9781422279700

Jesus told his followers to pray in this way: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us the wrong we have done, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us. And do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil.”

retelling or thinking about later. Jesus’s parables encour- aged listeners to think of new interpretations as their faith grew. Some parables were long stories, others were just a few sentences long. Almost all of them were taken from everyday situations that the people living at the time would have been able to relate to. They gave meaning to people’s lives. Jesus also used miracles to teach. Miracles were not new in the Jewish tradition; they were signs of the power of God.

What Do Christians Believe?

11