Browse Sermon Illustrations
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St. Maximus the Confessor on Faith and Theosis - Orthodox (Hebrews 11:1)
"Faith is the beginning of theosis—participation in divine life. The 'substance' is the seed of divine life planted in us; the 'evidence' is the foretaste of deification. By faith we begin to see as G
Howard Thurman on Waters of Oppression - Black Church (Isaiah 43:2)
"The waters of oppression threatened to overwhelm—Middle Passage, slavery, Jim Crow. The fires of hatred burned. But God brought His people through. 'Deep river, my home is over Jordan'—the spiritual
Barbara Brown Taylor on Courageous Love - Progressive (2 Timothy 1:7)
"Power, love, and sound mind—these counter the fear that systems use to control. Empire thrives on fear; God's Spirit gives courage to resist. Love is political when it defies hate. Sound mind questio
John Howard Yoder on Love for the Persecuted - Anabaptist (Romans 8:38-39)
"The Anabaptist martyrs faced drowning, burning, imprisonment—and testified that nothing could separate them from Christ's love. Not persecution, not execution, not empire's wrath. This love sustained
N.T. Wright on New Creation Love - Anglican (Romans 8:38-39)
"Romans 8 climaxes creation's story: nothing in all creation can separate us because love has already defeated creation's enemies. Death, the last enemy, is conquered. The love holding us is resurrect
E. Stanley Jones on Practical Wisdom - Wesleyan (James 1:5)
"Ask for wisdom—and then act on it. James links wisdom with doing. We ask; God gives; we apply. This is cooperative wisdom: divine gift meeting human response. The wisdom God gives is practical—it wor
Oscar Romero on God With the Threatened - Liberation (Isaiah 41:10)
"'Fear not'—spoken to those with every reason to fear: death squads, poverty, powerlessness. God is with the threatened. His righteous right hand upholds those fighting for justice. Fear not—not becau
Jim Wallis on Justice as Requirement - Progressive (Micah 6:8)
"'Do justice'—not just avoid injustice, but actively DO justice. This is not optional: it's what God REQUIRES. Love kindness—chesed, covenant love for the vulnerable. Walk humbly—power laid down. This
Pope Francis on Mercy and Justice - Catholic (Micah 6:8)
"Justice and mercy—not opposites but partners. The Church's social teaching flows from prophets like Micah: preferential option for the poor (justice), works of mercy (corporal and spiritual), humilit
John Stott on Balanced Wisdom - Anglican (James 1:5)
"James offers wisdom for trials (context of the verse). We need wisdom not just for moral decisions but for suffering—how to endure, what to learn, when to speak. God gives this wisdom generously: pra
Charles Ryrie on Kingdom in God's Program - Dispensational (Matthew 6:33)
"The kingdom has different aspects in God's prophetic program—present spiritual reign, future millennial kingdom, eternal kingdom. In each age, seeking God's reign first brings provision. The principl
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—
Martin Luther King Jr. on Light in Darkness - Black Church (Matthew 5:14-16)
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. The church shines brightest in society's darkest corners—confronting injustice, illuminating oppression, modeling beloved community. 'This
John Calvin on God's Sovereign Limitation - Reformed (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"God sovereignly limits temptation—He sets the boundaries. Satan cannot tempt beyond what God permits. The way of escape is divinely provided, not humanly manufactured. Our victory comes from God's fa
Gustavo Gutiérrez on Prophetic Requirements - Liberation (Micah 6:8)
"What does the Lord require? Micah answers for the poor: justice that liberates, mercy that dignifies, humble walk with the God who sides with the oppressed. This is not religion as usual but propheti
Pope Benedict XVI on Baptismal Waters - Catholic (Isaiah 43:2)
"The waters of trial echo baptism's waters—we pass through death to life. The fire of suffering echoes purgation's purifying flame. Through the sacraments, we experience God's accompanying presence. T
St. John Chrysostom on Infinite Love - Orthodox (Romans 8:38-39)
"Paul stretches language to express the inexpressible: nothing in height or depth, present or future, life or death. Why? Because God's love is infinite—and the infinite cannot be limited or separated
Walter Brueggemann on Light Against Empire - Progressive (Psalm 27:1)
"The LORD is light—exposing empire's lies, revealing injustice hidden in darkness. Salvation—not from sin alone but from oppressive systems. Stronghold—refuge when powers threaten. Those who work for
Billy Graham on Personal Witness - Baptist (Matthew 5:14-16)
"YOU are the light—personally, individually. YOUR life is your testimony. YOUR good works—kindness, integrity, generosity—they see. Don't hide your faith; let YOUR light shine where YOU live, work, pl
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
Martin Luther on God's Protective Presence - Lutheran (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"God goes before to fight our battles; He stays with to comfort our fears. This is grace upon grace! When the devil accuses, God defends. When danger threatens, God protects. Never leave, never forsak
Pope John Paul II on Be Not Afraid - Catholic (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"'Be not afraid!'—the promise Moses gives Joshua echoes through salvation history. God goes before His Church in every age. Through Mary, through the saints, through the sacraments, His presence accom
Karl Barth on Christ in the Waters - Christocentric (Isaiah 43:2)
"Christ passed through the waters of death—baptism in Jordan, descent into Sheol. He walked through fire on the cross. Because HE passed through, WE can pass through. 'I will be with you' is fulfilled
Lesslie Newbigin on Inviting to Taste - Missional (Psalm 34:8)
"Mission is invitation: taste and see! We don't argue people into the kingdom; we invite them to experience. The church's life should be so good, so full, so attractive that others want to taste. Our