After more than six decades at our historic, four-storied brownstone in Center City Philadelphia, the Alliance moved to nearby Lancaster, PA. While we miss the beauty of the craftsmanship at our old location, this move is an example of our commitment to good stewardship. Our new location is modern and well-equipped for the work we do at the Alliance. Many tasks are simpler and quicker now that we do not have the quirks and inefficiencies of an old home. Contact the Alliance at 600 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 or by phone at 215-546-3696.

Christ asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" (Matthew 16:13). He knew, of course, the thoughts and words of all men, but He was about to draw from them a most vital confession. He was not referring to the statements of the Pharisees who had said that He worked through the power of Satan. The question revealed, first of all, the state of the common gossip of the multitudes who had eaten His created bread and who had seen His miracle power. Truly they were blinded. These people had not spiritual discernment, that rarest of all of the gifts of the Spirit.

"He spoke many things unto them in parables. . .". This was the first time He had ever spoken in parables. We may learn many great lessons from the parables themselves, but there are two great lessons to be found in the fact that He used this method. The reason that the Lord Jesus did speak in parables was in order to preserve His truth from those darkened minds, since they would not have believed though one rose from the dead. He would keep his pearls in the shell of parable so that they would not be trampled under foot. At the same time, there were simple folk among the multitude which gathered around Him, and these were capable of receiving the Word as He gave it forth. The Holy Spirit would be able to take the truth to their hearts and bring light out of darkness.