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
Brian McLaren on Jesus as the Way - Progressive (John 14:6)
"Jesus doesn't say, 'I am the way, so everyone else is lost.' He says, 'I am the way'—focus on HIM, on following His path of love, justice, and reconciliation. The way of Jesus is a way of living, not
Oscar Romero on Liberation Completed - Liberation (Revelation 21:4)
"God wipes the tears of the martyrs, the poor, the persecuted. No more death from poverty; no more mourning from violence; no more pain from injustice. Liberation is complete; the kingdom has fully co
J. Vernon McGee on Positional Truth - Dispensational (Galatians 2:20)
"'I am crucified with Christ' is positional truth—true in God's reckoning from the moment of salvation. Our position is settled: we died with Christ. Now we work out practically what is already true p
St. Symeon the New Theologian on Christ's Life in Us - Orthodox (Galatians 2:20)
"'Christ lives in me'—this is not metaphor but mystical reality. In theosis, our humanity is so united with Christ that His life becomes ours. We do not lose ourselves but find our true selves in Him.
Billy Graham on Personal Trust - Baptist (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"Trust in the Lord with all YOUR heart—this is personal. God cares about YOUR path, YOUR decisions, YOUR life. When you acknowledge Him, He guides YOU. It's not abstract theology; it's a personal rela
Menno Simons on Grace That Transforms Community - Anabaptist (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"True faith—the faith through which grace saves—bears fruit. It creates a community of transformed people living differently. We are saved by grace, not works; but saving grace always produces the wor
David Wilkerson on Amazing Grace - Pentecostal (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Grace! Amazing grace! You can't earn it, buy it, or deserve it—you can only RECEIVE it! Open your heart right now and let grace flood in! The same grace that saved you empowers you. Grace isn't just
Bill Johnson on Supernatural Exchange - Charismatic (1 Peter 5:7)
"Here's a supernatural exchange: you give God your worries, He gives you His peace! Cast your cares—it's a trade! Anxiety for peace, fear for faith, heaviness for joy. This isn't just coping; it's KIN
Jim Wallis on Faith That Hopes for Justice - Progressive (Hebrews 11:1)
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for—and what we hope for shapes our faith. We hope for justice, for equity, for the beloved community. Faith is not escape from the world but confidence that Go
Gustavo Gutiérrez on Faith as Liberating Hope - Liberation (Hebrews 11:1)
"The poor have faith because they have hope—hope for liberation, for justice, for life. Their faith is substance: the reality of God's kingdom breaking in. It is evidence: proof that another world is
T.D. Jakes on God's Provision Promise - Pentecostal (Matthew 6:33)
"Seek FIRST—before career, before comfort, before security—seek GOD'S kingdom! And watch what happens: ALL these things shall be ADDED! That's supernatural provision! God doesn't just meet needs; He e
St. Seraphim of Sarov on Acquiring the Spirit - Orthodox (Matthew 6:33)
"'Acquire the Spirit of Peace, and thousands around you will be saved.' To seek first the kingdom is to seek theosis—union with God through the Holy Spirit. When divine life is our priority, earthly n
John Wesley on Light and Holiness - Wesleyan (Matthew 5:14-16)
"Light shines from holy lives—personal and social holiness visible to the world. Your good works are fruits of sanctification: feeding hungry, visiting prisoners, loving neighbor. Holiness is not hidd
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Love Stronger Than Death - Lutheran (Romans 8:38-39)
"Neither death nor life can separate us—I write this from prison, facing execution. Death cannot separate! This is the gospel's triumph: love that passes through death and out the other side. Christ d
Billy Graham on Personal Delight - Baptist (Psalm 37:4)
"Delight YOURSELF in the Lord—this is personal, individual. When YOU find YOUR joy in God, He shapes YOUR desires. Not someone else's desires—YOURS. God knows what YOU need, what will truly satisfy YO
Stanley Hauerwas on Communal Delight - Anabaptist (Psalm 37:4)
"We delight in God together—worship, fellowship, shared practices shape our desires. The community that delights in the Lord together finds its desires transformed together. Individualist delights lea
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Victory Through Suffering - Lutheran (John 16:33)
"The world gives trouble; Christ gives peace. But His peace is not escape from trouble—He overcame through the cross, through suffering, through death. Our victory is not around suffering but through
Bill Johnson on Lavish Love - Charismatic (Romans 5:8)
"God DEMONSTRATED His love—showed it, proved it, DISPLAYED it! While we were sinners—at our WORST—Christ died! This love is AGGRESSIVE, PURSUING, LAVISH! It doesn't wait for us to get better; it INVAD
Warren Wiersbe on Running Until He Comes - Dispensational (Hebrews 12:1-2)
"We run the race until Christ returns. The witnesses of Hebrews 11—Old Testament saints—await their full reward when we complete the church age. Jesus is at God's right hand; He will return. Until the
Bill Johnson on Supernatural Provision - Charismatic (Matthew 6:25-27)
"Your Father knows! And He PROVIDES supernaturally! The birds don't worry—and neither should you! God's provision isn't limited to natural means; He's a MIRACLE-WORKING God! Trade worry for FAITH! Exp
Bill Johnson on Running in Power - Charismatic (Hebrews 12:1-2)
"Run your race in the POWER of the Holy Spirit! The cloud of witnesses includes miracle-workers, healers, revivalists! Their testimony: God moves POWERFULLY! Fix your eyes on Jesus—the One who walked
R.C. Sproul on Justice and Grace - Reformed (Romans 6:23)
"Wages are just—sin deserves death; God would be righteous to pay what is owed. But the gift! Grace gives what is not deserved. In Christ, justice and mercy meet: our wages were paid by Him; His life
Howard Thurman on Life Against Death - Black Church (Romans 6:23)
"The disinherited know death's wages intimately—lynching, poverty, despair. But God's gift is LIFE—abundant, dignified, eternal. The slave masters dealt death; God deals life. Choose life! The gift ou