Wesleyan/Methodist Illustrations
Entire sanctification, social holiness, prevenient grace.
Key question: “How does this text call us toward holiness and compassion?”
14918 illustrations found
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 6:25-34
We read this passage as a powerful assurance from Jesus himself that our God is a God of provision and care, even in the face of systemic oppression and economic hardship. Jesus' words, 'Do not worry about your life,' speak directly to our lived experience of struggle, reminding us that the same God
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Romans 12:1-2
In Romans 12:1-2, we read this as a call to embody a life that reflects the transformative power of God's deliverance and liberation. We understand 'living sacrifice' as a commitment to justice and holiness, grounded in our historical struggle for freedom. The renewal of the mind is not just persona
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Revelation 11:15-19
We read Revelation 11:15-19 as a triumphant declaration of God's ultimate deliverance and justice. The seventh trumpet signals the culmination of God's reign over all oppressive systems. This passage embodies our eschatological hope — that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lo
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
We read this passage as a clarion call to embody the love that is central to our struggle for liberation and justice. Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, is patient, kind, and rejoices with the truth — it is the fuel for our resistance and the foundation of our community. This love bears all
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We read this passage as a profound assurance of hope and deliverance, grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which guarantees that death and oppression do not have the final word. The Apostle Paul's words serve as a reminder that, like our ancestors who sang 'Soon I will be done with the trou
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 2:4-25
We read this passage as a testament to God's intentional and intimate involvement in creation, underscoring the inherent dignity and worth bestowed upon humanity. In the crafting of Adam from the dust and the breath of life God breathes into him, we see the divine affirmation of Black life and the r
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Luke 9:18-27
We read this passage as a call to discipleship that demands our full commitment to the liberating work of God in the world. When Jesus speaks of taking up the cross, we hear the call to stand in solidarity with the suffering and oppressed, just as He did. This is not a call to passive suffering but
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Timothy 6:3-10
We read 1 Timothy 6:3-10 as a powerful admonition against the idolatry of wealth and a call to godliness with contentment. This passage speaks directly to the experiences of our community, often marginalized by economic injustice. We hear in these words a warning against those who would preach a gos
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 11:28-30 (Come to Me All Who Are Weary)
We read this passage as an invitation from Jesus, who stands in solidarity with the weary and oppressed. It is a call to come to a Savior who understands the burdens of poverty, discrimination, and systemic injustice. Jesus offers rest not in the form of passivity but as liberation from the crushing
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 17:1-27
In Genesis 17:1-27, we read God's covenant with Abraham as a foundational moment of divine promise that speaks directly to our experience of deliverance and hope. God, the Almighty, renames Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, signifying a transformation that echoes our own journey from bondage to l
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Exodus 5:1-23
We read this passage in Exodus 5 as a vivid illustration of the struggle for liberation. Pharaoh's hardened heart and oppressive demands reflect the systemic injustices that our people have faced throughout history. We see in Moses and Aaron's bold confrontation with Pharaoh a divine mandate to spea
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Romans 10:9-10 (Confess and Believe)
We read Romans 10:9-10 as a declaration of liberation and commitment to the transformative power of the gospel. Confessing 'Jesus is Lord' is a revolutionary act that defies all earthly powers, affirming our allegiance to a liberating Savior who stands with the oppressed. Believing in the heart is n
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
We read this passage as a profound declaration of the new creation that God has inaugurated in Christ Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, we see the ministry of reconciliation as a call to be agents of liberation and justice. The old has passed away, and the new has come — a new identity shaped by the
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Luke 10:25-37 (The Good Samaritan)
We read the parable of the Good Samaritan as a profound illustration of God's call to radical love and justice, transcending societal boundaries and prejudices. This text speaks to us as a community that has historically been marginalized, reminding us that true neighborliness is found in acts of me
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
We read this passage as a powerful testament to the transformative power of resurrection, both in the life to come and in our present struggle for liberation. The imagery of the seed sown in dishonor and raised in glory speaks to our own history of suffering and deliverance. Just as God raised Jesus
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Philippians 2:5-8
We read this passage as a call to embody the liberating humility of Christ, who, though equal with God, took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross. This is solidarity with the oppressed, a willing identification with those who suffer, reflecting God's ult
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 5:3-12 (The Beatitudes)
We read the Beatitudes as Jesus' manifesto for the Beloved Community, a community built on liberation, justice, and hope. This passage speaks directly to the lived experience of Black people who have been poor in spirit, mourned, and hungered for righteousness. We see Jesus affirming that those who
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 11:2-11 (John's Question from Prison)
We read this passage as a powerful testament to the persistent hope and trust in a God who delivers. John the Baptist's question from prison echoes the cries of our ancestors who, even in chains, believed in a God who is faithful to His promises. We see Jesus' response as a declaration of liberation
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Romans 12:14-21
We read Romans 12:14-21 as a call to embody the radical love and justice of Jesus in the face of oppression and adversity. This passage challenges us to bless those who persecute us, to overcome evil with good, and to live at peace with everyone, but not at the expense of justice. We see this as God
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 5:1-12
We read Matthew 5:1-12 as Jesus’ radical proclamation of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom where the oppressed are blessed and the marginalized are lifted up. This passage is a manifesto of divine justice, affirming that God takes sides with the poor, the meek, and the persecuted. In these Beatitudes, w
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Luke 15:11-32 (The Prodigal Son)
We read this passage as a profound narrative of liberation and reconciliation. The prodigal son's journey is not just a personal return but a communal restoration, echoing our belief in a God who delivers and restores. The father's embrace is a powerful image of God's unconditional love and mercy, w
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Revelation 21:1-8
We read this passage in Revelation 21:1-8 as a powerful vision of God's ultimate deliverance and liberation. This text assures us that the God who has been with us through slavery, segregation, and systemic oppression is preparing a new heaven and a new earth. We see this as the promise of a beloved
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Galatians 2:15-21
We read this passage as a proclamation of the liberating power of faith in Jesus Christ. Paul declares that we are justified not by the oppressive systems of law but by faith, which aligns with our understanding that true freedom comes through Christ. This passage speaks directly to our experience,
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Peter 5:6-11
We read this passage as a call to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, trusting that in due time, He will lift us up. It's an assurance that God cares deeply about our struggles and invites us to cast all anxieties on Him, knowing that He is a God of deliverance who sees and acts. In a wor