We love vacations, adventures, new hobbies, and memorable experiences. But why does the excitement of one experience so often leave us looking for the next? Where can we find satisfaction that actually lasts?
Continuing our The Good Fight series, Young Adult Pastor Gary Jones explores our desire for pleasure through Jesus' parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Both the younger son, who chases freedom and pleasure, and the older son, who trusts in his own obedience, reveal different ways our hearts seek satisfaction apart from God.
Through this familiar story, we consider how to enjoy life's good gifts without making them our ultimate source of joy, and how Scripture, prayer, and worship can redirect our desires toward God.
Scripture References
Luke 15:11–32
Psalm 103:10–13
Psalm 16:11
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 90:14
Key Moments
00:00 Welcome
00:25 Message: The Prodigal Son and the Search for Satisfaction
03:43 Why we crave experiences: new, novel, and the next thing
06:54 Luke 15: Three stories of lost things and the parable begins
10:11 The younger son and the belief that satisfaction is somewhere else
17:00 The younger son comes to his senses and the father celebrates
18:36 The older son and rebellion in other forms
26:40 Is it wrong to desire pleasure?
28:59 How to move our hearts toward the Father
Mentioned in This Message
This World: Playground or Battleground? by A. W. Tozer
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on October 25, 2026, at 9:30am.