Sermons on San Lucas 15:31:

The Rebel Returns Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 30, 2021

We want to look at the story Jesus told about a youth who learned the hard way. It is often called the parable of the Prodigal Son, but it could just as rightly be called the parable of the Faithful Father.

The main social event of the year in many Sunday Schools is the summer picnic. William Porkess was in an English Sunday School that was granted permission by an Earl to have a picnic on his large estate. How excited they all were as they were being carried to the estate by horse and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Rending, An Encouragement To Repent.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Apr 30, 2021

Looking into the first two chapters of Joel

Rending Over the past few days, I have been drawn to the book of Joel again. This interesting little book brings focus to a number of things. Joel starts his book with a description of a plague, not a pandemic plague like we are now experiencing, but a plague of locusts. Locusts move like an ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:1-20, Joel 2:12-20, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Entitled Brother

Contributed by Sean Boucher on Sep 14, 2019

A look at the Prodigal Son story through the eyes of the older brother. Video of this sermon can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/253087477

For those who haven’t been here, the story so far is this – A son scandalously asks his still-living rich father for his half of the inheritance. Even more scandalously, the father gives it to him. The son does what you might expect from a young man – he goes and wastes it on wild living. He goes ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32, Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:21-22

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Unconventional Reach

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 14, 2019

Jesus shares three stories to show how much every person matters to God. Jesus calls us to repent and return to him, love people he loves, and celebrate with heaven when lost people are found.

Luke 15:1-10 God’s Unconventional Reach Have you ever lost anything? It’s really irritating, isn’t it? Losing car keys, losing your wallet, losing your cell phone. They make devices to ping all these things, but I’m sure I would probably lose that, too! Luke chapter 15 is all about lost things, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, Luke 15:11-32, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Luke 19:10

Denomination: Baptist

Overwhelming Grace: The Prodigal Son, The Unjust Steward, And You!

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Sep 19, 2019

This sermon examines the relationship between the prodigal son, unjust steward, and the hearer. It draws upon the parallels among all three to make a Gospel application. I am indebted to Dr. David Schmidt's observations on this text found on 1517.org for the idea.

A few weeks ago, I bought the movie Dunkirk on sale, which is about the evacuation of over 300,000 British troops after the Fall of France in World War II. I tried to watch this movie at night as I was going to bed. Between falling asleep, helping with Mia, or checking my phone, the movie took ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8, Luke 16:1-16, Luke 15:11-32, Luke 15:12-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Pride And Prejudice

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 6, 2019

Two Things that Constrain Our Joy

Legend holds that 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 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Other

Now, That Makes No Sense At All!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 11, 2019

It makes no sense to be part of the same family and be mad when the father chooses to do for one what he hasn’t chosen to do for the other. Yet, this is precisely what happened in the parable Jesus told of two sons, either of whom were prodigal.

“Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Journey To Restoration

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jun 15, 2020

The journey to restoration begins with an acknowledgement of your present situation. Have you come to yourself yet? Then acknowledge your return is based on the goodness and mercy for a loving Father, not a repentant speech of a son.

The Journey to Recovery Lu 15:11-24 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist

Parenting Your Prodigal Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jun 17, 2020

Godly parents don’t always produce godly children

Recently I read about a married couple who couldn’t have children. They lived during a time of great upheaval in their country and it felt like their nation had fractured. Weeks turned into months, which turned into years. The barrenness in the wife’s womb made them both feel broken. One day ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-12, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Compassionate Father Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Jun 18, 2020

Why Father was silent when he heard his younger SON demanded dividends? Why Father parted his property with his younger son knowing that he is going to leave him and live according to his plan? These questions are related to the foreknowledge of God.

Theme: Compassionate Father Text: Luke 15:11-32 The Lord is good! His love endures forever!! I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is an immense joy for us to meditate the Word of God Sundays after Sundays. The topic for this Sunday meditation is “A Compassionate ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist

Lessons From A Dad

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Jun 22, 2020

How do you parent adult children? Jesus tells us about a father who had 2 sons (we often talk about the prodigal son), but in the story we learn how our Father In Heaven parents us adult kids.

Lessons From A Dad (Luke 15:11-32) Intro: A. Next year Joshua plans to get married. Our youngest child will join the ranks of his siblings and be married. Our nest will officially be empty. But does that mean I stop being a dad to our four kids or a good father-in-law to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Party Time!!! Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 6, 2021

Jesus associates with sinners and EVEN EATS with them!!!

February 20, 2021 The Context: Tax Collectors and other "sinners" wanted to be around Jesus and listen to what He had to say. Pharisees and Teachers of the Law also gathered around Jesus, but for a very different reason – He was dangerous. On one particular occasion, Jesus, Tax ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:4-32

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

A Loving Father Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jun 8, 2021

Father's Day: The father should be the hero of this parable. He had been watching and waiting with love and patience. Like the father who was looking for his son to return, the Lord is waiting for us to come home to Him.

Luke chapter fifteen contains three parables. The third parable, which we are going to look at this morning, is sometimes called, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Commentator William Barclay says, “For centuries the third parable has been called ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son.’ It would be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Loves Sinners Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Jesus is the shepherd who loves the sheep whose performance is the worst. He loves in spite of your poor obedience, your poor performance. No one has been more inclusive of sinners than Jesus.

Jesus tells us three stories that arrives at a climax with a return of a son to his family and his father. These three stories, finding a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son, form a pyramid where the three show us the same truth but each side shows a different shade and nuance to God’s love. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Love Sinners? Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Think of this: what if the first person to meet the younger brother was the older brother. Think of the anger that would poured out his mouth: “You have a lot of nerve showing up here.”

Today, we complete a three-week look at one of the most famous of all of Jesus’ teachings – The Parable of the Prodigal Son. This is a story that badly needs rescuing for many, if not most, stop the story when the younger son returns. But Jesus continues the story to an unfinished conclusion. This ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-31

Denomination: Baptist