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: Genesis 4
We read Genesis 4 as a powerful narrative of broken relationships and divine justice. The story of Cain and Abel is not just about individual sin but systemic injustice, as it mirrors the fractures and violence that plague communities. Cain's question, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' echoes through our
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
We read this passage as a powerful affirmation of the interconnectedness and unity of the body of Christ, which is a reflection of the African diaspora's experience of communal survival and resistance. Just as each part of the body is essential, so too is every member of our community — we are each
Applying Kindness - Illustration
Consider a group of friends who gather every Saturday morning for a community breakfast. Each week, they take turns cooking and sharing a meal together. One Saturday, Sarah, a single mother working two jobs, shows up looking weary and stressed....
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Exodus 40:1-15
We read this passage in Exodus 40:1-15 as a powerful narrative of divine deliverance, where God instructs Moses to set up the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's abiding presence with His people. This is a reminder that God does not abandon His people but dwells among us, guiding us through our own journe
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Exodus 10:1-20
We read this passage in Exodus 10:1-20 as a dramatic illustration of God's deliverance and liberation. The plagues are God's mighty acts of justice against oppression, showing that no Pharaoh, no system of enslavement, can withstand the Lord's power. We see ourselves in the Israelites, an oppressed
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 11:27-12:8
We read Genesis 11:27-12:8 as a narrative of divine calling and disruptive deliverance. God calls Abram to leave his father's house, signifying a break from oppressive systems and a journey toward liberation. Just as our ancestors were called to step out from the shadows of slavery and into the ligh
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Romans 7:14-25
We read Romans 7:14-25 as a profound testimony of the human struggle between sin and righteousness, a struggle that resonates deeply with our historical and ongoing fight against systemic oppression. This passage acknowledges the tension within, where the desire to do good is often overpowered by th
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 25:31-46
We read this passage as a clarion call to embody the beloved community, where justice and mercy are lived out in tangible acts of love toward 'the least of these.' This text is a vivid portrayal of Jesus' solidarity with the oppressed, as he identifies himself with those who are hungry, thirsty, str
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Micah 6:6-8
We read this passage as a clarion call from God to prioritize justice, mercy, and humility over empty rituals. Our tradition sees Micah 6:6-8 as a divine mandate that mirrors God's heart for liberation and justice for the oppressed. This is not merely a personal ethic but a communal charge to embody
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Ephesians 4:25-32
We read this passage as a call to embody the transformative power of community shaped by liberation and justice. Ephesians 4:25-32 speaks to us about living truthfully and righteously, as a beloved community that reflects God's justice and mercy. We see these instructions not merely as moral imperat
Evening Prayer: Gentleness - Story
As the sun dips below the horizon, casting golden hues across the sky, I find myself reflecting on the gentleness of our Shepherd. Psalm 23 reminds us, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Picture a quiet...
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 5:1-32
We read Genesis 5:1-32 as a testament to the faithfulness of God throughout generations. This genealogy is not just a list of names; it is a reminder that God's promise of redemption and liberation continues through each generation despite the trials they face. We see in these verses the continuity
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 29:1-14
We read Genesis 29:1-14 as a story of divine providence and the unfolding of God's liberating plan. Jacob's journey to the land of his ancestors is not just a personal quest but a continuation of God's covenantal promise, echoing the journey of our ancestors towards freedom and deliverance. As Jacob
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 49:1-27
We read Genesis 49:1-27 as a prophetic unveiling of God's justice intertwined with familial and communal destiny. In Jacob's blessing over his sons, we see reflections of the lived experiences of our ancestors, who persevered through adversity. The text speaks to the reality of God's enduring promis
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Romans 1:16-17
We read Romans 1:16-17 as a declaration of the gospel's power to bring deliverance and liberation, not only spiritually but also socially and politically. This passage affirms that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, which includes the oppressed and marginalized. W
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 27:1-40
We read Genesis 27:1-40 as a narrative that reveals the complexity of familial and systemic dynamics that mirror the struggles against oppression and injustice. We see Isaac’s blessing as symbolizing the inheritance of divine promise and the struggle for a rightful place in the world, akin to our st
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Genesis 6:1-8
We read Genesis 6:1-8 through the lens of God's justice and deliverance. This passage, with its depiction of divine judgment, resonates with our understanding of a God who intervenes in history to correct systemic evil and oppression. The narrative of the flood is not simply about destruction, but a
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
We read this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 as a call to be vigilant and hopeful, recognizing the eschatological tension between the 'day of the Lord' and our present reality. This scripture urges us to remain awake and sober, clothed in the armor of faith and love, with the helmet of the hope of
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Exodus 8:1-15
We read this passage as a powerful testament to God's commitment to liberating the oppressed. The plagues in Egypt are not random acts of aggression but deliberate divine interventions aimed at dismantling an oppressive system. Exodus 8:1-15 reveals God's unyielding resolve to break Pharaoh's hold o
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Psalm 5:1-12
We read Psalm 5 as a heartfelt cry for divine intervention in the midst of suffering and injustice. This passage resonates with our historical experience of crying out to God from the depths of oppression, trusting in God's righteous judgment and steadfast love. The psalmist's plea for God to hear a
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Philippians 2:5-11 (The Christ Hymn)
We read Philippians 2:5-11 as a profound declaration of Christ's liberating humility and ultimate exaltation. This passage reveals Jesus, the one who, though being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be exploited. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking on the form of a s
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6 (The Lord is My Shepherd)
We read Psalm 23 as a profound declaration of God's active and liberating presence in our lives. The Lord as our Shepherd signifies God's intimate involvement with us as a community that has known the valleys of oppression and the shadow of systemic evil. We see in this Psalm a promise of divine pro
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer)
We read this passage as a declaration of our deep trust in a God who is both our Father and our liberator. The Lord's Prayer is a communal cry for God's kingdom of justice and righteousness to break into our world, transforming the systems of oppression that bind us. We hear Jesus teaching us to pra
Theology of Compassion - Commentary
Jesus’ profound declaration in John 14:6—“I am the way, and the truth, and the life”—is not merely a statement about His identity; it is a promise that invites us into a transformative relationship. When Jesus identifies Himself as “the way,”...