus' Parables often leave us with an absolute change we might not like. Nonetheless, the conflict is resolved and irreversible change is the result. A perfect example is "The Parable of The Rich Fool" (Luke 12:16-21), summed up in one sentence:

The man who has it all dies.

An absolute and irreversible change for sure. In "A Few Weeks Later" we explore the rest of the story in attempt to illuminate understanding.

Recently, a "Friend of 36" used "A Few Weeks Later" in a sermon.

I used "A Few Weeks Later" sermon clip in my Ash Wednesday sermon. Our agricultural community understands well the concept of "bin-buster" harvests that Jesus referenced in the parable, but Hazel's addiction brought it home to farmers and non-farmers alike. One woman said it powerfully convicted her about her careless shopping; another couple said "the bins are getting full" has become part of their everyday conversation. I'm leading a Lenten series based on five of the videos. Your videos connect with all generations - no mean feat. As a "Friend of 36" I look forward to more of your fantastic work! Thank you!

-Beth Galbreath

Lonely film meets girl and everyone's life is irrevocably changed.

- Stewart H. Redwine

Our films are descriptive, not prescriptive

“Why don't you explain the meaning of your films?”

You would be surprised how often we are asked that question.

The answer?

We produce descriptive rather than prescriptive films that are intended to cause the viewer to engage with the story and ask questions. Robert Farrar Capon’s Kingdom, Grace, Judgment discusses this subject:

"‘For to him who has, more will be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away' (Matthew 13:12). This seems to me to be one of those hard sayings of Jesus that cries out, not for a prescriptive interpretation, but for a descriptive one. Jesus, though he could be taken as issuing a statement about what God will do to reward or punish those who hear the parables, seems to be more reasonably understood as giving a description of the way things are."

Our stories are depictions of real life in a modern setting. And as we know life often doesn’t come neatly tied with a bow on the end. We once showed the films to a teenage couple that were anything but excited about God. At the end of the Purple DVD the boy turned to us and said, "I don't get it, what are you trying to say?" He knew these stories were based on Jesus Christ’s words but had assumed there had to be a catch, an iron clad take it or leave it message contained in the films.

We could tell he was a little frustrated. He asked us about the original parables and we read the bible passages off the DVD. He then said, "Well Jesus didn't explain it either." At that moment of illumination the boy understood.

Parables make us think and ask questions. They aren't necessarily a prescription of how to live life but a description of how life unfolds. If we really want to know what to "do" we must go to the storyteller and ask him, for in the end he knows the story in all of us.

- Stewart H. Redwine

Our films point people back to scripture.

Jesus told many parables. We are adapting 36 of them. We do not intend our collection to replace scripture, merely to pay homage to the Master storyteller by adapting the tales he shared while He was here on earth as a man. Each DVD easily provides a youth group, small group or other ministry meeting with 5 weeks of content! Here are the keys to getting the most from the 36 Parables experience:

Pray - Ask God what He wants to reveal to your group through His stories.

Watch - Watch one of the short films.

Read - Read the passages of scripture that relates to the parable you just watched in as many of the Gospels as it is found in.

Discuss - Discuss with your group whatever comes to mind in relation to the stories, the scripture passages, your hearts, and God's revelation to you. We have provided free bible studies for download that you can also use to aid the discussion.

Repeat - Repeat the process in the same meeting or the next week watching a different parable, then the Why Parables? Documentary, and finish up with the Behind the Scenes Documentary.

Remember, at the end of story is the beginning of a relationship with the storyteller.

- Stewart H. Redwine