18 sermons preach from Luke 15 in real church libraries — each one transcribed, summarized, and indexed to the verse. Jump to the exact moment a verse is quoted, or open the full sermon.
“Whenever a prodigal son returns, the older son is upset (the parable of the prodigal son and the elder brother).”
“The story of the shepherd who leaves the 99 to run after the one that was lost.”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“Jesus said he'd leave the many, the 99, to go after the one (parable of the lost sheep).”
Pastor Branson delivers a direct call-to-arms: heaven has declared war against spiritual and cultural forces attacking families and children. He explains biblical precedent (Judges 5), diagnoses contemporary threats (sexualization, gender ideology, trafficking, erosion of parental rights), and urges the church to enlist through prayer, practical action, generosity (support for rescue efforts like Operation Underground Railroad / the film Sound of Freedom), discipleship, and the upcoming Gen One conference.
“your word says, oh God, that heaven rejoices over a sinner that repents”
A sermon centered on Psalm 27:1 teaching who God is—emphasizing that the Lord is our light, lifeline, and Lord—followed by an invitation to accept or rededicate to Christ and practical church announcements.
“there is a party in heaven going on for even one”
A Family Sunday message about ‘Welcome Home’: invite Jesus into your home and heart, allow his presence to transform you, and trust (walk on) Jesus’ spoken word even when you can’t see the proof.
“The Bible says that all of heaven rejoices when one person makes this decision to follow Jesus.”
A Sunday message using Joseph's story to teach that God's favor is a gift to be stewarded through seasons of suffering and refinement; trust God, steward your gifts, give as worship, and respond to the gospel.
“The Bible says that just in one, the angels rejoice.”
Pastor Lonnell Williams preaches from John 4 (the woman at the well) to call believers back to urgent, honest evangelism: drop the jar of shame, testify from your real story, and simply say 'Come see'—you don't have to be perfect or close the deal, just point people to Jesus.
“A reading of the Prodigal Son: 'a certain man had two sons... For this my son was dead, he's alive again; he was lost and is found.'”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“The prodigal son: he came to himself; the father saw him, was moved with compassion, ran to him, embraced him and kissed him.”
Pastor Ralph Castillo uses Jeremiah's indictment of Israel to expose modern idolatry: anything that takes first place in our hearts and replaces the living God. He contrasts the fountain of living water with broken cisterns, warns that forgetfulness and lesser loves lead back into slavery, and issues a call to return, repent, and be captured again by Christ.
“Parable of the prodigal son: "Father, give me the portion..."; the younger son later says, "Father, I have sinned against thee and I'm no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servant."”
A Mission Sunday service combining mission reports and outreach updates, worship exhortation, a baby blessing and parenting charge, a stewardship/tithes reading, and a sermon on the Prodigal Son calling for repentance, restoration, and active evangelism — concluding with an altar call and a grief announcement for a member's loss.
“Reference to the parable of the prodigal son—“Like that prodigal son in the scripture... Bring out the fatted calf.””
Pastor Charles Jenkins preaches from Psalm 27:1 describing what the Bible actually says about God — presenting God's 'resume' and key attributes (light, lifeline, Lord/leader, stronghold) — and issues an invitation to salvation, rededication, and church membership amid ministry announcements and worship.
“Whenever a prodigal son returns, the older son is upset (the parable of the prodigal son and the elder brother).”
A sermon teaching the 'threefold cord'—a twin motif: the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and the trio love, hope, faith—presented as a practical, integrated formula for prayer, family life, healing, and spiritual success.
“Reference to the Parable of the Prodigal Son — the son who left, squandered the father's resources, and was pursued and welcomed back.”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“The prodigal son parable — the father runs to the son, restores him, and slaughters the fattened calf for a feast.”
The sermon teaches that shame is a core human wound—both psychological and social—and that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection uniquely remove shame by restoring dignity and belonging. Practical freedom comes not from self-help or moralism alone but from encountering the gospel, receiving mercy, practicing confession and community, and participating in the church’s sacraments.
