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Praying the Parables of Jesus: A 40-Day Devotional Journey in Word and Image
Praying the Parables of Jesus offers an immersive encounter with Scripture, guiding readers to connect more deeply with the teachings of Jesus through prayerful reflection on His parables. In a world that constantly pulls our attention in countless directions, these 40 devotions invite us to pause, focus, and rediscover the quiet assurance of living out our faith with conviction.
Drawing inspiration from Eugene Peterson’s perspective on parables as tools that “force attention, participation, and involvement,” authors Macchia and Skinner guide us into each parable, training our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our feet to follow Jesus’ path. This book helps us recalibrate our spirits toward faithfulness and fruitfulness, aligning our lives with the Kingdom of God in the here and now of our daily lives.
Using the text of The Message Bible, Praying the Parables of Jesus provides holistic, multisensory prompts that encourage readers to not only hear and respond to the Word but also to live into it. Features contextual insights into 40 of Jesus’ parables,A guided prayerful reading of each parable, using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina,A companion reflection on original art inspired by the parable, based on the ancient practice of Visio Divina.This transformative experience helps turn the prism of daily life in a redemptive direction, offering gentle guidance from Jesus the storyteller to cultivate a life rooted in truth, prayer, and grace.
Drawing inspiration from Eugene Peterson’s perspective on parables as tools that “force attention, participation, and involvement,” authors Macchia and Skinner guide us into each parable, training our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our feet to follow Jesus’ path. This book helps us recalibrate our spirits toward faithfulness and fruitfulness, aligning our lives with the Kingdom of God in the here and now of our daily lives.
Using the text of The Message Bible, Praying the Parables of Jesus provides holistic, multisensory prompts that encourage readers to not only hear and respond to the Word but also to live into it. Features contextual insights into 40 of Jesus’ parables,A guided prayerful reading of each parable, using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina,A companion reflection on original art inspired by the parable, based on the ancient practice of Visio Divina.This transformative experience helps turn the prism of daily life in a redemptive direction, offering gentle guidance from Jesus the storyteller to cultivate a life rooted in truth, prayer, and grace.
- GenresChristian Non Fiction
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2025
6 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
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December 31, 2025
I appreciate Stephen Macchia's perspectives and writings having read a couple of his books. I've been spending a lot of the last two years in the Gospels and was keen to get this book, excited for how it might help bring the parables of Jesus alive from a different angle. I've only become a recent convert to Visio Divina and am enjoying this as discipline of engaging Jesus and enhancing my prayer. Knowing this book had 40 illustrations of the parables for me to focus and meditate upon excited me.
I found I was soon disappointed. It's a funny thing that most of the pages are repetitive as each chapter invites the reader to participate in Lectio and Visio for a different parable. The main differences for each chapter being the Bible passage and Skinner's illustrations. The Lectio section does have a brief 'Simile' and 'Contrast' explanation which helps outline some of the meaning of each parable.
I'm finding I prefer being led through both Lectio and Visio. I enjoy the experience of a facilitator guiding you and particularly when it comes to Visio, helping guide you on different elements of the artwork and what they may indicate and why it may have sparkled for you as you digest it.
So perhaps this just wasn't the right format for me. I didn't think Skinner's illustrations were that compelling being black and white pencil and so missed the opportunity of movement and elaboration that colour enables. Did it enhance my prayer dialogue with God? Not really. But that could just be the fact it's a format that didn't gel for me.
Would I recommend it? I'm not sure. I think the Lectio could perhaps had some more 'meat' to it and colour illustrations would provide a more dynamic Visio experience.
I found I was soon disappointed. It's a funny thing that most of the pages are repetitive as each chapter invites the reader to participate in Lectio and Visio for a different parable. The main differences for each chapter being the Bible passage and Skinner's illustrations. The Lectio section does have a brief 'Simile' and 'Contrast' explanation which helps outline some of the meaning of each parable.
I'm finding I prefer being led through both Lectio and Visio. I enjoy the experience of a facilitator guiding you and particularly when it comes to Visio, helping guide you on different elements of the artwork and what they may indicate and why it may have sparkled for you as you digest it.
So perhaps this just wasn't the right format for me. I didn't think Skinner's illustrations were that compelling being black and white pencil and so missed the opportunity of movement and elaboration that colour enables. Did it enhance my prayer dialogue with God? Not really. But that could just be the fact it's a format that didn't gel for me.
Would I recommend it? I'm not sure. I think the Lectio could perhaps had some more 'meat' to it and colour illustrations would provide a more dynamic Visio experience.
Displaying 1 of 1 review