“Do it for Jesus” is a collection of short stories intended to inspire, encourage, and engage believers in a deeper consideration of the teachings of Jesus. These stories will bring the Parables of Jesus to life in a contemporary setting and an entertaining context.
The inspirational source for this work is a book by Dwight Pentecost:
The Parables of Jesus are essentially coded messages that only followers of Jesus will fully understand. If you’re a believer, these messages were written specifically for you. Without question, the Parables of Jesus are some of the most important instruction given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 13:10-17 (NASB)
“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
All of the stories you’re about to read were inspired by the teachings of Jesus. Each story begins with a list of the parables that inspired that story. When we read the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, we often need to carefully consider precisely how that instruction applies to our lives today. These stories give a possible answer to that question by applying the parables to the lives of two college students who are spending their time serving God by serving others.
Some of the activities portrayed in these stories will be very familiar and others are purposely pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Josh and Emily are two fictional characters who are able to accomplish a great deal over the course of the 21 stories that follow. Don’t measure yourself against their success. Instead, look at these stories as a wide variety of possibilities. Select the path that fits your life and start moving in that direction.