Secrets Jesus Shared: Kingdom Insights Revealed Through the Parables

I considered myself well-versed in the parables found in the Bible before I began this study, but I was wrong. JKD provides new insights, using both in-depth questions and historical/cultural insights. For example, I never realized how shameful it was for the father in the parable of the lost sons (called that instead of the prodigal son by JKD since the other borther was lost too, even though he never left home since he wasn't taking advantage of the splendor of the love of his father) to run to his son when he saw him approaching. JKD explained how it was considered disgraceful for a man in that culture to reveal his ankles, which he would have had to do to lift his robes and run to meet his returning son.Furthermore, JKD's exposition of the Lord's prayer alone would be enough for me to recommend this book. As she explained the ways in which rabbis taught their followers to pray and broke down Christ's prayer phrase by phrase, I was overwhelmed by the new light in which I viewed both the Lord's prayer and prayer in general.Finally, I want to note that some of the discussion questions are redundant (i.e., she asks you to consider what it means to pray "thy kingdom come" at the end of each week of lessons), but - while some of the ladies in my small group were annoyed slightly by this - I considered it a strength because every week of lessons provided new answers to that question, which meant I left the study with a much deeper understanding of what it means to pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Our ladies group loved this study!

This is a great Bible Study on the Kingdom in reach to take hold and the insights Jesus gave in his parables. It helped me to get close to God and appreciate what He has for me. Jennifer makes everything so clear and helps one understand and see what is revealed in a way that helped me to reach a closer intimacy with God and joy in new obedience to His word and gratitude for His love and generousity. I felt like I was actually sitting at Jesus' feet listening to Him teach. I came to know Jesus more and how He views life and thinks and speaks truth.

This was a great book with a lot of teachable moments. Well written and I learned a great deal about the times and culture that existed when Jesus walked the earth. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to the scriptures for deeper understanding.

Our Bible study group is loving doing this study. I will say that it's one of the few times I ordered the paper book instead of just the Kindle edition so I could write in it. The Kindle edition had a problem with the font size. No matter how large I changed the font on my Kindle, the text was too small.

I have worked through other Bible studies written by Jennifer Kennedy Dean and thought they were revelatory. This one seems basic. The questions she wants you to write answers to are answered in her writings within the next few paragraphs. This seems like grade school teaching technique. The parables are so familiar, it may be hard to offer any truly revelatory insights on their meaning. However, she offers a new (to me) perspective on the Jewish context of Rabbi Jesus' teachings.The overarching message of this and other Dean Bible studies is the aggressive, reaching, forgiving love of God through Christ. Dean always urges you to respond

I am presently in this study. It's the third study by Jennifer Kennedy Dean our class has worked on. Jennifer Dean is a wonderful teacher. She goes so in depth about the life of Jesus that you feel so much a part of it. You get a real understanding of the time Jesus lived and how he interacted with the people. A wonderful experience.

As many times as you read these stories it is so refreshing to slow them down, and break them down like JKD does. This is such a great study for a daily devotion. Very thought provoking and helps the reader to see the stories in a different light, time, and point of view.