In Sermon Illustrations: "Parable Prodigal Son"

The Probability Of Jesus Fulfilling Messianic Prophecy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight Messianic prophecies regarding Christ. He says, "The chance that any man might have fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000." (one ...read more

Tags: Messianic Prophecy, Old Testament, Christmas, Jesus, Science, Miracles, Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Infinitely Important  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 25, 2001

INFINITELY IMPORTANT "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Christianity, Cs Lewis, Parable General, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

By The Seeds You Plant  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

BY THE SEEDS YOU PLANT "Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed, Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In The Film The Matrix, We Are Taken To The Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 6, 2002

In the film The Matrix, we are taken to the year 2199. The world has been taken over and is being run by AI: artificial intelligence. Harvested humans live in a computer generated dreamworld of artificial reality, never understanding that they are captives of an evil empire. But there are a few ...read more

Tags: Kingdom, Kingdom Of God, Parable Sower And Seed, Supernatural, Deception  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

With Our Arms About Their Knees  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Colebank Ii on Jan 19, 2005

WITH OUR ARMS ABOUT THEIR KNEES “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that…. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, wil be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Parable Sower And Seed, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Seminary Students Who Would Not Stop To Help

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2022

In her book Kindness: Reaching Out to Others, Phyllis J. Le Peau relates this story: “Some seminary students were asked to preach on the story of the Good Samaritan. When the hour arrived for their sermon, each one was deliberately delayed en route to class. As the students raced across campus, ...read more

Tags: Parables, Hypocrisy, Levite, Good Samaritan, Jerusalem, Jericho, Priest  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Narrow Definition Of Neighbor

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2022

With their passion for definition, Jewish Rabbis sought to define who a man's "neighbor" was. They confined the word "neighbor" to include only their fellow Jews. For instance, some of them said that it was illegal to help a Gentile woman in her time of childbirth for ...read more

Tags: Levites, Priests, Rabbis, Parable, Neighbor, Kindness, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Greatest Building Disaster In History

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

In 1174, the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: a separately standing eight-story bell tower in the city of Pisa. There was just one “little” problem: builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated, and the ...read more

Tags: Foundations, Eternity, Obedience, Rock, Sand, Word Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Sermon D.l. Moody Preached

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

D.L. Moody was one of the greatest preachers in American history. On November 23, 1899 in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, Moody became very sick as he preached. “I must have souls in Kansas City,” he had told the students at his school in Chicago. “Never have I wanted so much to lead men and ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Faithfulness, Parables, Moody, Preach The Word, Great Supper  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's Room At The Cross For You

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

I grew up hearing this great old hymn being sung during many times of invitation. I was reminded of this great song while preparing my sermon on the Parable of the Great Supper from Luke 14 where Jesus told His disciples to go into the "highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My ...read more

Tags: Great Supper, Evangelism, Gospel, Parables, Witnessing, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Conference With The Devil

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 15, 2022

A fictitious story has been told of a conference between Lucifer and his demons. It seems as though Satan was upset because he had not deceived enough souls and so he called for a conference with his head demons. "What are we going to do! We are not claiming enough souls for the Kingdom of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Satan, Parable, Demons, Excuses, Invitation, Today, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Christmas Story To Use!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas when microwaves were a new thing for many Americans. Here's how he recalls the interesting experience: "They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, John 1:1-12

Tags: Witnessing, Birth Of Christ, Son Of God, Evangelism, Christmas, Jesus, Salvation, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fake News Or Truth?

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Sep 30, 2024

Donald Trump has often spoken of what he calls, “fake news” when describing what he considers biased reporting. And it is true that most reporting about Trump is negative, while his opponents receive more favorable treatment. But did you know that the phrase “fake news” was first coined by ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:6-12

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Fake News, Sure Witness, Jesus Is Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Greatest Difference Of Religions Lies Between ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Jun 19, 2003

The greatest difference of religions lies between the Bible which says we can never save ourselves - that salvation is the gift of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9); and all the other religions which say a person will be saved, reborn, made whole, or achieve fulfillment by keeping ...read more

Tags: World Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Budding Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Luke 21 records the parable of the Budding of the Fig Tree by Jesus. This parable is interpreted by many evangelical writers as a reference to the Regathering of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel 38. It happened in 1948 as the nation was re-born miraculously as we prepare for the return of ...read more

Tags: Prophecy, Second Coming, Parables, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Regathering, Israel, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Willingness Of God To Answer Your Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

"My friend, do you think that God is asleep? Do you feel that He has gone to bed when you pray, and you cannot get Him up? Do you believe that He does not want to answer your prayers? God does want to answer your prayers and He will. That is what this parable is saying. You do not have ...read more

Tags: Parables, Persistence, God The Father, Importunity, God's Willingness, Prayer, God's Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Ministered In The Marketplace More Than Anywhere Else.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

Christ met unbelievers where they were. And He met them most often in the marketplace, not in a place of worship. He realized what many Christians today still don't seem to understand. Cultivators have to get out in the field. According to one count, the Gospels record 132 contacts that ...read more

Tags: Great Supper, Church, Gospel, Parables, Witnessing, Great Commission, Marketplace, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cheapest Way To Park A Rolls Royce!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

In Mattew 25, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples. The parable shows the value of investing wisely by those who took their talent and multiplied it through wise negotiation. The one who buried his talent and did not invest was scolded by the Lord. Here is a funny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Talents, Investing, Saving Money, Parables, Business, Kingdom Of God, Money Management  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is Story About A Chinese Artist, A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Feb 26, 2003

There is story about a Chinese artist, a new Christian who wanted to paint the parable of the prodigal son. In his first attempt, he painted the father standing at the gate with his arms folded looking sternly down the road at a son coming. Another Christian explained to him that was not the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Wesleyan

Ridgecrest Is A Large Baptist-Run Assembly ...  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 24, 2000

Ridgecrest is a large Baptist-run assembly ground, nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. All summer long, every year, thousands of Christians come to Ridgecrest for training, inspiration, Bible study, and challenge. A few years ago, during a conference, people began to notice a man ...read more

Tags: Parable General, Graduation Gift, Compassion, Abortion, Car, Christian Disciplines, Everything, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist