Canter Bridge

At the risk of starting this review sounding like an incorrigible elitist, I must confess that I prepare myself for disappointment when I open a popular Bible study guide like this one. I anticipate that it will be poorly written or captive to a provincial North American point of view or hopelessly naive regarding the biblical text.

Gary Ihrig’s 188 pages on select parables of Jesus pleasant surprises on the first and third counts and does well on the second. His fresh, biblically aware presentation of twelve parables is just what the doctor ordered for the reader who wants to understand what Jesus’ parables meant in their moment and what they mean for today. His style is a model of clarity.

I am team-teaching a Sunday school class and had nothing to do with the selection of this text. A popular but motivated audience finds Ingrid’s work accessible and illuminating.

I heartily recommend The Parables. Understanding what Jesus meant as a doorway into the fascinating world of Jesus’ stories.