Illustrations from John
1085 illustrations referencing John
David Wilkerson on Living Truth Encountered - Pentecostal (John 14:6)
"Jesus didn't say 'I teach the truth'—He said 'I AM the truth.' Truth is not just doctrine; it's a Person to be encountered. When you meet Jesus—really meet Him—you encounter the Way, the Truth, and t
St. Thomas Aquinas on Christ as Complete Way - Catholic (John 14:6)
"Christ is the way by His humanity, the truth by His divinity, and the life by both together. In His Person the divine and human meet, and through this meeting we have access to the Father. There is n
Howard Thurman on Jesus and the Disinherited - Black Church (John 14:6)
"Jesus was a Jew, a member of a marginalized group under Roman oppression. When He says 'I am the way,' He speaks from below. The way of Jesus is liberation, dignity, hope for the disinherited. He is
St. Athanasius on Theosis Through Christ - Orthodox (John 14:6)
"God became man that man might become god. Christ is the way because through union with Him we participate in divine life. He is not merely guide to the Father; He is the living bridge. In Him divinit
Rowan Williams on Truth as Person - Anglican (John 14:6)
"Truth in John's Gospel is not a proposition but a person. When Jesus says 'I am the truth,' He invites us not to master ideas but to be mastered by a relationship. The way is walked with Him; the tru
Jon Sobrino on Jesus as Way of Liberation - Liberation (John 14:6)
"The way of Jesus is the way of the cross—solidarity with victims, confrontation with powers, love unto death. When Jesus says 'I am the way,' He invites us onto a path that leads through Golgotha. Th
Karl Barth on Christ the Good Shepherd - Christocentric (Psalm 23)
"When we read 'The Lord is my shepherd,' we must hear Jesus saying 'I am the good shepherd.' Christ is the fulfillment of Psalm 23. He is the one who leads, feeds, protects, anoints, and prepares the
Billy Graham on Personal Security in the Shepherd - Baptist (Psalm 23)
"You can know the Shepherd personally. Not just believe He exists, but KNOW Him—His voice, His care, His provision. 'The Lord is MY shepherd'—have you made it personal? Have you given your life to the
Tim Keller on Fearless Mission - Missional (1 John 4:18)
"Fear paralyzes mission—fear of rejection, failure, persecution. Perfect love liberates: knowing we are infinitely loved, we can risk. Gospel confidence comes not from certainty of success but from se
Warren Wiersbe on Fearlessness Until the End - Dispensational (1 John 4:18)
"Fear has to do with judgment—but believers will not face condemnation. Perfect love assures us: in the day of judgment, we will have confidence. As end-times events intensify, fear may rise—but God's
Howard Thurman on Sustained Connection - Black Church (John 15:5)
"The oppressed need sustained connection to the Source. Activism apart from Christ burns out; resistance apart from the Vine withers. But those who abide bear fruit that remains—justice that endures,
N.T. Wright on New Creation Victory - Anglican (John 16:33)
"Christ's victory is new creation breaking into old creation. The world's trouble belongs to the old order; Christ's overcoming belongs to the new. We live in overlap: trouble is real, but so is resur
John Calvin on the Magnitude of Divine Love - Reformed (John 3:16)
"This is a remarkable commendation of faith, that it frees us from everlasting destruction... And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life,
C.S. Lewis on God's Love - Traditional (John 3:16)
"God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them." — C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves. Lewis captures the stunning generosity of John 3:1
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
Tim Keller on Missionary Courage - Missional (John 16:33)
"Missionaries face trouble: rejection, persecution, cultural resistance. Jesus doesn't promise easy mission; He promises victory. Take heart—the world that opposes the gospel is already overcome. We p
Karl Barth on Christ as Perfect Love - Christocentric (1 John 4:18)
"Christ IS perfect love incarnate. He cast out fear by entering our fear—fear of death, fear of abandonment. 'It is finished'—in Christ, fear's grounds are removed. We fear no judgment because He bore
Howard Thurman on Life for the Disinherited - Black Church (John 10:10)
"The thief has stolen much from the disinherited—dignity, opportunity, safety. But Jesus brings life ABUNDANT—not in possessions but in spirit, not in circumstances but in uncrushable hope. Life to th
Confession and Self-Examination: Augustine: The Confessions as Spiritual Practice
Teaching on Confession and Self-Examination from Augustine of Hippo: Augustine: The Confessions as Spiritual Practice
Confession and Self-Examination: Chrysostom on Not Comparing Yourself to Others
Teaching on Confession and Self-Examination from John Chrysostom: Chrysostom on Not Comparing Yourself to Others
Prayer for Those Struggling with Faith
God who welcomes questions, for those whose faith feels fragile— Doubting what they once believed. Wounded by the church. Angry at You. Wondering if any of it's real. Meet them in the questions. Don
Prayer for Service
Servant King, who washed Your disciples' feet, teach me to serve as You served. Not for recognition. Not for reward. Not to feel good about myself. But because this is what love looks like— bending
Fasting: Clement of Alexandria on Fasting and Knowledge
Teaching on Fasting from Clement of Alexandria: Clement of Alexandria on Fasting and Knowledge
Community and Fellowship: Cyprian of Carthage: The Unity of the Church
Teaching on Community and Fellowship from Cyprian of Carthage: Cyprian of Carthage: The Unity of the Church