Lutheran Illustrations
Law and Gospel, justification by faith, sacramental theology.
Key question: “How does this distinguish Law from Gospel?”
14930 illustrations found
Prayerful Faithfulness - Story
This devotional reflection emphasizes the importance of faithfulness in one's life, encouraging individuals to view their actions through God's wisdom and to serve others with love and grace. It highlights the transformative power of engaging with faithfulness, not only for personal growth but also for positively impacting the world around us.
Contemplating We are Imago Dei - Prayer
This devotional prayer emphasizes the importance of recognizing the divine image in all people and responding with compassion and justice. It calls for personal transformation that leads to engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and works towards justice and peace.
Daily Idolatry - Prayer
This devotional emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing idolatry in one's life through prayer and reflection. It encourages believers to seek God's wisdom and grace, aiming to transform themselves in order to positively impact the world around them.
Prayerful Envy - Biblical Insight
This devotional encourages reflection on the theme of Envy, urging individuals to seek God's wisdom and respond with love and grace. It emphasizes the transformative power of a devotional life, not only for personal growth but also for positively impacting the world around us.
Putting Into Practice: The Bible is Not a Sex Manual - Teaching Material
The content emphasizes the importance of engaging with the topic of sexuality as presented in the Bible, encouraging personal reflection and community involvement. It highlights the need for prayerful action and systemic change to address injustices, promoting a vision of transformation that extends beyond individual growth to encompass community and God's kingdom of justice.
Applying Technology and Human Connection - Illustration
The content emphasizes the importance of reflecting on the impact of technology on human connection, encouraging individuals to engage with their communities and seek justice. It highlights the need for prayerful action and systemic change, asserting that small acts of faithfulness can lead to significant community transformation in alignment with God's kingdom.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Strength in Weakness - Lutheran (Isaiah 40:31)
"Those who wait acknowledge their weakness. Only the faint receive renewed strength. The young grow weary; the strong stumble. But those who admit exhaustion and wait—THEY soar. God's strength is for
Martin Luther on Mighty Fortress - Lutheran (Psalm 27:1)
"A mighty fortress is our God! Light against the devil's darkness, salvation against sin's accusation, stronghold against all that assaults. The prince of darkness grim—we tremble not for him. God's t
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Victory Through Suffering - Lutheran (John 16:33)
"The world gives trouble; Christ gives peace. But His peace is not escape from trouble—He overcame through the cross, through suffering, through death. Our victory is not around suffering but through
Real-World Resurrection - Teaching Material
The content emphasizes the importance of personal reflection and community engagement in understanding and applying the concept of Resurrection. It encourages individuals to pray for guidance and to take actionable steps that foster both personal and communal transformation through faith.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Costly Obedience - Lutheran (Romans 12:1-2)
"The living sacrifice is costly discipleship—no cheap grace that demands nothing. 'Present your bodies'—concrete, embodied obedience. Not just thoughts transformed but lives offered. The renewed mind
Martin Luther on Christ's Alien Strength - Lutheran (Philippians 4:13)
"'I can do all things through Christ'—note carefully: through CHRIST, not through myself. This strength is an alien strength, not my own. When I am weak, then I am strong, for Christ's power is perfec
Martin Luther on Reason Submitted to Faith - Lutheran (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"Reason is a beautiful thing, but it must know its limits. 'Lean not on your own understanding'—reason submitted to revelation. Faith goes where reason cannot follow. Trust God's promise even when it
Martin Luther on Christ as Life - Lutheran (John 10:10)
"I AM come that they might have LIFE—Christ Himself is the life. Not our works, not our striving, but HE. The thief's way is law that kills; Christ's way is gospel that gives life. Receive Him; receiv
Martin Luther on Gospel Sweetness - Lutheran (Psalm 34:8)
"Taste the gospel and see that the Lord is good! The law is bitter—accusation, condemnation, death. But the gospel! Sweet beyond words: forgiveness, acceptance, life! Those who have tasted law's bitte
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Love Stronger Than Death - Lutheran (Romans 8:38-39)
"Neither death nor life can separate us—I write this from prison, facing execution. Death cannot separate! This is the gospel's triumph: love that passes through death and out the other side. Christ d
Martin Luther on Faith Clinging to the Promise - Lutheran (Hebrews 11:1)
"Faith is not gazing at ourselves but clinging to Christ and His promises. The 'substance' is not our feeling of faith but Christ Himself. The 'evidence' is not our certainty but God's Word. Faith loo
Martin Luther on Christ for Sinners - Lutheran (Romans 5:8)
"This is the heart of the gospel: Christ died for SINNERS. Not for the righteous, not for the deserving, but for sinners. I am that sinner! You are that sinner! And for US He died. The cross demolishe
Martin Luther on Rest from Works-Righteousness - Lutheran (Matthew 11:28-30)
"The heavy burden is the law we cannot keep, the righteousness we cannot achieve. Christ says: Stop. Rest. Receive. His yoke is easy because it is the yoke of grace, not works. We rest when we stop tr
Martin Luther on Priesthood Restored - Lutheran (1 Peter 2:9)
"Every Christian is a priest! The medieval church stole this birthright; the gospel restores it. No mediator but Christ; no priest but every believer. You have direct access to God; you can intercede
Martin Luther on Daily Bread - Lutheran (Matthew 6:25-27)
"'Give us this day our daily bread'—God provides day by day, not year by year. Worry grasps for tomorrow; faith receives today. The same God who gave His Son will give all else. What can we lack when
Martin Luther on Hidden God - Lutheran (Isaiah 55:8-9)
"God hides Himself; His ways are not ours. He works through opposites: strength through weakness, life through death, wisdom through foolishness. Human reason cannot comprehend the cross. We cling to
Martin Luther on Wisdom Without Reproach - Lutheran (James 1:5)
"God gives without reproach—He does not shame the ignorant for being ignorant! This is grace: the wise God stoops to give wisdom to fools. When I am confused, I do not pretend wisdom; I ask. God recei
Martin Luther on Station and Calling - Lutheran (Colossians 3:23-24)
"The milkmaid and the preacher both have callings from God. Work in your station as unto the Lord—this IS your worship on Monday. God hides Himself in ordinary callings; through your work, He cares fo