Catholic Illustrations
Sacramental life, apostolic tradition, Magisterium.
Key question: “How does this connect to sacramental grace and Church teaching?”
14907 illustrations found
John Piper on God Himself as Comfort - Reformed (Revelation 21:4)
"HE will wipe every tear—God Himself, personally, tenderly. The ultimate comfort is not absence of pain but presence of God. He makes His dwelling among us; that is the joy. Tears cease because HE is
John Piper on Sovereign Presence - Reformed (Isaiah 43:2)
"The waters do not overflow because God limits them. The fire does not burn because God controls it. This is sovereignty in suffering—not that we escape, but that we are preserved. God's presence is p
John Piper on Christ-Dependent Strength - Reformed (Philippians 4:13)
"The 'all things' Paul can do are the things Christ has appointed for him to do. This is not a blank check for personal ambition but a promise for Christ-appointed tasks. Whatever God calls you to, He
John Piper on Satisfying Abundance - Reformed (John 10:10)
"Abundant life is God Himself—not health and wealth but HIM. Jesus came that we might have GOD fully, eternally, satisfyingly. The thief offers substitutes; Jesus offers the Source. Life abundant is k
John Piper on Casting Cares on the Sovereign God - Reformed (1 Peter 5:7)
"We can cast our cares because God is sovereign over what worries us. Our anxiety says, 'What if?' God's sovereignty says, 'Even if.' He who ordains all things cares for His children in all things. Ca
John Piper on God's Sovereign Peace - Reformed (Philippians 4:6-7)
"Peace 'passes understanding' because it doesn't depend on circumstances making sense. God's sovereignty is the ground: He controls what worries us. When we pray, we hand our anxieties to the One who
R.C. Sproul on Covenant Presence - Reformed (Isaiah 41:10)
"'I am YOUR God'—covenant language. This is not generic deity but the God who bound Himself to His people. The covenant God says: fear not, I am with YOU. His presence is not occasional but permanent;
R.C. Sproul on Perseverance of the Saints - Reformed (Romans 8:38-39)
"This is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints—not that we hold onto God but that God holds onto us. Nothing can separate because nothing can overpower God's grip. He who began a good work wi
Real-World Music - Illustration
The content emphasizes the importance of engaging with music as a means of personal and community transformation, guided by reflections on Psalm 23. It encourages individuals to take practical steps in their local communities, pray for guidance, and share resources that positively impact the music landscape.
John Calvin on Rest in God's Sovereignty - Reformed (Matthew 11:28-30)
"True rest comes when we cease striving to save ourselves and trust in God's sovereign grace. The weary soul laboring under the impossible weight of self-righteousness finds rest in Christ alone. His
John Piper on Tasting God's Supremacy - Reformed (Psalm 34:8)
"Taste and see—God is supremely good. Not just good compared to evil but the definition of goodness itself. To taste Him is to taste the source of all sweetness. The soul that has tasted God finds eve
John Calvin on God's Sovereign Rest - Reformed (Psalm 46:10)
"'Be still and know that I am God'—this is not suggestion but sovereign command. God will be exalted whether nations cooperate or not. Our stillness acknowledges His sovereignty; our knowing rests in
John Calvin on Incomprehensible Wisdom - Reformed (Isaiah 55:8-9)
"God's thoughts are infinitely higher—His wisdom incomprehensible. We cannot fit Him into our categories; our theology always falls short. This produces humility before mystery and confidence in sover
John Piper on God as Supreme Delight - Reformed (Psalm 37:4)
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Delight in the Lord IS the goal—not merely the means to getting desires fulfilled. When God becomes our supreme treasure, our desires ch
John Calvin on God's Sovereign Limitation - Reformed (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"God sovereignly limits temptation—He sets the boundaries. Satan cannot tempt beyond what God permits. The way of escape is divinely provided, not humanly manufactured. Our victory comes from God's fa
John Calvin on Covenant Obedience - Reformed (Micah 6:8)
"What does the Lord require? Covenant obedience expressed in life: justice to neighbor, mercy to the vulnerable, humility before God. This is response to grace, not its replacement. The grateful heart
John Piper on God-Given Wisdom - Reformed (James 1:5)
"All true wisdom is gift—we lack it, God gives it. He gives generously because He is generous; without reproach because He is gracious. We do not earn wisdom; we receive it. Ask in faith, trusting the
John Piper on God-Dependent Strength - Reformed (Isaiah 40:31)
"'They shall renew their strength'—not generate it, but RENEW it. The strength is God's, given to those who wait. This is the heart of the Reformed vision: we are utterly dependent on grace. Our soari
John Piper on Jesus as Author and Perfecter - Reformed (Hebrews 12:1-2)
"Jesus is both author and perfecter of our faith—He begins it and He completes it. We persevere not because of our strength but because of His faithfulness. The race is run by looking to Him; eyes fix
R.C. Sproul on Grace to the Ungodly - Reformed (Romans 5:8)
"While we were SINNERS—ungodly, hostile, helpless. God's love is not a response to our lovability but an expression of His nature. Grace is given to the undeserving; that's what makes it grace. Christ
R.C. Sproul on Scripture's Authority - Reformed (Psalm 119:105)
"The Word is lamp and light because it is GOD'S Word—authoritative, inspired, sufficient. Human wisdom gropes in darkness; divine revelation illumines. Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone provides sure li
John Piper on Mercies Motivating Sacrifice - Reformed (Romans 12:1-2)
"'By the mercies of God'—our sacrifice is response to grace, not effort to earn it. Because of God's mercies (Romans 1-11), therefore present yourselves (Romans 12). The indicative grounds the imperat
R.C. Sproul on Spirit-Given Courage - Reformed (2 Timothy 1:7)
"The Spirit God gives—note: GIVES, not earns—is Spirit of power, love, and self-control. This is grace: we do not generate courage but receive it. The Spirit's power is God's power; the Spirit's love
R.C. Sproul on Sovereign Victory - Reformed (John 16:33)
"'I have overcome'—past tense. The victory is accomplished, not merely anticipated. In Christ, the world is already conquered; trouble is real but penultimate. God's sovereignty ensures the outcome. O