Browse Sermon Illustrations
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John Stott on Balanced Understanding - Anglican (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"Note the balance: temptation is common to humanity—we are not unique in our struggles. Yet God is faithful—we are not alone. He limits temptation—we are not overwhelmed. He provides escape—we are not
John Wesley on Scripture for the Journey - Wesleyan (Psalm 119:105)
"The Word lights the path of sanctification—showing where we are, where we need to go, how holiness is walked out step by step. Scripture guides the journey of growing in grace. We walk in its light;
Martin Luther on Word Against Darkness - Lutheran (Psalm 119:105)
"The world is dark; reason is blind; the devil obscures. But God's Word shines! When I am confused, Scripture clarifies. When I am tempted, Scripture corrects. When I am lost, Scripture guides. The la
N.T. Wright on Scripture's Story-Light - Anglican (Psalm 119:105)
"Scripture lights our path by revealing the whole story—creation to new creation—and showing us where we stand within it. The Word illumines not just morality but identity: who God is, who we are, whe
A.W. Tozer on Living Word - Pentecostal (Psalm 119:105)
"The Word is not dead letters but living light! The Spirit illumines Scripture—makes it personal, makes it NOW. When you open the Bible, expect the Spirit to switch on the lamp! The Word becomes light
T.D. Jakes on Supernatural Wisdom - Pentecostal (James 1:5)
"Need wisdom? ASK! God gives GENEROUSLY—abundantly, overflowing! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom! He will download supernatural understanding into your situation! Don't lean on your own unders
Karl Barth on Christ as Wisdom - Christocentric (James 1:5)
"God gives wisdom—and Christ IS the wisdom of God. When we ask for wisdom, we ask for Christ's mind, Christ's perspective, Christ's way. Wisdom is not abstract principle but a Person. In Christ are hi
Warren Wiersbe on Wisdom for the Age - Dispensational (James 1:5)
"In these last days, we need wisdom more than ever—to discern truth from error, to understand the times, to navigate increasing deception. God gives generously to believers seeking wisdom for this chu
Martin Luther on Gospel Delight - Lutheran (Psalm 37:4)
"The law cannot produce delight—only duty, only fear. But the gospel! The gospel shows us a God who delights in us first. Receiving His delight, we delight in Him. Grace produces what law demanded. Ou
Tim Keller on Gospel-Centered Mission - Missional (Romans 5:8)
"The gospel—Christ died for sinners—is the message we take to the nations. Not 'become good enough and God will love you' but 'while you were sinners, Christ died.' Mission announces good news to thos
Gustavo Gutiérrez on Liberation Desires - Liberation (Psalm 37:4)
"The poor who delight in the God of liberation desire liberation—for themselves, for their communities, for the oppressed everywhere. Delight in the God who hears the cry of the poor shapes desires fo
Lesslie Newbigin on Missionary Courage - Missional (Joshua 1:9)
"Mission requires courage—to cross cultures, to face rejection, to persist when results are invisible. Joshua needed courage to enter new territory; we need courage to engage new contexts. 'Do not be
John Howard Yoder on Enemy Love - Anabaptist (Romans 5:8)
"Christ died for sinners—for enemies. This defines how we treat enemies: as those for whom Christ died. We cannot kill those Christ died to save. 'While we were enemies, we were reconciled'—this trans
Joyce Meyer on Victorious Living - Pentecostal (John 16:33)
"Yes, you'll have trouble—Jesus said so! But TAKE HEART! He has OVERCOME! That means YOU can overcome! The same power that raised Jesus lives in you! Don't let trouble defeat you; the Victor lives ins
Stanley Hauerwas on Kingdom Community - Anabaptist (Matthew 6:33)
"Seek first the kingdom—and the kingdom is visible in the community that lives by Jesus' teaching. The church that practices Sermon-on-the-Mount ethics IS seeking the kingdom. When community is priori
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Hope in Captivity - Lutheran (Jeremiah 29:11)
"I wrote from prison: 'I believe God will give us all the power we need to resist... I believe God will bring good out of evil.' Jeremiah 29:11 is a prison letter to exiles. Hope is not freedom from c
St. Teresa of Ávila on Contemplative Stillness - Catholic (Psalm 46:10)
"In the interior castle of the soul, stillness awaits. 'Be still and know'—this is the prayer of quiet, the contemplative rest in God's presence. Through silence and solitude, we enter deeper rooms of
St. Maximus the Confessor on Theosis as New Creation - Orthodox (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"New creation is theosis—becoming by grace what God is by nature. The old humanity, isolated from God, passes away. The new humanity participates in divine life. We are being re-created in the image o
St. Augustine on Confessing Heart - Catholic (Psalm 51:10)
"The clean heart begins with confession—acknowledging what is unclean. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, God creates anew. The contrite heart He will not despise. Come to confession; receive ab
John Stott on Balanced Assurance - Anglican (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"Three assurances balance each other: God goes before (leadership), God is with (companionship), God will never leave (permanence). This is comprehensive care—past, present, future covered. Moses' wor
R.C. Sproul on Sovereignty and Good - Reformed (Romans 8:28)
"If there is one maverick molecule in the universe—one molecule running loose outside the plan of God—then God is not sovereign, and if God is not sovereign, He is not God. Romans 8:28 rests on absolu
Jon Sobrino on Strength for Resistance - Liberation (Philippians 4:13)
"Paul wrote this from prison—a political prisoner. 'I can do all things' is resistance faith: Christ strengthens us to stand against injustice, to persist in solidarity, to endure persecution for the
D.L. Moody on Urgency of the Gospel - Dispensational (John 3:16)
"God has given us a lifeboat in John 3:16. While the ship is sinking, we must rescue all we can. Time is short. Whoever believes shall not perish—but those who reject will perish. The urgency of the g
Stanley Hauerwas on the Community of Sheep - Anabaptist (Psalm 23)
"Note that sheep travel in flocks. 'The Lord is MY shepherd' is spoken within community. We are not isolated individuals with personal shepherds; we are a flock, together following, together fed, toge