Sermons on Parable Of Virgins:

What Is God Like? The Prodigal

Contributed by Jeffrey Samelson on Mar 23, 2004

The Parable of the Prodigal is not really about the younger son; Jesus told it to illustrate what God is like, not what sinners are like.

Fourth Sunday in Lent — March 21, 2004 Christ Lutheran Church, Columbia, MD Pastor Jeff Samelson Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 What Is God Like? The Prodigal R________ (Rejected) R________ (Running) R________ (Restoring) W ________ (Waiting) prod·i·gal adj 1. recklessly extravagant, spendthrift 2. giving ...read more

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

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus And The Right Fighters

Contributed by John Nadasi on Jul 8, 2004

Focusses on motives on the Pharisees rather than the parable itself. Pushes people to examine their own motives and what drives them.

Luke 10:25-37 Paonia United Methodist Church July 11, 2004 Chances are if you have spent any time around a church, And during any of that time you were even marginally conscious, You have undoubtedly heard of the Good Samaritan. In a survey, 80 % of the population could recount at least the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Methodist

The Way Of Grace Is Clearly Different

Contributed by Jeffrey Samelson on Sep 17, 2004

Jesus uses two parables about banquets to teach that the truly righteous live by grace, which means humility and love.

September 12, 2004 — 15th Sunday after Pentecost Christ Lutheran Church, Columbia, MD Pastor Jeff Samelson Luke 14:1,7-14 The Way of Grace Is Clearly Different I. In How We Think of Ourselves II. In How We Treat Others III. In How We Are Rewarded Grace and peace be yours in abundance through ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Making Today Count For Eternity

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 2, 2001

From the parable of the minas, understand our responsibility as believers to be faithful in preaching the Gospel, the task entrusted to us by our Lord.

The things that may happen in the future will affect us today. When we know that this recession will drag on for a long time, we have to make plans - to keep our jobs, spend less save more… The government will have to find ways to create jobs for the retrenched, bring forward projects to stimulate ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ready Or Not

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Nov 11, 2005

The parable of the 10 women waiting for the bridegroom to appear enlightens us as to how we should await the coming of Christ Jesus.

Ready Or Not – Matthew 25: 1 - 12 Intro: A young man applied for a job as a farm hand. When asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." --- This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him. --- A few days later, the farmer and his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Team Is Vital Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jan 1, 2005

Fourth message in a series using NASCAR prinicples as a series of parables to encourage people to follow God’s pattern for life.

Bible Text: 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2 Series: NASCAR Comes To Church Title: The Team is Vital Topic: Christian Living / Relationships Theme: Christian Living in Relationships Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to respect others and to develop pure ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Snakes, Scorpions, And The Spirit Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 26, 2003

Jesus’ parable helps parents distinguish between the needs and the wants of their children, and teaches us how to invest attention in them.

Several years ago a mother wrote to “Dear Abby”: “Dear Abby, My son is in jail for running his mouth at a cop. They’ve given him one phone call a day, and he’s calling home to ask us to bring him things. His dad has gone over there with whatever he has wanted: two Big Macs on Monday, a pizza on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Behind The Fanfare Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 9, 2007

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is a living parable that carries a powerful message of what God’s kingdom and the Christian life is like

Luke 19:28-30 “Behind the Fanfare” INTRODUCTION Everyone likes a parade. We love the pomp, the colorful costumes, the loud music, the disciplined marching, the imaginative floats, and of course the smiles and the waves. Some parades are greater productions than others. Though I’ve never been ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Becoming Good Dirt

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jul 14, 2008

The Parable of the Sower teaches us not only what not to be, but what we can be to become fertile soil for the seed of the Spirit.

Introduction: The first recorded parable of Jesus is “The Parable of the Sower.” It is the only parable which Jesus explains line by line. One of the important things for us to understand is that fields in biblical times were not like our fields today which have been prepared by modern ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Little Shady Accounting

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Dec 4, 2007

As long as there have been people in the world some have tried to cheat others. In the Parable of the Vineyard, that is exactly what happened.

Having served most of my ministry in rural east Texas, several of my church members have done some farming. And over those years I became at least somewhat familiar with sharecropping, particularly a form of it that they called farming on the halves. At first thought, I would never have imagined ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Methodist

The Heart Of A Father

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 16, 2008

Although the main focus of the Prodigal Son parable is the ungracious brother, the assumptions made about the Prodigal’s father are enlightening.

The Heart of a Father (Luke 15:11-32) 1. Father’s Day -- what can we say? 2. Sermon Central took a poll, and this would be mostly of pastors. The question and results are as follows: What do you expect for Father’s Day? A big deal 3% Simple card/gift 42% Nothing 35% Surprise ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Battle For The Vineyard (Matthew 21:33-40)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 6, 2007

Like so much of life, the parables of Jesus are often stories of violence. Here the violence is between a landlord and his tenants. ...

“We were told that this [operation] was against armed people and against people climbing on our armed vehicles. Our APCs (armed personnel carriers) were cruising 24 hours a day close to buildings (in Jenin), waiting for kids to climb on them, trying to dislodge the top -mounted MG (machine gun) and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Backward Economics Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Sep 27, 2007

God’s ways are not our ways. This truth is not more clearly demonstrated than in the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin

Luke 15:1-10 “Backward Economics” INTRODUCTION Jealousy is never a pleasant human emotion, either when we become aware of it in our own being, or when we see it displayed in the lives of others. Jealousy is a common human emotion, though, and it is one that you and have had to deal with in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Little Is Much When God Is In It Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Aug 17, 2012

God delights in using small things for great purposes. How the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast apply to our lives.

INTRODUCTION Matthew 13 contains seven parables Jesus gives about the Kingdom of heaven. Most of His stories are based on agriculture, because all the people living in Galilee understood gardening. If you’re a gardener, these parables make more sense to you than to the non-gardeners. Let me ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Your Kingdom Come Series

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Feb 22, 2009

Jesus described the coming kingdom of God through the windows of the parables. This sermon unpacks something of the meaning to the people then and to us now.

22.2.09 YOUR KINGDOM COME – Luke 8:4-14 INTRO News headlines today – THE TIMES 22nd February 2009 PARENTS TOLD: AVOID MORALITY IN SEX LESSONS PARENTS should avoid trying to convince their teenage children of the difference between right and wrong when talking to them about sex, a new government ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Baptist