In Sermon Illustrations: "Prodigal Son"

The Artist And The Beggar

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

Some time ago an artist wanted to find a man that would represent the prodigal. One day, walking up the streets, he met a poor beggar, and the thought occurred to him: “That man would represent the prodigal.” He told him what he wanted, and found the beggar was ready to come to his place of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-23

Tags: Evangelism, Grace, Sin, Salvation, Redemption, Justification, Sinners  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hamburger And Husks

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

HAMBURGER AND HUSKS One family in desperate straits came to a congregation for help. The people began to pull together some resources to help them out. Someone brought a word of prophecy that said, "Don’t give hamburger to those I have put on husks." God put the prodigal on husks so he would come ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Was A Very Capable Evangelist Whom God Used ...

Contributed by Mark Ferrante on Jan 12, 2007

There was a very capable evangelist whom God used in a significant way. But he lost his interest in spiritual things and drifted into a life of sin, for a number of months. Some of his sin was done in secret but ultimately, it became public knowledge and even made the headlines. At first, all he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Chuck Swindoll Makes This Observation About Our ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 4, 2007

Chuck Swindoll makes this observation about our chapter 7 of Ecc.: The man is describing life under the sun-ragged-edge reality, without God. Thus far in his journey, that has been his mindset, and it continues to be. But from here on, something begins to come into focus-the wisdom that has been ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unknown Inheritances  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

UNKNOWN INHERITANCES A Michigan factory worker, earning less than ten thousand dollars a year, was an unknowing heir to a half-million dollars. When located by an investigator some years after his benefactor’s death, the worker explained that he had neither returned home nor kept in touch with his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:16-17

Tags: God The Father

Ignorance Of One's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

Ignorance of One’s Inheritance A Michigan factory worker, earning less than ten thousand dollars a year, was an unknowing heir to a half-million dollars. When located by an investigator some years after his benefactor’s death, the worker explained that he had neither returned home nor kept in touch ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Tags: Inheritance, Ignorance

The Giving Tree

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 8, 2009

THE GIVING TREE Once or twice in a lifetime you hear a story that leaves an indelible mark on your heart and mind. Such is Shel Silverstein’s story, "The Giving Tree." "Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." And so begins the story of a tree’s being happy because she is able to make ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Pentecostal

Of God's Grace: A Certain Man Had A ...

Contributed by Dr. Ronnie Grizzle on Jun 15, 2007

Illustration of God’s grace: A certain man had a son who died in a war. His son had joined his father in a love for fine art. The son even began painting some during the Jays of battle. One of his son’s fellow soldiers brought the father a painting that the son had done during the days just before ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Couple Of Years Ago I Heard A Story Of A Boy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A couple of years ago I heard a story of a boy named Jeremy. He was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. One Sunday morning in early Spring Jeremy’s Sunday school teacher told the children the story of Jesus, ...read more

Tags: Salvation

John Bevere: The Bait Of Satan  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 24, 2007

Quote John Bevere, "The Bait of Satan" He states, "In the New Testament it often describes an entrapment used by the enemy. Offense is a tool of the Devil to bring people into captivity. Paul instructed young Timothy: And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Successful Author And Christian Psychologist, ...  PRO

Contributed by Amanda Wilson on May 6, 2004

Successful Author and Christian psychologist, Larry Crabb, begins his book Connecting with the story of his eldest son. Larry had two sons, and being a theologian, psychologist, and loving father, he wanted to do all that was right for his sons. So he gave his sons hugs, and spankings, detailed ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rooting For You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2010

ROOTING FOR YOU Zig Ziglar tells of the time he took his young son golfing. The boy was still relatively new to the game, so Zig was very impressed by his son’s performance on one of the par 4 holes. At the tee, the boy lifted the ball straight and true down the fairway. A second shot got him ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:1

Tags: Father's Day

When Larry Crabbe, Christian Psychologist And ...

Contributed by Amanda Wilson on Oct 20, 2007

When Larry Crabbe, Christian psychologist and author, became a father, he decided he was going to do parenting right! So Larry made sure he hugged his sons and told them he loved them. He had father-son talks, dinners and camping trips. He personally saw to it that his sons had a thorough ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Was A Story Once Told While I Attended ...

Contributed by Michael Mccosker on Sep 20, 2007

There was a story once told while I attended Zion Bible Institute by a preacher in which I have no remembrance of, only his story. There was once an operator of a train draw bridge who had the duties of raising and lowering the bridge. Generally the bridge would remain up due to the heavy traffic ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mother's Love  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 21, 2004

A MOTHER'S LOVE One of the most touching elements of the film "The Passion of the Christ" is the mother-son relationship. Every mother can relate to Mary’s total commitment to her son. Here’s the story of a modern day mother and her love for her son, as told by one member of the staff at Campus ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Parenting, Evangelism How To

There's A Story About A Middle Eastern Oil Sheik ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007

There’s a story about a Middle Eastern oil sheik who had three sons. Two sons were physically normal. The third son was stooped over and crooked. The father told his three sons, "I want to grant you each a wish. What would that be?" His first son said, "Father, I would like to become a physician. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Remember False Guilt Attacks The Person And The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Greene on Apr 12, 2007

Remember false guilt attacks the person and the Holy Spirit attacks the problem. A young boy was going to spend the evening at a friend¡¦s house. His father asked that he call home once he arrived so that the father could be assured that his son had arrived safely. As the evening wore on, this ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

One Day A Farmer On Leaving For A Long Trip ...

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jul 17, 2007

One day a farmer on leaving for a long trip called his son and gave to him specific instructions. He told him; while I am gone I want you to reap the harvest and plant fresh seeds for the next harvest. The son being an obedient lad reaped the harvest and planted the seeds. As the farmer was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:24, Proverbs 12:24, Ecclesiastes 10:18

Tags: Love, Obedience, Laziness, Initiative, Expectations, Wistdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

The Train Engineer

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: God the Father sacrificed His only Son so that we could live. Verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). Illustration: Once there was a train engineer who had one ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Sacrifice Of Christ, Sacrifice For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Leaving You In Good Hands

Contributed by Egerton Gbonda on May 1, 2008

LEAVING YOU IN GOOD HANDS The story is told of a mum who would take her son to nursery school, kiss him good bye and would always say to him "Darling, I’m leaving you in good hands, OK?" She will do this every day she takes her son to school. When the son was of age and mum was quite old now and ...read more

Tags: Ascension

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican