The Family Metaphor in Jesus' Teaching examines the ethical and spiritual implications of Jesus' use of intimate family metaphors for God (Father) and for believers (like children, as brothers). When Jesus exalts the child's qualities of honesty and trust, he is also raising the status of actual children. Using current discussions of the equal-regard family and of joy as a focus of Jesus' message, Stephen Finlan explores how the gospel entails a changed concept of parenting, a new approach to spiritual growth, and an emphasis on self-forgetful service and committed fellowship.