The first 2 minutes of audio are poor, but it improves at 2:25. Here is the essence of Pastor Rhode's opening:
It can be helpful to understand the parables of Jesus through three different focal planes or levels, especially the three "Lost" parables we begin today, Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son. The first focal plane involves understanding the base level rhetoric of the parable and considering who Jesus is speaking to and why he is saying what he is saying. The second focal plane involves looking at the terms and themes that Jesus uses in the parable, which may reveal deeper meanings upon further reflection and meditation. The third focal plane involves considering how the biblical writer frames and presents the parable. Understanding these three levels can provide depth and clarity in interpreting the parables and can help to clarify different interpretations and controversies surrounding them.
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