Stories are powerful. When we read the Bible, 35% of everything Jesus said was taught through stories, or parables. 35%!! Back in the first century, people couldn’t read or write, so stories were how truth was shared. But even today, where literacy rates exceed 99%, stories are still amazingly captivating. What is Netflix but a collection of stories? And inside of every story, every movie, every song, every film is a message the author wants you to hear. And while Hollywood puts out a few good ones, Jesus’ stories, his parables, are among the best known and most influential stories in the world. Even if people know nothing of Jesus, they’ve still heard his stories or the impact of expressions like “prodigal” or “good Samaritan.” Jesus was the master storyteller and apart from personal experience, there’s no faster way to learn.