Joy Illustrations
2073 illustrations evoking joy
John Wesley on New Creation and Entire Sanctification - Wesleyan (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"In regeneration we become new creations—but the old nature still contends. The promise points toward entire sanctification: the old truly passing, the new fully coming. New creation begins at convers
Charles Ryrie on Grace in the Church Age - Dispensational (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"We live in the dispensation of grace. The church age is uniquely characterized by salvation through faith alone, apart from law-keeping. This was always God's way, but now it is fully revealed. Grace
Stanley Hauerwas on Work in Community - Anabaptist (Colossians 3:23-24)
"Work 'as unto the Lord' means work that serves the community, not just individual gain. The church forms workers who value service over success, community over competition. Whatever you do, do it for
Martin Luther on Gospel Abundance - Lutheran (Ephesians 3:20-21)
"The gospel exceeds! We ask for forgiveness; God gives righteousness. We imagine acceptance; He gives sonship. We hope for mercy; He gives inheritance. Immeasurably more—this is grace upon grace. God'
Bill Johnson on Kingdom Work - Charismatic (Colossians 3:23-24)
"Your workplace is kingdom territory! Work heartily—bring HEAVEN'S excellence! You're not just earning a paycheck; you're advancing the kingdom! When you work for Jesus, favor follows. Excellence for
T.D. Jakes on Anointed Work - Pentecostal (Colossians 3:23-24)
"Work HEARTILY—with all your passion, all your excellence, all your anointing! Your job is your ministry! The Spirit empowers not just preachers but plumbers, not just evangelists but engineers. Do yo
Pope Benedict XVI on Word and Church - Catholic (Psalm 119:105)
"Scripture is lamp and light within the Church's living tradition. The Word illumines through the Liturgy, through the Fathers, through the Magisterium's authentic interpretation. We read Scripture in
Karl Barth on Christ Fulfilling Micah - Christocentric (Micah 6:8)
"What does the Lord require? Christ fulfills it. He did justice—confronting oppression. He loved mercy—healing, forgiving, touching the unclean. He walked humbly—to the cross. Following Jesus IS livin
Bill Johnson on Glory Light - Charismatic (Matthew 5:14-16)
"You carry the GLORY! Light isn't just morality; it's PRESENCE! When you walk into a room, the atmosphere should SHIFT! Your good works include healings, deliverances, prophetic words! The world sees
T.D. Jakes on Heart Transformation - Pentecostal (Psalm 51:10)
"God can CREATE in you a CLEAN heart! Not patch, not repair—CREATE! New! Fresh! The Holy Spirit does HEART SURGERY! Whatever mess is in there—guilt, shame, bitterness—GOD CAN CLEANSE IT! Ask Him! He's
Billy Graham on Personal Assurance - Baptist (John 16:33)
"Whatever trouble YOU face—Jesus has overcome. YOUR difficulties, YOUR opposition, YOUR struggles—He has conquered. Take heart, YOU personally: the world that oppresses YOU is a defeated world. In Chr
Charles Spurgeon on Living by Faith - Baptist (Galatians 2:20)
"The life I now live in the flesh I live BY FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Faith is the breath of this new life. Not by feeling, not by sight, but by faith. Faith grasp
Bill Johnson on Soaring in the Spirit - Charismatic (Isaiah 40:31)
"Mount up with wings like eagles—this is life in the Spirit! The Spirit is the wind beneath our wings. When we wait in His presence, soaking in worship, we receive supernatural lift. Don't just walk;
Pope Benedict XVI on Grace and Cooperation - Catholic (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Grace is entirely God's gift—the Council of Trent affirmed this clearly. Yet grace invites our cooperation; it transforms us from within, enabling the good works that flow from salvation. We are save
Martin Luther King Jr. on Kingdom Justice - Black Church (Matthew 6:33)
"Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness—and that righteousness is justice. The beloved community IS the kingdom present. When we seek justice first, trusting God for provision, we find that the
R.C. Sproul on Spirit-Given Courage - Reformed (2 Timothy 1:7)
"The Spirit God gives—note: GIVES, not earns—is Spirit of power, love, and self-control. This is grace: we do not generate courage but receive it. The Spirit's power is God's power; the Spirit's love
John Stott on Balanced Spirit-Life - Anglican (2 Timothy 1:7)
"Note the balance: power (dynamis), love (agape), and self-discipline (sophronismos). The Spirit's gifts are not wild but wise; not weak but powerful; not cold but loving. This balanced trilogy equips
Bill Johnson on Presence and Power - Charismatic (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"God goes before with POWER! He is with you with PRESENCE! He never leaves with PROMISE! Walk into your Promised Land—giants fall, walls crumble, breakthroughs happen because GOD IS THERE! His presenc
T.D. Jakes on Divine Setup - Pentecostal (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"God goes BEFORE you—He's already setting things up! That job, that breakthrough, that healing—He's preparing it NOW! He is WITH you—supernatural presence for supernatural living! He will NEVER leave—
Jim Wallis on Public Faith - Progressive (Matthew 5:14-16)
"Light exposes darkness—injustice, oppression, lies. The church as city on a hill is meant to model an alternative: a community of justice, equality, peace. Our good works are social witness: feeding
Gustavo Gutiérrez on Light for Liberation - Liberation (Matthew 5:14-16)
"Light exposes injustice, illuminates paths of liberation. The church must be visible light in dark places of poverty, oppression, exploitation. Good works are not charity but solidarity, not patroniz
R.C. Sproul on Sovereign Victory - Reformed (John 16:33)
"'I have overcome'—past tense. The victory is accomplished, not merely anticipated. In Christ, the world is already conquered; trouble is real but penultimate. God's sovereignty ensures the outcome. O
Bill Johnson on Enforcing Victory - Charismatic (John 16:33)
"Jesus has OVERCOME—past tense! The victory is WON! Our job isn't to win; it's to ENFORCE the victory already accomplished! When trouble comes, DECLARE: 'You're defeated! Jesus has overcome!' Live fro
Tim Keller on Heart and Witness - Missional (Psalm 51:10)
"Mission flows from a clean heart. Dirty hearts produce compromised witness; renewed hearts overflow with authentic testimony. David's restoration led to teaching transgressors God's ways. The clean h