Reformed/Presbyterian Illustrations
Sovereignty of God, covenant theology, systematic doctrine.
Key question: “How does this reveal God's sovereignty and covenant faithfulness?”
14730 illustrations found
Walter Brueggemann on Tasting Abundance - Progressive (Psalm 34:8)
"Taste and see—in a world of scarcity anxiety, God offers abundance to taste. The empire says 'never enough'; God says 'taste My goodness.' Those who taste justice know God is good; those who experien
Walter Brueggemann on Transformed Hearts - Progressive (Psalm 51:10)
"David's sin was abuse of power—exploitation of Bathsheba, murder of Uriah. 'Create a clean heart' is the plea of the powerful who have misused power. The heart formed by empire needs re-creation. God
Scriptural Insight: Judgment - Reflection
This theological reflection explores the complexities of Judgment in contemporary society through the lens of 2 Corinthians 5:17. It emphasizes the importance of living with integrity and compassion, encouraging believers to engage with God's truth in their daily lives as they navigate modern challenges.
Barbara Brown Taylor on Communal Care-Casting - Progressive (1 Peter 5:7)
"We cast our cares on God—and often God catches them through community. The body of Christ bears burdens together. This isn't privatized piety but communal practice. We care for each other because God
Scriptural Insight: Spirituality - Application
The biblical text of Micah 6:8 provides timeless wisdom that helps individuals navigate the complexities of Spirituality in today's society. It encourages believers to examine their attitudes and actions, promoting a faith lived out with integrity and compassion amidst modern challenges.
Walter Brueggemann on Mercy in the Ruins - Progressive (Lamentations 3:22-23)
"Lamentations speaks from devastation—Jerusalem destroyed, people displaced. Yet HERE comes 'His mercies never cease.' This is not denial but defiance: hope voiced in ruins. God's faithfulness to the
Walter Brueggemann on God's World-Embracing Love - Progressive (John 3:16)
"The God of the Bible is not a God who is contained in heaven, but rather a God whose love moves toward the world in all its messiness." — Walter Brueggemann. God so loved THE WORLD—not just souls, no
James Cone on Suffering and Hope - Progressive (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
"The oppressed know bodily suffering—wasting under injustice. But inner renewal is resistance; hope persists when bodies are broken. Light affliction? The suffering is real—but so is the coming glory.
Brian McLaren on Jesus as the Way - Progressive (John 14:6)
"Jesus doesn't say, 'I am the way, so everyone else is lost.' He says, 'I am the way'—focus on HIM, on following His path of love, justice, and reconciliation. The way of Jesus is a way of living, not
Walter Brueggemann on Connected Community - Progressive (John 15:5)
"The vine imagery is communal—branches connected to vine and to each other. Justice work apart from the Source withers; activism disconnected from Christ burns out. But communities rooted in Christ be
Jim Wallis on Trust Beyond Our Systems - Progressive (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"'Lean not on your own understanding' includes our political calculations, our strategic plans, our confident ideologies. Trusting God means remaining open to divine surprises that upend our certainti
Jim Wallis on Kingdom as Justice - Progressive (Matthew 6:33)
"Seek first the kingdom—and the kingdom is justice, peace, and joy. This is not privatized piety but public commitment. God's righteousness is social righteousness. When we seek justice first, God pro
Walter Brueggemann on Stillness as Resistance - Progressive (Psalm 46:10)
"'Be still' is addressed to the nations—stop your warring, cease your violence, quit your empire-building. This is prophetic command to powers, not just private meditation. God will be exalted; human
Walter Brueggemann on Fear Not to Exiles - Progressive (Isaiah 41:10)
"Isaiah 41 speaks to exiles—displaced, powerless, afraid. 'Fear not' is not positive thinking but prophetic declaration to the marginalized. God is with the displaced, strengthening the weak, upholdin
Walter Brueggemann on Reordered Desires - Progressive (Psalm 37:4)
"Delighting in Yahweh reorders our desires—away from empire's promises of security through accumulation, away from anxiety-driven grasping. When we delight in the God of justice, we desire justice. Wh
Jim Wallis on Strength for Justice Work - Progressive (Philippians 4:13)
"Paul wrote this from prison—not from a victory parade. The 'all things' include suffering for justice, enduring for righteousness, persisting when the powerful push back. Christ's strength is for the
Walter Brueggemann on God with the Vulnerable - Progressive (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"Moses speaks to Joshua entering dangerous territory—God goes before the vulnerable, the threatened, those facing powerful opposition. This is solidarity with the marginalized: God does not abandon Hi
Walter Brueggemann on Justice Beyond Imagination - Progressive (Ephesians 3:20-21)
"More than we imagine—including justice we cannot yet envision. God's shalom exceeds our best social programs; His kingdom surpasses our progressive dreams. The power at work is for transformation bey
Jim Wallis on Dying to Privilege - Progressive (Galatians 2:20)
"'I have been crucified with Christ' means my privilege, my comfort, my complicity with unjust systems dies too. The old self that benefited from oppression is crucified. Christ lives in me—the Christ
Barbara Brown Taylor on Complexity and Trust - Progressive (Romans 8:28)
"Romans 8:28 does not promise that everything that happens is good. It promises that God is at work in everything, bringing good even from terrible circumstances. This is not passive acceptance but ac
Walter Brueggemann on Courage for Justice - Progressive (Joshua 1:9)
"Courage is needed not for conquest but for justice. The call to 'be strong' is not military machismo but prophetic nerve—courage to speak truth, to stand with the vulnerable, to challenge systems. Go
Scriptural Insight: Sustainability & Creation Care - Reflection
This theological reflection emphasizes the importance of Sustainability and Creation Care as integral aspects of faith in the modern world. It encourages believers to engage deeply with biblical teachings, particularly Galatians 3:28, to inform their actions and attitudes towards environmental stewardship with integrity and compassion.
Walter Brueggemann on Life Against Death Systems - Progressive (John 10:10)
"The thief is empire—stealing dignity, killing bodies, destroying communities. Jesus brings abundant life: justice, dignity, flourishing for all. Life abundant is not individual prosperity but communa
James Cone on Solidarity with Sinners - Progressive (Romans 5:8)
"Christ died for sinners—identifying with the broken, the outcast, the condemned. This is radical solidarity: God takes the side of those the world rejects. While we were enemies of God and neighbor,