Sermons on Prodigality:

The Father Heart Of God

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jun 24, 2008

If your heart beats like the Father’s, you’ll love lost people too.

A several summers ago Laura and I witnessed every parent’s nightmare. As we soaked up the sun at Myrtle Beach, enjoying our annual vacation, watching Drake and Anna Gray, who were then still young enough to enjoy just playing in the sand, we noticed a man acting rather strangely. A barely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Love Myths #3 Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 2, 2010

How do we love like Jesus? For love, to be true, has to hurt just as it hurt Jesus to love us.

The day is December 11, 1979: in Oslo, Norway, an Albanian nun named Teresa, who has dedicated her life to live a simple life of love among the world’s poorest and most desperate people, receives one of the world’s most significant awards – the Nobel Peace Prize. As part of the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Father: Reaching Into The Pockets

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 9, 2010

The waiting father reaches deep into the reservoirs of love, extending compassion to his wayward son. So we also as parents must seek not to control but to guide and then be ready for forgiveness.

I shall not soon forget the image he presented, this father of the bride. He had smiled all through the vast and elaborate preparations for the wedding; his daughter was a kind of elegant princess, he knew it, she knew it, everybody knew it – and so the princess must have a grand occasion. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Welcome Home Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 28, 2009

This week we examine the parables of "lostness" focusing on the parable of "The Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Sons." While the prodigal son’s lostness is obvious, the elder son is lost in his own way as well.

Parables of Jesus Welcome Home Luke 15:11-32 April 26, 2009 A family had put the carcass and scraps from their turkey dinner in a trash bag and set it outside next to the back steps intending to clean up and then put the bag in the can after making sure that nothing else needed to go in the bag. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Church Of God

The Porch - Pt. 1 - Off The Porch Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Apr 12, 2014

It is a prominent feature in our lives and our memories. A place of safety. A place of provision. It's "The Porch!"

The Porch Pt. 1 - Off The Porch A crowd gathered. Ears tuned to sound of His voice. With a verbal paintbrush a complex plot is constructed, a unique in perspective is given, and rich in truth relayed. He quickly and easily crafts a story that will cause the likes of Charles Dickens and William ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-31

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pride And The Poor In Spirit

Contributed by Chris Mccarthy on Jan 11, 2011

This series is a study of the seven deadly sins contrasted with solutions found in the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. This second sermon uses the popular stories of the Prodigal Son and the Rich Man and Lazarus to contrast being proud against being poor in sp

Pride and the Poor in Spirit Seven Sins and Solutions THE STORY IS TOLD OF A MAN WHO HAD A DREAM IN WHICH AN ANGEL showed him two doors — one marked Heaven and the other Hell. Curious, the man went to the door marked Hell. Inside he saw an unhappy sight. Twelve emaciated people sat around a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Lost Sheep, A Lost Coin, A Lost Son

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jan 7, 2024

Jesus tells three stories to prove how much lost people matter to God.

God’s Love for the Lost Luke 15:1-32 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 01-07-2024 I Lost My Keys Again Have you ever lost something? I am better at it than most. I have lost coats, gloves, watches, sunglasses, my place in a song, and my heart to a girl named Maxine. One time ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Lost And Found Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 20, 2025

Getting lost is easy, coming to your senses is hard, finding your way home is worth it. 

Lost and Found   Luke 15 Introduction: Getting lost is not as easy as it used to be! Global Positioning System (GPS) on most of our phones will direct us anywhere we want to go. Have you ever been using GPS and driving through a cow pasture wondering if you’re doing it right? ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Back In The Fold Series

Contributed by Kevin Broyhill on Oct 2, 2024

Christians can find themselves drifting farther from the Lord. Psalm 23 gives us a vivid image of this reality. But here’s the good news: no matter how far we stray, our Shepherd is always there to restore us.

Back In The Fold! Psalm 23:3a Introduction: Illust: Two students working for the summer got a job with the Public Works Department. They were given the job of painting the center lines of a rural road. The supervisor told them that they were on probation and that they must stay above the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3

Denomination: Baptist

Imagine A Heavenly Father

Contributed by Brian Harrell on Oct 18, 2018

From the I Can Only Imagine movie / campaign. God is a heavenly father. A perfect father. Unlike any father we have had on this planet. Using the prodigal son story we identify the traits of our heavenly dad.

Those grandkids of ours are tearing me apart. On Tuesday the call had come to evacuate the area of the coast where our whole family had rented a beach house. We had been there for a total of three days. On Tuesday night, trying to avoid traffic, Zach packed up the truck, put the kids in the car ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20-23, Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Church Of God

He's Still My Son PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 20, 2024

This sermon explores God's boundless love and mercy, as demonstrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son, emphasizing our value derived from His love. Key

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I stand before you today with a heart full of joy and a spirit brimming with eagerness to share with you the profound truths hidden within the pages of the Holy Scripture. We gather here, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the divine narrative ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Topics: Father's Love

U-Turns Encouraged Here Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2023

A four part series on Jonah. A good reminder that you can run… but you can’t hide from God! Teaching sheet at the end of the text.

“U-turns Encouraged Here” Jonah 1:17-2:10 Pastor John Bright Jonah 1:17 “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 2 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. 2 And he said: “I cried ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Deuteronomy 31:6, Revelation 2:6, Matthew 5:23-24, 2 Timothy 4:2, Ephesians 4:18-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Father’s Best Robe

Contributed by Samuel M on Dec 17, 2024

The best robe that Father gives to all prodigal sinners is the robe of Christ's righteousness. It removes(covers) all guilt, shame, defeat, and nakedness, making us acceptable to God.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’ Luke 11:22 The best robe that Father gives to all prodigal sinners is the robe of Christ's righteousness. It removes(covers) all guilt, shame, defeat, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:22

The Runaway Lad And The Waiting Dad - Which Way Will You Run? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 26, 2005

The pharisees and the teachers of the law had a warped view of God... and many today have the same problem. What did Jesus mean to teach about the Father in this parable?

OPEN: (It is best to memorize the following illustration to allow for optimum delivery) “Feeling footloose and frisky, a featherbrained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the farthings and flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune, feasting fabulously with faithless friends. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24, Luke 15:11-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Priority Of Concern Series

Contributed by Wayne Mock on Feb 4, 2011

People can have many priorities. Jesus expects His followers to have priorities based on His value system, not the value system of the world.

There are many things in life about which we can be concerned. We can be concerned about the weather – when will it be warmer? We can be concerned about the economy – especially if we are being directly affected by the recession. One’s health is also a matter of concern to many people. This ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