Sermons on Proud Older Brother:

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

Blessed Are Those Who Are Not Offended (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Apr 27, 2013

When children are young they asked the question, “Why?” They are inquisitive, they want to learn! When we get older we still ask the question, “Why?” Because we want to understand, we want to know why things happen.

Verse 22-23-Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” When ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Prodigal Son: The Son Is Resurrected Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 20, 2022

Happy Resurrection Sunday brothers and sisters, He Is Risen! Jesus Christ is alive right now. He is present in this room. He is alive in our hearts.

“Well over three hundred verses are concerned with the subject of Jesus' resurrection in the New Testament. We are told that this event is a sign for unbelievers (Matthew 12:38-40); cf. John 20:24-29) as well as the answer for the believer's doubt (Luke 24:38-43). It serves as the guarantee ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-13

Denomination: Salvation Army

Do Not Fail Me Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Oct 25, 2020

Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus Yahshuah, My sisters and brothers, we fast forward our thoughts from the Prophet Jeremiah ...

DO NOT FAIL ME by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (October 25, 2020) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11, King James ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 10:16, Job 32:9

Denomination: Friends

I'm Sending Him Back! Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 23, 2026

To discuss Onesimus, who was a ”runaway servant,” whom Paul converted in Rome, and returned to his master, as a Christian and now “a faithful and beloved brother” in the Lord.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Paul’s Confidence in Philemon 2. Paul’s Conversion of Onesimus 3. Paul’s Consensus of Philemon Introductory Remarks. 1. This Letter, though only one chapter, has a tremendous lesson for all Christians, especially for those who consider themselves “in authority.” This will ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:7-9, Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Heart Of The Father

Contributed by Louis J Locke on Aug 26, 2024

We can learn much from the parable of the ‘prodigal son.’ We learn from the ‘prodigal,’ the elder brother, and about the heart of Father God.

“The Heart of the Father” Luke 15:11-32 We can learn much from the parable of the ‘prodigal son.’ We learn from the ‘prodigal,’ the elder brother, and about the heart of Father God. 1. Things we know about the heart of Father God • "I will seek what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Foursquare

Talking About Jesus

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 19, 2025

Jesus is our example of how to face opposition and temptation.

“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Grace Awakening Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 21, 2020

No one is too sinful to be saved.

I begin with an excerpt from a Breakpoint commentary aired this week called, “Self-constructed, Build-a-Bear, Buffet-Style Christianity is no Christianity at All.” It’s posted on Sermon Extras if you’d like to read it. In a pair of tweets that recently made rounds on social media, a young ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, Galatians 1:13

Denomination: Baptist

A Person Of Interest

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 8, 2022

As a supposed victim of a judicial murder, Jesus becomes a Person of Interest. The message is a study of His sacrifice and what that sacrifice means for us.

“From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, ‘This man is calling ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

El Roi: Making Sense Of God Seeing Us

Contributed by Jessica Linde on Jul 21, 2025

By looking at the story of Hagar and how she gives God the name El Roi ("God who sees"), this sermon’s ultimate goal is to highlight that God being able to see us is not an indication of Him wanting to surveil us; rather, it's an indication of His boundless compassion and mercy on us.

Who here has ever read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984? Or maybe seen the movie version of it with John Hurt…? Right, so for those of you who may not know (or need a refresher), Orwell published his work 1984 in the year 1949, and it’s really a speculation (perhaps a warning) of what the year ...read more

Old Dogs And New Tricks Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Shallowness always leads to folly, but depth, when it is directed by wisdom, will lead to a life pleasing to God and appealing to man. Very seldom is a truly wise man proud. He is humbled because he knows so well how little he really knows.

Proverbs by their very nature are often paradoxical, and they often seem to contradict one another. They only do so, however, if we take them as absolutes which are true in every case. If we take them as stating a truth of a segment of reality, and not all of reality, we will see there are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:5-6

James: A Faith That Works

Contributed by Mike Richardson on May 15, 2001

This introduction to James not only reveals who he is but that even the brother of Jesus considered himself a bondservant to Christ.

James 1:1 “JAMES: A FAITH THAT WORKS!” INTRO: The key to James is a FAITH that works!….EXPAND! Prep for James…. I. THE AUTHOR A. HIS RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS 1. A brother of Jesus (Mt. 13:53-58). 2. Jesus spent time with his family after the miracle at Cana (Jn.2:12). 3. At the first he ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Jesus Taught People To Bridle Their Speech

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. Jesus knew the His brother James would write, "We all stumble in many ways.

1. Jesus knew the His brother James would write, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, He is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (James 3:2) The Lord Jesus was the only man who constantly controlled His speech. Ask the Lord to help you model ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Right Time To Do Right Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 18, 2002

Social action -- sticking up for your weaker brother/neighbor is always right in God’s eyes.

November 17, 2002 1About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2They were saying, ¡§We have such large families. We need more money just so we can buy the food we need to survive.¡¨ 3Others said, ¡§We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: United Methodist

Sacrificing Our Rights

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Jan 10, 2003

We may have our rights, but our freedom to exercise them are governed by their impact on a weak brother

1 Cor 8:1-13 – Sacrificing our Rights Ministry Breakup Party  Here’s the scenario – true story  Our ministry network had a breakup lunch at the Gulls Restaurant last month  At the luncheon are Baptists, Pentecostals, Uniting Church, and Church of Christ ministers  I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Christian Church