Sermons on Parables:

Decaf Christmas? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 23, 2015

The reason we decaffeinate Christmas is because we don’t want Jesus intruding on our lives. Don’t want to admit that we need help. Little baby Jesus is OK, but he’d better not get out of the manger.

This week a number of articles have come out, commenting on the push to get Christ out of Christmas. The best I read called this the decaffeination of Christmas. Carols that are all about trees, snow, reindeer, not about a baby born in a manger. Why do we do this? For some the story of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

A Time To Hear Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Jesus is saying, “I, the lamp, have come with the light of the gospel. Don’t cover me and my message over as many of you are doing. Let the lamp shine openly. The reason that you hide my light is that you really prefer something else which is less than

Introduction We are back to the parables this morning. In contrast to our extended metaphor of the sower and his soil conditions, we now come to a collection of short images and sayings. Remember how I said that usually it is the context that makes the parable’s meaning clear? The peculiar ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Prodigality, Love And Grace Series

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Mar 5, 2016

A few details of this beautiful parable that we may miss or take for granted because we think the story is so familiar.

The so-called parable of the prodigal son is one of the—if not the—most beautiful stories in the whole Bible. God, it is pointed out, is like the father in the story. The beauty and power of this story is made very clear in the description and actions of the father. One of the dangers ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Lutheran

The Lost Son

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Sep 14, 2015

In the light of a recent mass murder in the US, this message speaks of the consoling and redeeming love of God, express in the parable of the lost son.

[Message given at an outdoor worship service in the summer of 2015 in downtown Toronto, Canada] This has been a terrible week on this continent. A 21 year old man visited a Bible Study at a historically important Black church in Charleston, South Carolina. After listening to the people talk and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hidden Talents

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Apr 17, 2013

A sermon on the Parable of the Talents emphasizing the need to make whatever earthly talents you have available to God for Kingdom work.

Good Morning. If you have your Bibles with you and you want to follow along, we will be looking at the Matthew 25:14-30. As a reminder, we are going through our four core values of worship, discipleship, outreach, and community. Today, we are going to swing back around and focus on the value of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Christian Church

The Prodigal Son's Brother

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jul 6, 2012

Chapter 15 of Luke is the start of a new discussion as Jesus makes his way into Jerusalem to fulfill his ultimate sacrificial mission. It begins with the Scribes and Pharisees grumbling because Jesus always allowed sinners to listen to him and eat with hi

This would be similar to having a pastor who spent most of his time trying to reach the lost while neglecting those in the congregation who are just sitting around trying to be Holy. Often the people who are just in church to be served are the ones who complain when they don’t get enough of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

A Picture Of Selfishness- The Younger Son Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jun 4, 2010

From the younger son we will see the issues that follow those who chose to live a selfish life.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Over the next three weeks we are going to examine the interesting interactions of a family. This is a story of a father and his two sons. We have a father who owns what is likely a vast amount of property. His sons worked the land with him. • The younger of the two sons ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Wasn't The Pacific Ocean Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 12, 2001

Jesus’ handling of and interpretation of His witness at the seashore is a parable of our witness in shaky, stormy circumstances.

A few weeks ago I caught the TV show, “America’s Funniest Videos.” You may know that on that show there are clips of poignant scenes from the human drama, as captured by someone’s home video camera. This particular clip caught my attention. A father was trying to show his small son how to fish, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Carl, Sven, And The Angels Series

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Dec 8, 2001

Christmas Eve parable/sermon about two Nordic shepherds and their Holy Land encounter with angels.

"Sven did you yust see what I think I yust saw?" "I don’t know Carl--what do you think it is that you yust saw--because I think I yust saw what you think you yust saw?" "Angels, Sven, angels--one angel and then a whole bunch of angels--singing some strange religious song and talking about some ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: *other

The Four Soils Series

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Feb 18, 2002

Sermon on the parable of the sower. One’s response to the Gospel depends on the personal inclination of his will.

The Four Soils Mark 4:1-20 INTRO.: Why do different people respond differently to the same message? Why do some reject the Gospel of Christ and others accept it and live Christian lives? Jesus provides an answer to this question in the passage before us. We will become more effective and joyful ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Jesus Invites You To Dinner Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Nov 25, 2002

“The Parable of the Great Banquet” tells us three things about the wonderful invitation of God.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 39 “When Jesus Invites You To Dinner” Luke 14:15-24 Jesus was in the middle of a Sabbath dinner that had grown more and more tense. The tension had grown from the moment that Jesus had entered the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Wedding Feast

Contributed by James May on Jan 23, 2005

The Parable of the Ten Virgins foretells both the joy and sadness of the Wedding Feast at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

THE WEDDING FEAST by Pastor James May One of the most exciting and joyous events in life is the marriage of two people who have decided to come together as husband and wife and build a life together. Around the world, this is a time of celebration. Weddings can be as simple as standing before a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Art Of Sowing

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jul 11, 2008

The various soil types mentioned in the parable of Jesus relate to a person’s receptivity to the Word of God.

Matthew 3: 1 – 12 / It’s Just Beginning Intro: In Directions, James Hamilton writes: Before refrigerators, people used icehouses that had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door to preserve their food. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Crying Uncle"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 20, 2010

This is a sermon based on a parable about a God Who does not play favorites for a people who do.

Luke 18:9-14 “Crying Uncle” You gotta love how this parable starts out: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable…” Amazing, in many ways, not much has changed. I suppose there have always ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist

The Pumpkin Patch Gospel

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 31, 2010

Based on the Pumpkin Patch Parable. This sermon is great for Halloween or Harvest time or when the kids are in service.

The Pumpkin Patch Gospel Slide Welcome to Family Sunday. I love family Sunday’s. I love seeing our youth up here leading us in worship and our kids able to come in and worship with us and for believing kids to participate with us as we commune together with the Lord. It is exciting to be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational