Sermons on Story Parables:

"Finding Our Way Home" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 17, 2016

We actually have three stories being told here. Three stories. One parable. One big truth and here it is. Lost things matter to God. God spends a great deal of time looking for his people.

“Finding our way Home” Luke 15 A good friend of mine and I drove all the way to Detroit to see a baseball game. I had never been to the old Tiger’s stadium and they were playing my favorite team so we made the trek. I took my car and getting to Detroit was not a problem but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Compassionate Samaritan

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Sep 4, 2011

One of most familiar parables is the story of the Good Samaritan, found only in the book of Luke. It is a story that speaks about attitudes and true faith demonstrating itself in action.

The Compassionate Samaritan Luke 10:30-37 Introduction: The story known as the parable of the Good Samaritan is found only in the book of Luke. This most familiar parable has inspired painting, sculpture, poetry, and film. Many have allegorized this story to represent Christ as the Good Samaritan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Treasure And Pearl / I Surrender All

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jul 28, 2011

What, then, do the parables teach? Church fathers such as Irenaeus and Augustine identified the treasure and the Pearl with Christ. The recent convert to Christianity says exactly the same thing: "I found Christ." Yes, it seems like we did find Christ.

In his series of seven parables in Chapter 13, Matthew is quite elaborate ....... on the first two, providing an interpretation for each. The other five are shorter and more pointed in content. The parables of the hidden treasure and of the pearl consists of two sentences each. And in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52

Denomination: Anglican

Unhappy Endings

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jul 19, 2008

To bring new life to a familiar text I used several alternate endings and discussed how they would have changed the story

Unhappy Endings Luke 15:11-23 It is often hard to preach on familiar passages. Hard to make it fresh. Today’s passage is one of the most familiar of all. But we will give it a twist We are going to look at it from a different angle. (((READ story from bible))) Now we are going to play, What ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

3 Against 1

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jan 8, 2025

A different view of the Parable of the Sower. There are three ways of evil and one to righteousness. The path is narrow therefore becoming like Jesus is imperative

Three Against One Luke 8:4-15 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: United Methodist

The Receptivity Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on May 30, 2018

In this lesson, we discover spiritual growth is not about our spiritual knowledge or spiritual age, but that our increase directly correlates to our spiritual receptivity. Discover four levels of human receptivity.

Men, I don’t know if we are as receptive as we think we are. I guarantee it. I bet you think you’re the most receptive person in the world, to all kinds of truth. I bet you think that. But as you are listening today, I guarantee that you are not as receptive as you think you are. Jesus is going to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Do I Expect To Hear?

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 13, 2008

A Sermon for Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time(A) "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit" Matthew 13:23

let me ask a question of all you who are here today—What did you come expecting here to hear? In a fascinating story of his journey across the United States with his pet dog, John Steinbeck tells of a Church service he attended during his travels in the State of Vermont. Tongue in cheek, he says, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Methodist

A Satisfying Summary

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jul 29, 2010

When looking at the parables, we have to make sure we get the main points and don’t get lost in the details. Here is the main point.

Passage: Matthew 13:47-58 Intro: I love summaries! 1. something really satisfying about gathering info and drawing conclusions. 2. we have been looking at the parables from Matthew for some weeks. 3. and we have found some repetition. 4. so here at the last of these parables in this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Nature Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 23, 2015

If the gospel is good news why doesn’t everyone respond with joy? Jesus says he tells parables to filter out those who can't understand.

Do you see what I see? When you look at this picture, I wonder what you see? A young lady in silhouette, or a cartoon man playing the saxophone? There’s only one picture, but people see different things. By the end of Mark 3, the disciples must be wondering the same thing about Jesus. How ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

The Shrewd Manager

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Sep 20, 2016

A perspective on the parable Luke 16: 1-13; The parable of the shrewd manager. The story builds up to a bunch-line. What is the punch-line in this parable? It is the focal point for discussion and the opportunity for Jesus to bring healing into your life.

A Perspective on: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager What is a parable? A parable is a story with the intent of informing the listener something about life. The parables that Jesus spoke compared earthly life to the Kingdom of God and the way to salvation. Many stories throughout the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Are You A Weed?

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 14, 2008

A sermon for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 11 A parable about the sower

10th Sunday Pentecost Proper 11 Lectionary 16 Matthew 13: 23-30,36-43 "Are You A Weed?" 24* Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25* but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:23-43

Denomination: Lutheran

The Sheep And The Goats

Contributed by Vicki Williamson on Sep 6, 2019

During His time on earth Jesus spoke to the multitudes in stories to convey a spiritual truth about God and His Kingdom. Away from the crowds His disciples turn all their attention to Jesus. He explains to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure.

At a time before Jesus went to the cross He sat on the Mount of Olives with His disciples. In a private moment with them, they asked about the end of the age and how to inherit the kingdom. Consequently Jesus shared with them the things that will take place and the sign of His coming. He talked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 4:18-19, Revelation 20:10-15

"the Dragnet: A Call To Urgency" Series

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Mar 29, 2025

Now, we turn to "The Parable of the Dragnet," a story that zooms in on the future—the day when the righteous and wicked will be separated.

Matthew 13:47-50 Introduction • Setting the Stage: We’ve been diving into the parables of Jesus, uncovering what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. We’ve seen its growth and challenges in parables like "The Mustard Seed" and "The Leaven," its value in "The Hidden ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50, Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 12:41-42, John 5:24-30, Matthew 7:23, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 5:22, Mark 9:43-48, Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Matthew 4:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Tending To The Spiritual Garden Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Feb 2, 2024

Where are the seeds of God's Word being sown in your life?

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Brethren

Characteristics Of Good Ground Series

Contributed by Troy Campbell on Mar 10, 2016

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower – 10 “Characteristics of Good Ground” Mark 4:20 “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” We are going to wrap up this series on the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:20

Denomination: Pentecostal