Illustrations from Matthew
1153 illustrations referencing Matthew
Real-World Morality
In our fast-paced world, we often find ourselves navigating a complex landscape of morality, much like a sailor charting a course through treacherous waters. Picture a young woman named Sarah, a recent college graduate, who took a job in a...
The Power of Faith - Biblical Analogy
There was a small village nestled at the foot of a great mountain. The villagers knew the mountain well; they could see its majestic peaks, covered in snow, glinting in the sunlight. Yet, none dared to climb it. It seemed...
Left Behind: Light in the Tribulation - Dispensational (Matthew 5:13-16)
Imagine a dimly lit theater during a heavy storm. Outside, torrential rain lashes against the windows, and the roiling clouds cast shadows that deepen with each rumble of thunder. Inside, a group of friends, huddled together, watches a film that...
Les Misérables: Works as Evidence of Grace - Reformed (Matthew 25:31-46)
Imagine for a moment the dimly lit streets of 19th-century Paris, where shadows dance against the cobblestones, whispering tales of despair and hope. In the heart of this city roams Jean Valjean, a man marked by his past yet transformed...
The Justice Challenge
In the heart of a bustling city, where the skyline meets the struggles of everyday life, there lived a man named Marcus. A gifted lawyer with a sharp mind and a compassionate heart, he found himself at a crossroads. He...
Babette's Feast: Vocational Salt and Light - Lutheran (Matthew 5:13-16)
In the heart of a bleak, coastal town, where the winds howled like a lament and the colors of life seemed to fade, stood a humble café run by a woman named Babette. She was a master chef, but her...
Les Misérables: Rest Through Responsive Grace - Wesleyan (Matthew 11:28-30)
Amid the cobbled streets of Paris, a weary man named Jean Valjean trudges through the dampness of twilight, a shroud of bitterness clinging to him like the heavy coat he wears. Years of imprisonment have etched lines of distrust on...
When Online Church & Community Meets Faith
In a world where the glow of screens often replaces the warmth of human connection, we find ourselves navigating the complexities of Online Church & Community—a challenge that feels both daunting and full of promise. Imagine for a moment a...
The Letters: Mother Teresa's Beatitude Life - Catholic (Matthew 5:3-12)
Picture, if you will, the bustling streets of Calcutta, a cacophony of sounds—the honking of rickshaws, the chatter of vendors selling their wares, the distant wail of a child. In the midst of this vibrant chaos, there is a quiet...
The Passion of the Christ: Christ the Beatitude Embodiment - Christocentric (Matthew 5:3-12)
Imagine for a moment a bustling neighborhood in Jerusalem, the sun casting a golden hue over the ancient stones. The air is thick with the scent of spices and the distant sounds of children playing. This is where Jesus walks,...
Chariots of Fire: Common Prayer for Common Life - Anglican (Matthew 6:9-13)
As we gather this morning, I want to take you back to a quiet church in Scotland, where the soft glow of candlelight flickers against the ancient stone walls, and the scent of polished wood mingles with the rich aroma...
Amazing Grace: Beatitude Public Faith - Reformed (Matthew 5:3-12)
Imagine the dimly lit halls of the British Parliament in the late 18th century. The air is thick with the scent of polished wood and anticipation, as politicians in fine suits debate the pressing issues of their day. Among them...
Babette's Feast: Faith Serving Neighbor Freely - Lutheran (Matthew 25:31-46)
Imagine a small, weathered village in Denmark, where the winds whisper through the narrow cobblestone streets and the fragrance of the sea mingles with the scent of fresh bread. In this village lives Babette, a woman who once graced the...
Pay It Forward: Faith Working Through Love - Wesleyan (Matthew 25:31-46)
Imagine a bustling, sunlit café on a Saturday morning, filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft murmur of conversations. In one corner, a young boy named Trevor sits at a table, his mind racing with...
A Modern Story of Environmental Justice
In the heart of a bustling city, there lived a grandmother named Ruth. Every Saturday morning, she would rise before dawn, don her worn gardening gloves, and tend to a small patch of earth behind her cramped apartment building. It...
The Global Pandemic & Community Challenge
In the midst of uncertainty and upheaval during the global pandemic, I was reminded of a poignant story from our local community that reflects the depth of Matthew 6:25-34. Picture a single mother, Sarah, navigating the storm of isolation, financial...
Freedom Writers: Making Disciples Through Liberation - Progressive (Great Commission)
In the heart of Long Beach, California, the classroom of Erin Gruwell was more than a space filled with desks and textbooks; it was a battleground for young souls fighting against the weight of their circumstances. Imagine walking into that...
Romero: Mission as Solidarity With the Oppressed - Liberation (Great Commission)
Every once in a while, a moment comes along that changes everything—like the moment Archbishop Oscar Romero witnessed the harrowing murder of his dear friend, Father Rutilio Grande, right before his eyes. Imagine the scene: a humble church in El...
Just Mercy: Christ in the Condemned - Progressive (Matthew 25:31-46)
In the heart of Alabama, Bryan Stevenson, a tireless advocate for justice, walks the stark corridors of a death row prison, each step echoing the gravity of lives hanging in the balance. The air is heavy, thick with despair and...
Lessons from Global Pandemic & Community
In the midst of our modern world, where uncertainty swirls like autumn leaves caught in a windstorm, we find ourselves navigating the tumultuous waters of a global pandemic. The challenges we face can feel overwhelming, but nestled within these struggles...
Witness: The Amish as City on a Hill - Anabaptist (Matthew 5:13-16)
In the film *Witness*, we are drawn into the heart of an Amish community—a vivid tapestry of simplicity and faith that stands in stark contrast to the chaos of modern life. Picture this: a sun-drenched morning in Lancaster County, where...
Forrest Gump: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (Matthew 5:8)
Imagine a sun-drenched day in Savannah, Georgia, where the air is thick with the sweet scent of magnolia blossoms. A young man named Forrest Gump, with his unassuming smile and a heart as vast as the open sky, stands at...
Andrei Rublev: Icons as Light - Orthodox (Matthew 5:13-16)
Imagine stepping into a quiet, dimly-lit room, the air thick with anticipation. In front of you hangs a painting—a vibrant icon by the renowned Andrei Rublev. The hues of gold and deep blue shimmer, catching the flicker of candlelight, drawing...
Gladiator: The King's Final Command - Traditional (Great Commission)
In the epic film *Gladiator*, we witness a heart-wrenching scene as the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher-king, turns to Maximus, the valiant general who has fought tirelessly for Rome. With a frail hand resting on Maximus's shoulder, Aurelius entrusts...