The Power of Stories - and the Secrets They Hold
Stories have always been one of the most powerful ways to teach. Long before textbooks, podcasts, or classrooms, human beings learned through narrative. A good story captures the imagination, slows us down and invites us to see the world differently. Jesus knew this. That’s why some of His most important teaching came not as lectures, but as parables.
Ask a student in Year 3 or 4 and (hopefully) they will tell you that a parable is a simple story with a deeper meaning. To put it another way, it’s an earthly picture that reveals a heavenly truth. But Jesus’ parables weren’t just clever illustrations. They were invitations. In Matthew 13:11–13, Jesus tells His disciples that “the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you.” In other words, the parables are not puzzles to frustrate us; they are doorways. They open when we listen with the right attitude - a desire to truly hear what God is saying.
This is an important reminder for us as parents and as a school community. We want our children not only to know Bible stories, but to listen for God’s voice within them. The difference is subtle but significant. Anyone can read the parable of the Good Samaritan and say, “Be kind.” But when we read with a heart that genuinely seeks God, we discover more: a God who crosses boundaries to love us, a God who calls us to see others with compassion, a God who reshapes our understanding of neighbourliness.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 13 challenge us. He says that some people “hear but do not understand” because they are not really listening. Their hearts are closed. But to those who come with openness, humility and a desire to know God, the parables become treasures. They reveal who God is, what He values, and how He invites us to live.
This is the posture we want to model for our children. When we read the Bible at home we can help them ask simple but profound questions: What is God showing me about Himself? What is He teaching me about how to live? What does He want me to notice today?
When we approach Scripture this way, something beautiful happens. The Bible becomes more than information, it becomes formation. It shapes our hearts, our choices, and our relationships. And as Jesus promises, God delights to reveal His wisdom to those who seek Him.
As a College, we are committed to helping our students grow not only in knowledge, but in understanding - the kind that comes from listening deeply to God’s Word. May we, as families and educators, continue to read the parables with open hearts, ready to receive the “secrets of the kingdom” that Jesus so generously offers.