Illustrations from Matthew
1153 illustrations referencing Matthew
Believer's Baptism and Church Autonomy - Contemporary Example
The sermon illustration emphasizes the core Baptist beliefs surrounding baptism and individual faith, highlighting that baptism is a declaration of grace received after personal belief. It also underscores the importance of church autonomy and the principle of soul liberty, advocating for religious freedom and the separation of church and state as foundational to Baptist convictions.
Lessons from Peace - Story
There was a woman in our community named Miss Clara, a soul known for her gentle spirit and unwavering faith. She had lived through storms that would make many shrink—loss, heartache, and the weight of a world that seemed to...
The Example of Self-control - Contemporary Example
A few years ago, I met a man named David at a local community center where we both volunteered. David had once been caught in the throes of addiction, a cycle that seemed unbreakable. But one day, after hitting rock...
When Kindness - Story
In a small town, there lived a young woman named Sarah who had always felt a tug in her heart to reach out to those in need. One chilly evening, she was walking home when she noticed an elderly man...
The Example of Self-control - Biblical Analogy
Picture a young artist, sitting before a blank canvas, her heart full of dreams yet her hands trembling with uncertainty. Each stroke of her brush is a leap of faith, a testament to her desire to create something beautiful. As...
The Example of Justice - Story
In a quiet town, there lived a man named Samuel, known for his unwavering faith and quiet acts of justice. His small bookstore, nestled between a café and a flower shop, became a refuge for those seeking both knowledge and...
When Wisdom - Biblical Analogy
There was once a wise old woodcarver named Eli, who lived in a small village. Eli had a reputation for crafting beautiful sculptures from the roughest pieces of wood. People marveled at his artistry, but little did they know the...
When Redemption - Biblical Analogy
Elizabeth sat quietly in her small kitchen, the faint aroma of freshly baked bread enveloping her in warmth. Outside, a gentle rain tapped against the window, softening the world into a watercolor of greens and grays. Yet inside, her heart...
When Kindness - Contemporary Example
A few weeks ago, I met a remarkable woman named Clara at a local community center. Clara, a retired nurse, dedicates her time to helping those in need, and I was struck by a story she shared. One cold evening,...
The Power of Compassion - Biblical Analogy
There once lived a woman named Maria, a single mother in a small village, facing struggles that felt insurmountable. Her days were filled with toil, and her nights haunted by worries about her children’s future. One evening, exhausted and on...
When Gentleness - Story
In our small community, there lived a woman named Clara. For years, she bore the scars of an unforgiving past. The choices she made in her youth had left her estranged from family and friends. She often sat alone at...
When Gentleness - Story
A few years ago, I visited a small community garden where neighbors came together to cultivate not just vegetables, but relationships. One evening, as the sun dipped low and cast a golden hue over the patchwork of green, I noticed...
Adoniram Judson's Six-Year Wait - Baptist (Matthew 28:18-20)
Adoniram Judson arrived in Burma in 1813. He labored for SIX YEARS before seeing a single convert. Six years of language study, cultural adjustment, discouragement. Then one convert, then another, the
The Commission That Includes Justice - Progressive (Matthew 28:18-20)
In 1980, four American churchwomen were murdered in El Salvador while serving the poor. They weren't just preaching; they were feeding, healing, advocating. The military saw their work as subversive—b
Cyril and Methodius: Apostles to the Slavs - Orthodox (Matthew 28:18-20)
In the 9th century, brothers Cyril and Methodius were sent to evangelize the Slavic peoples. They didn't just preach—they created an alphabet (Cyrillic) so the Slavs could read Scripture in their own
All Authority Already Given - Reformed (Matthew 28:18-20)
When a new president takes office, the transfer of power happens at a specific moment. Before inauguration, they have no authority; after, they have all of it. Jesus' statement is even more sweeping:
Amanda Berry Smith: Evangelist to the World - Black Church (Matthew 28:18-20)
Amanda Berry Smith was born into slavery, became a washerwoman, and then—against every social expectation—became an international evangelist. She preached in India, Africa, and across America. White c
William Carey's Cobbler Shop - Traditional (Matthew 28:18-20)
William Carey was a poor cobbler in 18th-century England who hung a hand-drawn map of the world above his workbench. While repairing shoes, he prayed over nations that had never heard the gospel. When
Hacksaw Ridge: One More Lord (Matthew 5:9)
Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge refused to carry a weapon into World War II combat. His prayer through the night on Hacksaw Ridge was simply Help me get one more. He rescued 75 wounded men while under f
The Moravians' 100-Year Prayer - Missional (Matthew 28:18-20)
In 1727, the Moravian community at Herrnhut began a prayer meeting that continued 24/7 for over 100 years. From that prayer came missionaries—the first Protestant missionaries to slaves in the Caribbe
Reinhard Bonnke's Africa - Charismatic (Matthew 28:18-20)
Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke held crusades across Africa for decades. His organization estimates 79 million people recorded decisions for Christ. Critics questioned the numbers; Bonnke just kept preachi
It Is a Wonderful Life: What If You Had Never Been Born (Matthew 5:14-16)
George Bailey in It Is a Wonderful Life wishes he had never been born, and Clarence the angel grants his wish. George discovers Bedford Falls has become Pottersville - without his quiet heroism, every
Soul: The Spark Is Not Your Purpose (Psalm 16:11)
Joe Gardner in Soul believes his spark - his purpose for living - is jazz. He spends his entire existence pursuing this dream, only to discover when he achieves it that the spark is not purpose but th
The Practice of Presence: Finding God in Ordinary Moments - Prayer
This devotional emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's presence in everyday activities, encouraging believers to cultivate awareness of the Divine in all moments. It highlights the practice of breath prayers and the Jesus Prayer as tools to anchor one's heart in communion with God, transforming ordinary life into sacred experiences.