A few months ago I mentioned Modern Parables, a new “Bible study curriculum for people who like movies.” At that point I was cautiously optimistic about the product, the caution arising from a fear that this might be just another bit of Evangelical entertainment. My fears were unfounded.

The course sets out to teach six of Jesus’ parables (The Hidden Treasure; the Good Samaritan; the Shrewd Manager; the Widow and Unjust Judge; the Sower and the Prodigal Sons). For each parable there is a short (about 10-12 minutes) movie followed by a teaching session geared toward the application of the parable (the teachers are well respected reformed pastors and teachers Dan Doriani, George Grant, Scotty Smith, Frank Lewis, Gene Mims and Jeff Schulte). The Bible study group is supposed to do some individual and group study and discussion on the actual text of the parable between the viewing of the film and the application video. Excellent study guides (for students and teachers) are provided for that purpose.

Each short film is produced in a different cinematic style. I personally know nothing about the techniques of cinema and can’t tell a Fellini from a Bergman, so that aspect was a bit lost on me. I do, however, like a good movie and a good story. And I found these delightful. Each of the short films brought out the meaning of its parable quite well. I particularly enjoyed how the pathos, the personalities and the implied conflicts and dilemmas in the parables were brought out by the films. For example the plight of the widow petitioning a corrupt judge was brilliantly brought out in the fine little black and white film on the parable of the unjust judge (I love black and white!). In the parable of the Prodigal Sons, the filmmaker’s genius was in telling the whole story from the perspective of the older brother. This, I think, gets to the heart of Jesus’ most famous story better than the way we normally present this story, ie. from the perspective of the younger brother. The other films likewise made me feel the comical and/or tragic dilemmas faced by the characters in the parables: the apparent madness of the guy who sells everything to buy a “useless” plot of land; the clever dishonesty of the shrewd manager; the unexpected kindness of the “Samaritan” (portrayed here by a rough looking Arab). The film on the parable of the Sower is different than the others in that it is done as a documentary on sowing and reaping. It features a lovable Tennessee wheat farmer and is also very effective though, perhaps, less “gripping” than the dramatic films.

Another enjoyable feature is the director’s commentary for each of these short features. As I said, I don’t know much about the cinematic arts and so I found it interesting to hear the directors tell how they approached their task and why they filmed each scene as they did.

The application videos accompanying each film do a good job of applying Jesus’ teaching. They draw effectively from key moments in the films. I particularly profited from Scotty Smith’s application of the parable of the Prodigal Sons. He draws (with attribution) from Tim Keller’s insights on the two sons representing the two common ways of relating (or rather, not relating) to God: the moralist and the relativist. Both are equally lost. Both need to know the Father’s merciful embrace.

This is good stuff. I intend to use these in my ministry. One potential use I have thought of might appeal to those who, like me, pastor a small church and may, from time to time, have to be absent and find it difficult to find a “replacement preacher”. I think it would be very effective to have the parable read, followed by its corresponding film and finishing with the application video. All of this would take about 25 minutes. I’m even thinking of using the Shrewd Manager film as part of my sermon this week (I can use all the help I can get in explaining that very puzzling parable). I certainly would not want to do this too often but I have no doubt that these films would be appropriate and well received in the context of Sunday worship.

The box says that this is Volume I so I expect there will be more to come. I’ll look forward to future installments.