Loading...
Loading...
10,054 illustrations — Lessons from history, biography, and world events
The material vine one might observe by the wayside becomes merely shadow; the truth resides in Him alone.
When Jesus enters the locked room where the disciples huddled 'for fear of the Jews,' He greets them: 'Peace be unto you!' This first peace addresses their terror—the dread that what they witnessed was mere phantom, a ghostly visitation.
The tabernacle in which our soul dwells is a most frail and complicated machine.
Where other evangelists might spare us the indignity, John insists on recording Christ's thirst upon the Cross and His weariness at Jacob's well.
If they are driven hard one day, all the animals will die.' He did not demand that his reconciled brother match his slower journey, but instead stated his reason openly so he would not be thought unkind.
First, observe the *condition*—the small word "So" anchors everything.
Joseph Exell's *Biblical Illustrator* identifies three categories of doubt worthy of pastoral attention.
The Biblical Illustrator identifies four root causes of such backsliding: opposition and fear from religion's enemies; worldly conformity that erodes conviction; self-confidence in spiritual attainments; and neglect of private devotional duties.
Both old cloth and new cloth share the nature of cloth; similarly, old wine and new wine share the nature of wine.
The Greeks and Romans witnessed friendships that shaped both statecraft and individual virtue—Scipio and Laelius, Cicero and Atticus, Achilles and Patroclus.
Yet his greatest difficulty arose from a faction calling themselves Christ's party—a group whose very name masked dangerous sectarianism.
All contingencies rest under the direction of God's providence.
He names it twice in his opening movement (verses 1 and 4), and again when addressing the Corinthians themselves (verses 6-7).
First, Christ in us is the foundation of our hope, elected before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:3–4; 1 Timothy 1:9).
These unnamed men, bearing no vision, no command from Jerusalem, no precedent to guide them—only truth in their minds and the impulses of Christ's love in their hearts—solved the question that had vexed the apostles: whether salvation belonged to Gentiles.
The universality of Christianity proves its Divine origin, for it alone adapts itself to the condition and wants of all humanity, coming from Him who sustains, preserves, feeds, and blesses all.
All persons are born in a state of ignorance and darkness as to spiritual things; therefore all young persons need instruction.
At the base of those ancient fortifications lie five or six courses of massive, squared blocks, 'the wonders of the world yet; well jointed, well laid, well cemented.' These represent gold, silver, and precious stones—the solid verities of Christ proclaimed...
First, it expresses supreme contempt—the mighty Conqueror reduced His defeated enemies to mere grapes beneath His feet, utterly insignificant before His power.
His words, 'Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!' are prophecy's swan-song, its final *Eureka!* uttered as it dies.
The Victorian expositor understood this command as operating on five essential dimensions.
Why should not the seekers of Jesus fear?
The Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah aloud in his chariot (Acts 8:28) exemplifies Oriental custom that differs markedly from Western practice. As Professor I. H. Hall observed, Eastern peoples study sacred books aloud, rehearse lessons aloud, and read with continuous vocalization—a...
The exiles' return to Jerusalem embodies this metaphor.
SermonWise.ai generates complete sermon outlines for any passage across 17 theological traditions.
Generate a sermon →