Browse Sermon Illustrations
860 illustrations available
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
We read this passage as a profound declaration that without love, all spiritual gifts and acts of sacrifice are empty. In the Black Church Tradition, love is not an abstract concept but a lived experience rooted in the struggle for freedom and justice. Love is the force that binds us as a community
Traditional Lens Commentary: Galatians 3:19-29
We read Galatians 3:19-29 as a powerful affirmation of the unity and equality of believers in Christ, transcending the old divisions of the law. This passage makes clear that the law served as a tutor to lead us to Christ, but now that faith has come, we are justified by faith, not by the works of t
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Galatians 3:19-29
We read Galatians 3:19-29 through the lens of God's covenant dealings, emphasizing that the law was a temporary guardian until Christ, the promised seed, fulfilled God's redemptive plan. The law was never intended to save, but to reveal sin and lead us to Christ, who is the culmination of the covena
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Galatians 3:19-29
We read Galatians 3:19-29 through the lens of Law and Gospel, recognizing the Law's role as a pedagogue leading us to Christ. The Law reveals our sin and absolute inability to fulfill God's demands, thus driving us to the Gospel, where we find our justification by faith alone. The passage culminates
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Galatians 3:19-29
We read this passage as emphasizing the unity and equality of all believers in Christ, a unity that is sacramentally realized in the Body of Christ, the Church. The passage underscores that the Law served as a 'custodian' until Christ came, highlighting the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Galatians 3:19-29
We read this passage in Galatians as a testimony to the radical inclusivity and unity that comes through faith in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul speaks to a community of believers who are struggling with divisions and legalistic boundaries. We see Paul's declaration that 'there is neither Jew nor Gr
Traditional Lens Commentary: 1 John 4:17-21
We read this passage as a profound affirmation of the assurance and confidence believers can have on the day of judgment, rooted in the love of God perfected in us. The Apostle John emphasizes that perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment, but for those in Christ, there is no fea
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: 1 John 4:17-21
We read 1 John 4:17-21 as a profound exposition of the assurance believers possess in the covenant of grace. The passage affirms that our love is perfected in God’s sovereign love, which is manifested through Christ’s atoning work on our behalf. Here, love is not a human achievement but a fruit of G
Lutheran Lens Commentary: 1 John 4:17-21
We read 1 John 4:17-21 through the lens of Law and Gospel, emphasizing God's perfect love revealed in Christ as the Gospel promise that casts out fear. The passage underscores our inability to love perfectly (Law) and the assurance of our standing before God through Christ's love (Gospel). The text
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: 1 John 4:17-21
In the Roman Catholic Lens tradition, we read 1 John 4:17-21 as a profound affirmation of God's love manifest in Christ and the call to live this love among one another. This passage emphasizes the incarnational reality of love perfected in us, foreshadowing our union with God in the Beatific Vision
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 John 4:17-21
We read this passage as a powerful affirmation of God's love manifest in our liberation and communal love. In 1 John 4:17-21, the perfection of love in us is evidence of God's justice prevailing in our lives. This love casts out fear, including the fear of oppression and dehumanization, and becomes
Traditional Lens Commentary: Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)
We read Philippians 4:6-7 as a divine mandate to trust wholly in the sovereignty of God rather than succumb to anxiety. This passage, penned by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, assures us that through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, God's peace will guard our hea
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)
We read Philippians 4:6-7 as a profound testament to God's sovereignty and the assurance that comes from being in covenant with Him through Christ. This passage reminds us that our anxieties are to be surrendered to God in prayer because He is sovereign over all things, and His peace, which transcen
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)
We read Philippians 4:6-7 through the lens of Law and Gospel, recognizing the Law's exposure of our inherent anxiety and inability to trust God fully. The command 'Do not be anxious' reveals our failure to live in perfect trust, convicting us of our need for Christ. Yet, in the Gospel, we encounter
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)
In the Roman Catholic Lens tradition, we read Philippians 4:6-7 as a profound invitation to trust in God's providence through prayer, recognizing that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is a gift of grace. This passage is interpreted within the context of the sacramental life, wher
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Philippians 4:6-7 (Do Not Be Anxious)
We read Philippians 4:6-7 as a call to bring our anxieties and struggles to God through prayer, knowing that the God who delivered our ancestors from slavery is still active in delivering us today. This passage is a reminder that, in the midst of oppression and systemic injustice, we are invited to
Traditional Lens Commentary: Proverbs 31:8-9 (Speak Up for the Voiceless)
We read Proverbs 31:8-9 as a clear mandate to advocate for justice, rooted in the image of God that confers dignity and worth to every human being. These verses call us to speak the truth of the Word of God on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, aligning with our understanding of biblical
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Proverbs 31:8-9 (Speak Up for the Voiceless)
We read Proverbs 31:8-9 as a call for God's covenant people to reflect His justice and mercy by speaking up for those who cannot defend themselves. Within the redemptive-historical framework, this passage anticipates the justice fulfilled in Christ, who is the ultimate defender of the oppressed. It
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Proverbs 31:8-9 (Speak Up for the Voiceless)
We read Proverbs 31:8-9 as a call to live out our baptismal identity in the world, where the Law requires us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. This passage serves as a demonstration of the Third Use of the Law, guiding the baptized in their vocations. While the Law exposes our f
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Proverbs 31:8-9 (Speak Up for the Voiceless)
We read Proverbs 31:8-9 through the lens of our commitment to the dignity of every human person, a core tenet of Catholic Social Teaching. This passage calls us to be voices for the voiceless, resonating with our understanding of the Church's mission to advocate for the marginalized and oppressed. T
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Proverbs 31:8-9 (Speak Up for the Voiceless)
We read Proverbs 31:8-9 as a clarion call to prophetic witness and social justice, a divine mandate to speak up for the voiceless and defend the rights of those oppressed. This passage resonates deeply within our tradition as it echoes God's own heart for justice, as seen in His deliverance of Israe
Traditional Lens Commentary: Luke 10:25-37
We read this passage as a profound demonstration of the gospel's call to love our neighbor, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries. The parable of the Good Samaritan, as told by Jesus, illustrates the heart of the law fulfilled in Christ: love that acts sacrificially for others. The lawyer's qu
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Luke 10:25-37
In Luke 10:25-37, we read this parable as a profound illustration of the expansive nature of God's covenant love, demonstrated in Christ, who is the ultimate Good Samaritan. This passage underscores the insufficiency of human works under the covenant of works and points us to the necessity of sovere
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Ephesians 6:10-18
We read Ephesians 6:10-18 through the lens of covenant theology, understanding this passage as an exhortation to stand firm in the strength of the Lord because of our union with Christ. The imagery of the armor of God is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God himself is depicted as a warrior.