Sermons on prodigal sons:

Thanksgiving's Empty Chair

Contributed by Mark Otero on Jan 13, 2003

The irony of thanksgiving is sometimes those closest to the Father’s blessings can become the least thankful. The Prodigal’s brother demonstrates this reality by his words and actions.

Thanksgiving’s Empty Chair Luke 15: 25 - 32 INTRODUCE A woman was visiting some people who lived on a farm, and she noticed a pig limping in the backyard with a wooden leg. She asked the farmer, "What happened to the pig?" The farmer said, "Oh, Betsy is a wonderful pig. One night the house ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Holiness

Pride And Prejudice Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jan 26, 2002

Two attitudes displayed in two sons, that kept each of them from receiving the joy God intended for them.

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 they expressed their ...read more

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

Denomination: Other

It's Time To Go Home

Contributed by Cedric Portis on Oct 29, 2001

The only way to come back to the Father’s is to first come to yourself and realize that the Laws of the Father are in place to protect us.

It’s time to go Home Luke 15:11-24 The Parable of the Prodigal is one of many parables Jesus used in His ministry. He used this particular parable in addition to others while He was addressing the publicans and sinners in the presence of the Pharisees and Scribes. Now Jesus begins ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Responsible, The Rebel And The Remarkable

Contributed by Rita Sims on Mar 25, 2001

In many ways, we have been the youngest son, the father and the eldest son as depicted in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

Today, we celebrate the well-loved parabled called the Prodigal Son. I want us to think of it from perhaps a little different perspective. I want us to think about how each one of us, in many ways, has been the youngest son, the father, and the eldest son. Especially as we are in the season of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: United Methodist

Salvation Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Nov 28, 2000

This is part of a sermon series based on the Parables of Jesus. What's in it for me. This sermon is on the parable in Luke 15 - the prodigal son.

What's In It for Me? - Salvation Some believe that if humankind is left to its own that the results will be positive and good. This was true once when God first made man but because of sin and it's destructive character there is no one who is righteous. When left to his own devices each of us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The Father's Heart

Contributed by Colin Coombs on Oct 22, 2005

The heart of God is revealed in this wonderful parable, as H e reaches out to those who have gone astray.

THE PARABLE OF THE FATHER’S HEART Luke 15:11 - 32 1. THE FATHER’S WEALTH WEALTH IN HIS FAMILY - Two Sons WEALTH IN HIS POSSESSIONS - Servants and property 11 ¶ Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Evil Hoard Series

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Nov 9, 2005

Part II of a series based on the question, "How to spend an inheirtance" This sermon encourages us not to hold on to the love of the Father but to spend it freely.

Title: A Chocolate Piano and an Older Brother Text: Luke 15:25 - 32 FCF: In Christ, we have more than enough blessing – we need not sit on it! SO: I want people to realize that hoarding an inheritance can be just as bad as squandering it Intro: Last week, you’ll remember we talked about the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Waiting Father Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on May 18, 2004

We may relate to each of the characters in the story of the prodigal, but we are called to become the father.

Luke 15:11-32 May 14, 2004 The Waiting Father – Becoming the Father How many people have read the book “The Return of The Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen? This is one of my “must read” books for Christians – I even recommend it for non-Christians. If you haven’t read them yet, this summer, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: *other

The Call To Become The Father

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on May 26, 2004

Our Call to become the father in the story involves grief, forgiveness & generosity

Luke 15:11-32 May 23, 2004 The Call to Become the Father “The Return of The Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen. This is one of my “must read” books for Christians – I even recommend it for non-Christians. If you haven’t read it yet, read it this summer. We’ll have a little book discussion on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: *other

Let Me Tell You About This Guy

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Mar 14, 2007

This a Sermon that can be done as a drama. No props needed but a glass of water.

Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 (ESV) Wow, thanks for letting me rest here for awhile and for the water. It has been a long journey, and I needed to catch my breath. I am excited to go and see some of my cousins, but really, I can’t wait for the trip to be over and to get back to my own village. I am just a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Forgiveness - Take A Deep Breath And Enjoy Clean Air Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 19, 2007

If you have ever been in the position of the father in the story, you know the heartbreak, the sleepless nights, the wondering, and the self-reproach. "Where did I fail?" It is agony to await the outcome.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: United Methodist

To The Distant Country And Back

Contributed by Michael Trask on Mar 19, 2007

The Prodigal went to "a distant country". "The Distant Country" is not a foriegn state, but rather a sinful state of mind....that leads to ruin. But there is a way back.

“There was a man who had two sons. the younger one said to his father, ‘father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger Son got together all he had, set off for a distant country....” The “distant Country”. The young man ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

God’s Lost And Found Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 23, 2007

3 stories, 1 parable, many great truths! The Lost SHEEP, the Lost SILVER, the Lost SON, and the Lost SIBLING. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Parables: God’s Lost and Found Luke 15 [Get formatted text, audio/video, and great PowerPoint now by pasting this link into your browser.] http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LostAndFound.html The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Others

Contributed by Dan Mahan on Jun 26, 2006

A look at the two brothers in the Parable of the Prodigal Son to show how we often think of our own selfish desires instead of others.

Others by Dan Mahan Luke 15: 32 “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, and now he is found!” The text today is a familiar story. Most of us have heard many sermons about this text. Today we are going to look at it in a different ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

The Older Brother Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Jul 12, 2004

Most of us in Church relate to the older brother if we are honest. The father loves us as much as the prodigal and invites into the party.

Luke 15:11-32 June 20, 2004 The Older Brother We’ve been looking at the story of the Prodigal Son for many weeks now – we began by talking for 4 weeks about our call to become the Father in the story. But last week I talked about how taking up the call to become the father without dealing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: *other