Showing the 4 most recent — 5 more sermons in church libraries reference this verse.
“Reading the parable of the prodigal son: 'A certain man had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, Father give me the portion of goods...' through 'And when he came to himself, he said... I will arise and go to my father.'”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“Parable of the Prodigal Son: 'And not many days after the youngest son gathered together and took his journey into a far country...' through the father's rejoicing, 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”
A Mission Sunday service combining mission reports and outreach updates, worship exhortation, a baby blessing and parenting charge, a stewardship/tithes reading, and a sermon on the Prodigal Son calling for repentance, restoration, and active evangelism — concluding with an altar call and a grief announcement for a member's loss.
“The younger son gathered his inheritance, went into a far country, spent all, became hungry, and fed pigs (the prodigal son narrative).”
A Mission Sunday service combining mission reports and outreach updates, worship exhortation, a baby blessing and parenting charge, a stewardship/tithes reading, and a sermon on the Prodigal Son calling for repentance, restoration, and active evangelism — concluding with an altar call and a grief announcement for a member's loss.
“Paraphrase of the prodigal son: 'in the pigsty eating swine's food' and 'no more worthy to be called a son... make me as one of thy hired servants.'”
A Mission Sunday service combining mission reports and outreach updates, worship exhortation, a baby blessing and parenting charge, a stewardship/tithes reading, and a sermon on the Prodigal Son calling for repentance, restoration, and active evangelism — concluding with an altar call and a grief announcement for a member's loss.
“'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!' He came to himself and said, 'I will arise.'”
A Mission Sunday service combining mission reports and outreach updates, worship exhortation, a baby blessing and parenting charge, a stewardship/tithes reading, and a sermon on the Prodigal Son calling for repentance, restoration, and active evangelism — concluding with an altar call and a grief announcement for a member's loss.
“Just like the prodigal son, he covers us, he robes us, he rings us — the father's restoring welcome.”
Elder Jonathan Banks teaches on the 'unstoppable kingdom' of God, using the Lord's Prayer as a framework to explain kinship with God, kingdom authority, and practical kingdom living. He emphasizes God's immutability—creator, provider, sustainer, perfecter—and the secret that believers are included as joint heirs and co-workers in God's redeeming plan.
“The Father saw him and was moved with compassion; he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him — the son's return was to the Father, not to stuff or religion.”
Pastor Ralph Castillo uses Jeremiah's indictment of Israel to expose modern idolatry: anything that takes first place in our hearts and replaces the living God. He contrasts the fountain of living water with broken cisterns, warns that forgetfulness and lesser loves lead back into slavery, and issues a call to return, repent, and be captured again by Christ.
“Paraphrase of the prodigal son: 'You are still my daughter. I'm already running toward you with a robe in my hands.'”
Sermon using the image of a table (Luke 14 / the Great Banquet) to show that Jesus invites everyone—especially the marginalized—into relationship, illustrated by testimonies of redemption, and closing with an invitation to receive Christ and participate in Holy Week/Easter worship.
“the father killed cow did everything... my cow has been there for you to kill”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“He was dead, now he's alive (the father's celebration over the returned son).”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“Reference to the 'older brother' in the Prodigal Son parable, illustrating pride and resentment.”
A reflection on Jesus' parable contrasting the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble tax collector, emphasizing that God values an honest, humble heart over outward religious performance and that true justification comes through humility and dependence on God's mercy.
“and the father said unto him son you have ever been with me and all that i have is dying”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
“it was neat that means it was necessary that we should marry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again. He was lost.”
A midweek service focused on fatherhood using the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach about a father's heart: unconditional love and welcome, balanced discipline, provision, role-modelling, communication, and the church's call to celebrate and restore those who return.
Every reference on this page was extracted from the transcript of a real sermon in a public Sermon Mind church library. Quotes reflect each preacher’s own reading of the text.