Illustrations from John
407 illustrations referencing John
The Sovereignty of God in Salvation - Story
A story related to this content The Reformed tradition magnifies the absolute sovereignty of God in all matters, especially salvation. Before the foundation of the world, God chose those whom He woul...
The Example of Faith - Biblical Analogy
A biblical analogy that illustrates the same principle The story of Hannah illustrates how faith transforms lives through hope.
A Story of Redemption - Quote
This truth has been expressed by many throughout history. The example of Mark shows that redemption is not about self-effort but about grace. Supporting quote: "[Relevant quote that supports this pri...
The Clock Is Ticking - Dispensational (John 3:16)
In January 2023, the Doomsday Clock was set to 90 seconds to midnight—the closest it's ever been to symbolic catastrophe. Scientists point to nuclear threats, climate change, and global instability. T...
The Father Who Jumped - Traditional (John 3:16)
In 1989, a father and his young son were hiking near a river when the boy slipped and fell into the rapids. Without hesitation, the father dove in after him. Rescuers later found them—the father had d...
The King Who Became a Servant - Reformed (John 3:16)
In medieval Europe, there's a legend of a king who fell in love with a peasant girl. He could have commanded her to marry him—she couldn't refuse a king. But he wanted her love, not her compliance. So...
The Gift That Must Be Opened - Wesleyan (John 3:16)
A wealthy man left his entire estate to his estranged nephew. The lawyers delivered the documents; everything was legally his. But the nephew never opened the envelope. He assumed it was another rejec...
The Icon Writer's Prayer - Orthodox (John 3:16)
Orthodox icon writers don't "paint" icons; they "write" them—a theological act requiring prayer and fasting. One iconographer spent weeks on an image of Christ, praying before each brushstroke. When a...
The Missionary's One Verse - Missional (John 3:16)
When missionary John Paton arrived in the New Hebrides in the 1850s, the indigenous language had no word for "believe" or "trust." For years, he searched for how to translate John 3:16. One day, exhau...
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear - Wesleyan (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Wesley taught entire sanctification—a heart so filled with love that other motives are displaced. "Love is not jealous... not boastful... not proud." These negatives describe what love pushes out. Whe...
C.S. Lewis and the Reluctant Convert - Anglican (John 3:16)
C.S. Lewis called himself "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." He didn't want God to exist; the universe felt safer without one. But the evidence kept piling up until, riding in h...
The Whole World Means Everyone - Progressive (John 3:16)
When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt insisted on the word "universal"—not just rights for some nations, but for every human being. Critics said it was ...
The Azusa Street Love - Pentecostal (John 3:16)
When the Azusa Street Revival erupted in 1906 Los Angeles, reporters came to mock. What they found shocked them: Black and white worshippers together, men and women leading side by side, rich and poor...
Oscar Romero's Final Mass - Liberation (John 3:16)
On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel in El Salvador. His sermon that evening reflected on John 3:16—God's love poured out in self-giving. "Those who surrende...
When Climate Change & Stewardship Meets Faith
The climate crisis is perhaps the greatest moral challenge of our generation. Like the parable of the talents, we have been entrusted with a precious gift - our planet - and we will be held accountabl...
A Modern Story of Eschatology
In our modern world, Eschatology presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate t...
Finding Gluttony in Everyday Moments
In our modern world, Gluttony presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate thes...
Real-World Idolatry
In our modern world, Idolatry presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate thes...
Lessons from Lament
In our modern world, Lament presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate these ...
Finding Ascension in Everyday Moments
In our modern world, Ascension presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate the...
The We are Imago Dei Challenge
The concept of Imago Dei - that all people are created in the image of God - is foundational to progressive Christian understanding of human dignity. Take the story of Marcus, a transgender man who fo...
Real-World Holiness
In our modern world, Holiness presents both challenges and opportunities for people of faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in their time, we too are called to navigate thes...
The Climate Change & Stewardship Challenge
The climate crisis is perhaps the greatest moral challenge of our generation. Like the parable of the talents, we have been entrusted with a precious gift - our planet - and we will be held accountabl...
A Contemporary Clobbering the Clobber Texts Story
In our modern world, Clobbering the Clobber Texts presents both challenges and opportunities for people of progressive Christian faith. Like the biblical characters who faced similar struggles in thei...