NOTE: There will be online assignments prior to the first class meeting.

Class meets in Valentine 308, beginning 8:15AM on Tuesday, January 6

SCHEDULE

For each class session:

• Complete any assigned reading
• Translate the parable to be discussed in class; if the parable appears in more than one Gospel, you need not translate more than one
• Read the appropriate section in Hultgren or Snodgrass relating to the parable
• Read the appropriate section in Scott/or/Capon/or/Buttrick relating to the parable

Online work completed by Tuesday, December 30

• Start looking around this course web page, resources, syllabus, parable projects, etc.
• Go to the Fishersnet course web site and login (you should all be registered and have been sent user names and passwords; if not, contact me)
  • Play around the site a bit. There will not be a lot of content on that site, since I will be posting mosting of what you need to know on this web page. For now, click on the "Discussion Board" button on the left. 
  • Assignment 1: You should see that two forums have been started. The first is an opportunity to introduce yourself. Click on Introductions. You should see my first post. You can either respond to a post or click on +Thread to start your own introduction.
  • Assignment 2: The second forum is a little memory exercise. Read the forum description, click on the link, then click on +Thread near the top left to add your telling of the parable.

Online work completed by Saturday, January 3 (<NOTE: moved back a day)

• Read Hultgren, The Parables of Jesus, pages 1-19 OR Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, pages 1-35 (37-59). The reading guides are simply to help you identify key elements as you read.
  • Hultgren Reading Guide - After reading the introductory chapter, check out this review (which is not of great help...).
  • Snodgrass Reading Guide - After reading the introductory chapter, check out this review (which is quite perceptive...)
• Go to the Fishersnet site and note the assignments related to your reading.
  • Assignment 3A:Hultgren OR Assignment 3B:Snodgrass: Read the assignment related to the book you are reading. (You are certainly welcome to read the other forum, but you do not need to provide responses.)
  • Assignment 4: Everyone should contribute to this forum. There are two threads and you should provide a 1-2 sentence statement for each and respond to at least one other person on each.
• Start thinking about the parable you want to use for your course project. The list may be found on the Schedule page. Each person must work on a different parable. I will assign them as requests come in via email, but you should be ready to choose one by the first day of class at the latest. (If you email, submit 3 requests in order of preference. I will update the schedule page as parables are assigned.)

Online work completed by Monday, January 5

• Read Gowler What are they saying about the parables? OR Hedrick Many Things in Parables 
  Here are study guides for your reading pleasure, and you will be providing some responses on the discussion board.
  • Reading Guide to: Gowler What Are They Saying about The Parables
  • Reading Guide to: Hedrick Many Things in Parables.pdf
• Check out the Discussion Board on Fishersnet and complete Assignment 5 as described there.

• Course introduction
• Introduction to the Parables of Jesus
  • Parables Intro PPT.PDF
  • Parable Definitions
  • Questions to keep in mind when studying the parables.pdf
  • Parable Listing - Lukan Order with Lectionary Readings
• “This Is for the Birds!” (Mustard Seed) [Mt 13.31-32: Pr12A; Mk 4.30-32: Pr6B; Lk 13.18-19; GT 20]
  • Mustard Seed Parallel Texts.DOC - Familiarize yourself with the Greek texts (You will not be asked to "translate" in class. You should, however, note the differences in the Greek between the versions and be aware of any issues of Greek grammar or vocabulary.)
  • Grammar comparison: The Parable of the Mustard Seed.doc  // The Parable of the Mustard Seed.PDF
  • Mustard Seed handout.pdf (an example of a resource I used in an adult Bible study class)
  • Mustard Seed PPT.PDF
  • Insofar as possible, read about this parable in Hultgren/Snodgrass and in your other book of choice. Hultgren (392-403); Snodgrass (216-227); Scott (35-40); Capon (94-104); Buttrick (74-78)

• “If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them” (Unjust Judge) [Lk 18.1-8: Pr24C]
  • Hultgren (252-261); Snodgrass (449-461); Scott (35-40); Capon (329-336); Buttrick (222-225); Herzog (215-232)
  • Unjust Judge handout.pdf
• "Is This Any Way to Run a Business?" (Unjust Steward) [Lk 16.1-8: Proper 20C/ Ordinary 25C]
  • Hultgren (146-156); Snodgrass (401-418); Scott ( ); Capon ( ); Buttrick ( ); Herzog (233-258)
  • Unjust Steward handout.pdf