Not your ordinary Bible Studies. Each book is a parable – a story – wrapped around a biblical commentary. These stories will make you think about ancient scripture in new ways, provide insight into what is happening in the world today, surprise you with laughter as you catch a vision of the journey ahead, and energize you to live out your faith on paths you never anticipated taking.

Why Disorderly?

Jesus used parables—stories of everyday people and things—to illustrate spiritual truths. His parables were not nice tidy stories. They were disorderly and subversive.  They were meant to dismantle ideas the listener thought were truth, but were not. With the Disorderly Parables Books, you will learn like Jesus taught, through stories of everyday people and things. You will walk away with both a story that will challenge you and a thorough understanding of the scripture. The books also contain a discussion guide designed for groups who want read the book together.

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“James in the Suburbs” uses the antics of a soul searching, fun loving suburban Bible Study Group to illustrate the teachings of the Epistle of James.

The Epistle of James is a letter from James, who was likely the brother of Jesus. He was writing to a group of 1st century Christians, who were having to figure out what it meant to follow Jesus while dealing with a lot of problems.

Around the study is wrapped the story of six men and women living in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia whose lives were changed by the teachings of James.

The book contains a discussion plan for those wanting to study it as a group.

Click here to print out a flyer for this book or here to read the first three chapters (compliments of Wipf and Stock Publishers).

Available at Amazon and Wipf and Stock.

“Dismantling Injustice” uses the story of an African-American congressman coming to age during the civil rights movement to illustrate the Song of Solomon.

The Song of Solomon is an ancient Hebrew opera found in the Old Testament. It was written as a rallying cry to the Northern Kingdom, encouraging the inhabitants to resist King Solomon’s unjust rule.

Around the study is wrapped a story which takes place in the halls of Washington, D.C. as an African-American congressman recounts his life.

The book contains a discussion plan for those wanting to study it as a group.

Click here to print out a flyer for this book and here to read the first three chapters (compliments of Wipf & Stock Publishers).

Available at Amazon and Wipf and Stock.

“St Francis and the Christian Life” uses the fascinating, mystical life of St. Francis to illustrate the lessons found in the Epistle to the Galatians.

It looks at the question: “How do we live the Christian Life?” This was the question that the author and her husband walked with as they retraced the footsteps of St. Francis across the Italian wilderness. Did they need to renounce materialism and live more simply? Did they need to do more work serving those in need? Was more Bible study or a stronger prayer life needed? What made their commitment to Christ different than those committed to other faiths? How could their lives make a difference?

The author was planning a lecture series on Galatians, written by the Apostle Paul, when she and her husband began their pilgrimage. As they journeyed into the life and legends of St. Francis, a playful old school Franciscan monk befriended them. Together the three named the parallels and divergences in the lives of St. Francis and the Apostle Paul. In doing so, they discovered an entirely new—but ancient—way of following Jesus!

The book contains a discussion plan for those wanting to study it as a group.

Available at Amazon and Wipf and Stock.

Click here to read the first three chapters (compliments of Wipf and Stock Publishers).