Message from the Pastor - Parable Improv

When I lived in Denver, I took a class at Rise Comedy titled Improv 101. It was the prerequisite to Improv 201, which was the prerequisite to Improv 301, 401, 501, and 601.

Improv, which breathes in spontaneity, which lives in the moment, actually has a structure and rhythm. The basic building block of improv is “yes, and.” It suggests that you should accept the contributions of another. You should acknowledge their reality and receive what they have to offer. You are not to say “no” – because that would shut down the story line.

You are to say “yes,” and not only say “yes,” but “yes, and.”

The parables of Jesus require the same sort of agreement and spontaneity that we might reserve for improv comedy.

Let’s consider a parable in Mark’s gospel. Jesus asked, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it?” He then answered his own question: “Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants” (Mark 4:30-32).

Notice how none of the disciples said, “No. Botanically speaking, a grown mustard seed would be a herb, but sometimes a very big herb, popularly considered a shrub.”

You don’t correct the story line in improv. You don’t say, “It’s not a tree, it’s a shrub.”

Interestingly enough, Matthew and Luke, which were written a decade later, said “yes, and” to Mark.

On Celebration Sunday, we’ll explore Matthew’s riff of short parables – mustard seed, yeast, hidden treasures, pearls, nets. Each starts with the phrase, “The Kingdom of God is like…” yet continues with a different story line. We’ll then begin to wonder, where is God calling us, individually and collectively, to say, “Yes, and” today?

The following Sunday, we’ll then turn our attention to God’s “Kingdom Come”. We delve deeper into the Lord’s Prayer, and the structure and rhythm it might provide to our lives. This six-week sermon series will be paired with a small group offering (see below).

As we enter the fall, I’m looking forward to the leading of God’s “yes, and” Spirit.

Blessings,

Donna