If you weren't here with us last week, we kicked off a new series about the power of story

and specifically made up stories. Some of the most powerful stories most of us ever encountered

aren't actually even really true in the sense that they didn't actually happen. But they

resonate deeply because things about them are true. And this is part of what Jesus in his ministry, what he did to make an impact in people's

lives. He told all sorts of made-up stories. And if you weren't here with us last week, we kicked

this off as a series about parables, and we looked at a few parables last week. But these weren't just

made-up stories. I taught you a new Hebrew word last week called Hagada, which reminds us all

of ice cream, and you're going to have to deal with this for the next few weeks. But the, the

Haggada is basically storytelling with a point. And in the Hebrew rabbinical tradition, they would

tell these stories often made up stories. And these stories had a point, and they forced a decision.

And Jesus's stories, they were powerful point and they forced a decision. And Jesus's stories,

they were powerful and they were oftentimes disturbing and disruptive, as I told you last week. And they caused us all to have to make a decision. Last week, we looked at a series of three

stories Jesus told about lost things, sheep, coins, and a son. And the point of the story was you celebrate when lost things

are found. And the decision was, will you join the search party? And will you join the homecoming

party when people that are lost, regardless of who they are when they're found? And so if you

weren't here with us last week, you're going to want to go back. It was a powerful week.

I hate that you weren't in the room. If you weren't in the us last week, you're going to want to go back. It was a powerful week. I hate that you weren't in the room.

If you weren't in the room last week, it was a powerful experience.

If you haven't watched online, you'll want to check that out.

I want to take a second step today.

There's something else powerful when it comes to a haggad characterization is so important the best stories have

really pronounced and important characters and they're of crucial importance in these parables

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