Sermons on Luke 15:31:

Forgiveness And Restoration Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 11, 2021

Conflict creates impasses and dead ends in our relationships. Forgiveness opens a new way forward.

March 10, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 15:11-32 Forgiveness and Restoration Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “You can’t get there from here.” It always sounds a little crazy when you hear someone say that. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Lost And Found

Contributed by John Newton on Mar 21, 2021

A look at the three figures in one of Jesus’ most famous parables

One of my greatest delights in the church where I last served in Minnesota was to be part of a group of men who met faithfully every Wednesday morning for prayer, followed each week by coffee and conversation. Both the prayer and the conversation could be pretty free ranging at times. But I have to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Episcopal

Letting Go Of Your Painful Past Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 26, 2021

Every Christians is either a pleasure or a pain in the body of Christ, and the key factor that makes the difference is letting go of a painful past.

Neil Armstrong was the first man to set his foot on the moon, but long before that momentous event he was a dreamer. As early as age 2 he fell in love with airplanes, and for the rest of his life that was a focus for him. He made model planes as a child, and at age 14 he got a job at a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

God Is Our Friend Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 26, 2021

God is our Father, but that is not enough. The message is not complete until we know too that God is our Friend.

Martin Luther spent a major portion of his life looking for a God who liked him. He was devoutly religious from his childhood, but religion was more a burden than a blessing, for his God was not his friend. He knew God hated sin and demanded perfection and so he was obsessed with trying to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

The Entitled Brother

Contributed by Sean Boucher on Sep 14, 2019

A look at the Prodigal Son story through the eyes of the older brother. Video of this sermon can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/253087477

For those who haven’t been here, the story so far is this – A son scandalously asks his still-living rich father for his half of the inheritance. Even more scandalously, the father gives it to him. The son does what you might expect from a young man – he goes and wastes it on wild living. He goes ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32, Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:21-22

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Unconventional Reach

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 14, 2019

Jesus shares three stories to show how much every person matters to God. Jesus calls us to repent and return to him, love people he loves, and celebrate with heaven when lost people are found.

Luke 15:1-10 God’s Unconventional Reach Have you ever lost anything? It’s really irritating, isn’t it? Losing car keys, losing your wallet, losing your cell phone. They make devices to ping all these things, but I’m sure I would probably lose that, too! Luke chapter 15 is all about lost things, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, Luke 15:11-32, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Luke 19:10

Denomination: Baptist

Overwhelming Grace: The Prodigal Son, The Unjust Steward, And You!

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Sep 19, 2019

This sermon examines the relationship between the prodigal son, unjust steward, and the hearer. It draws upon the parallels among all three to make a Gospel application. I am indebted to Dr. David Schmidt's observations on this text found on 1517.org for the idea.

A few weeks ago, I bought the movie Dunkirk on sale, which is about the evacuation of over 300,000 British troops after the Fall of France in World War II. I tried to watch this movie at night as I was going to bed. Between falling asleep, helping with Mia, or checking my phone, the movie took ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8, Luke 16:1-16, Luke 15:11-32, Luke 15:12-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Pride And Prejudice

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 6, 2019

Two Things that Constrain Our Joy

Legend holds that in 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Other

Now, That Makes No Sense At All!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 11, 2019

It makes no sense to be part of the same family and be mad when the father chooses to do for one what he hasn’t chosen to do for the other. Yet, this is precisely what happened in the parable Jesus told of two sons, either of whom were prodigal.

“Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Prodigal Or Judgmental

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 20, 2022

Imagine someone who wasted his inheritance on wild living, went broke, was homeless, smelled like a pig and just wanted to come home? Purpose: Let’s look at the prodigal son. Plan: Let’s examine Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

Hymns: You Raise Me Up (Joshua 5); Forgiven (Psalm 32); We Are Standing on Holy Ground (2 Corinthians 5); Father I Have Sinned (the Prodigal Son Song). Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Prelude: Imagine someone who wasted his inheritance on wild living, went broke, was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

4th Sunday In Lent, Year C. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 21, 2022

March 30th, 2025.

Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, Luke 15:11-32. A). THE BLESSING OF PARTICIPATION. Joshua 5:9-12. The LORD spoke metaphorically of having “rolled away the reproach of Egypt” (Joshua 5:9). Egypt stands for the place of captivity. In like manner Jesus, by taking ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, Luke 15:11-32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eclipse Of The Heart (March 27, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 23, 2022

This morning let us strive to look at this story from a different angle as we give weight to the bitterness and indifference of the elder brother. Today we will focus on the hungry heart and the alienated heart.

ECLIPSE OF THE HEART Text: Luke 15:1 - 3, 11-32 Luke 15: 1 -3, 11- 32  Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.  (2)  And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: United Methodist

"In The Chaos Of The Pigpen…. Hope And Direction”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 23, 2022

Jesus uses 3 parables to tell what God's character is like. It is "grace". Some history of the culture from Ken Bailey is included. To the Pharisees “You think you know God, but you do not." Jesus is the God of Ezekiel 34.

In Jesus Holy Name March 27,2022 Text: Luke 15:11-31 Redeemer “In the Chaos of the Pigpen…. Hope and Direction” “Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus… and the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying… This fellow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-31, 1 Peter 1:3-5

Denomination: Lutheran

"the Parable Of The Loving Father"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 23, 2022

A sermon for all of us.

“The Parable of the Loving Father” Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 So, Jesus was hanging out with the only crowd that ever seemed to want to hang out with Him. Tax Collectors, Sinners—which referred to anyone from a person with a skin disease, to a person with crushed organs to prostitutes, and so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: United Methodist

Prodigal Stories-- Fourth Sunday Of Lent Year C Readings

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Mar 26, 2022

Now, what he had put his hopes in lay broken all over the floor.

John Claypool told a story about William Muehl of Yale Divinity School and something that happened in his family years ago when Dr. Muehl’s son was young. His five-year-old son made a clay pot for his dad one year in Vacation Bible School.? Open House night finally rolled around.? The little boy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Catholic