Sermons on Story Parables:

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 Parable Of The Sower And Seed (Luke’s Edition) Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 27, 2025

The Lord Jesus Christ used this parable of the sower and seed to explain various reactions to the Gospel. The reactions of His day are much the same as in these days.

The Parable of the Sower and Seed (Luke’s edition) Introduction: This parable of the sower and seed is recorded in each of the so-called synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The Lord Jesus Christ used parables or stories like these to give people something to think about. Farming and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Baptist

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

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 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

"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

Thorny Ground - The Cares Of This World Series

Contributed by Troy Campbell on Mar 10, 2016

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower – 7 “Thorny Ground: The Cares of This World” Luke 8:11-14 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Benefits Of Good Ground Series

Contributed by Troy Campbell on Mar 10, 2016

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower – 11 “Benefits 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.” This morning we talked about what it takes to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:20

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Servant Teaches Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Apr 8, 2010

Jesus teaches about what it means to be a disciple.

SERIES: WALKING WITH JESUS (Series adapted from Wiersbe’s Bible Exposition Commentary) “THE SERVANT TEACHES” MARK 3:13-4:34 OPEN When we started this series several weeks ago, we noted that Mark’s emphasis was on what Jesus did – the work résumé of the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Is My Superhero! Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 5, 2009

In honor of the Annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, this sermon uses the story of Superman as a modern-day parable that teaches us about Jesus Christ. Power Point is available, just e-mail me.

JESUS IS MY SUPERHERO Scott Bayles, pastor First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL Note: if this sermon is a blessing to you, please consider buying a copy of my book, Holy Heroes: The Gospel Accordign to Marvel & DC available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0817017704 Well, in honor of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-8

Denomination: Christian Church

River Of Darkness, The Judas Iscariot Story

Contributed by Anthony Smith on Jul 13, 2004

The true story of the man behind the betrail of Jesus.

A River of Darkness, The Judas Iscariot Story. Who was Judas? Most people recognize Judas as the man who betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. John 13:2, And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon ’s son, to betray him; To understand the son we must look at ...read more

Scripture: John 13:2

Denomination: Pentecostal