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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) — Sermon Illustrations | IllustrateTheWord

Home/Lectionary/Ordinary Time/Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ordinary TimeYear A

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, September 20, 2026

📖

Gospel

Matthew 5:13-20

397 illustrations

LensLines™ — One Text. Seventeen Voices.

See all 54 voices →

UniversalClassic

91:1-6, 14-16 anchors us in God’s character: He speaks, acts, and calls us to faithful response.

Arminian/WesleyanPastoral

2:23-32 invites a next step: repentance today, obedience tomorrow, love always—today, not someday.

PentecostalEdgy

3:1-11 challenges powerless religion—if nothing ever changes, what are we calling “Spirit-filled”?—today, not someday.

Christians as Light: The World's Moral Darkness Dispelled

Jesus Christ proclaimed these words knowing the world's deepest moral condition.

Matthew 5:14Universallight versus darkness

Other readings this Sunday

First Reading

Isaiah 58:1-12

191 illustrations 🎵

Psalm

Psalm 112:1-10

83 illustrations ✉️

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

83 illustrations View all readings together →

← Back to Lectionary

Christian witness

The Perilous Harmfulness of Little Sins

Little sins are peculiarly offensive to God precisely because they are little—we risk offending Him for what we ourselves care very little about and expect insignificant return from.

Matthew 5:19Universalmoral law and divine authorityhidden spiritual danger

For My Sake: Christ's Supreme Claims on the Believer

All intelligent creatures act from some consideration—money, pleasure, regard for others—yet Christ calls us to a higher ordering of life itself.

Matthew 5:11UniversalChrist's lordshipcovenant devotion

Erin Brockovich: Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:14-16)

In Erin Brockovich, a twice-divorced single mother with no legal training uncovers a massive corporate cover-up poisoning a town's water. She has no credentials—just tenacity and a heart for the victims. "You are the light of the world...

Matthew 5:14-16Universallightjustice

Matthew 5:13-20 — Progressive/Social Justice (edgy)

Matthew 5:13-20 3:1-11 is inconvenient on purpose—God interrupts comfort to liberate the oppressed—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:13-20Progressive/Social JusticeSalt and LightRighteousness

Matthew 5:1-12 — Anglican (pastoral)

Matthew 5:1-12 Lamentations 1:1-6, God meets us through word and sacrament with steady, sustaining mercy—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:1-12AnglicanBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:1-12 — Liberation Theology (pastoral)

Matthew 5:1-12 1-21 comforts the crushed: God is not distant from your struggle; He is present as deliverer.

Matthew 5:1-12Liberation TheologyBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:13-20 — Lutheran (classic)

Matthew 5:13-20 2:6-15 shows that freedom is received by faith, not achieved by effort—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:13-20LutheranSalt and LightRighteousness

Matthew 5:1-12 — Black Church (pastoral)

Matthew 5:1-12 Jeremiah 18:1-11, we remember: trouble can’t cancel God’s promises—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:1-12Black ChurchBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:21-37 — Christocentric (edgy)

Matthew 5:21-37 31:27-34 won’t let you settle for inspiration—Jesus demands allegiance—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:21-37ChristocentricMoral LawAnger

Matthew 5:13-20 — Lutheran (edgy)

Matthew 5:13-20 Lamentations 1:1-6 annoys your ego, it’s because the gospel won’t let you be your own savior.

Matthew 5:13-20LutheranSalt and LightRighteousness

Matthew 5:13-20 — Lutheran (pastoral)

Matthew 5:13-20 137 comforts the accused conscience: the verdict in Christ is mercy, not condemnation—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:13-20LutheranSalt and LightRighteousness

Matthew 5–7 — Traditional (classic)

Matthew 5–7: In the Church’s witness, it calls us to repent, believe, and walk in holy obedience.

Matthew 5–7TraditionalKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5–7 — Baptist (edgy)

Matthew 5–7: In soul liberty before God, it doesn’t flatter us—calls for personal faith that bears public fruit.

Matthew 5–7BaptistKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5–7 — Lutheran (pastoral)

Matthew 5–7: As Law and Gospel, it meets us gently—exposes our need and comforts us with Christ’s gift.

Matthew 5–7LutheranKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5–7 — Anabaptist (pastoral)

Matthew 5–7: In the way of Jesus, it meets us gently—calls the community to costly discipleship and peaceable witness.

Matthew 5–7AnabaptistKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5–7 — Black Church (pastoral)

Matthew 5–7: From the struggle for freedom, it meets us gently—proclaims hope, dignity, and God’s liberating justice.

Matthew 5–7Black ChurchKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5:21-37 — Pentecostal (pastoral)

Matthew 5:21-37 Psalm 119:97-104, the Spirit comforts, heals, and guides with real help for real people.

Matthew 5:21-37PentecostalMoral LawAnger

Matthew 5:1-12 — Universal (pastoral)

Matthew 5:1-12 12:32-40 invites weary hearts: receive God’s promise, then take the next faithful step—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:1-12UniversalBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5–7 — Pentecostal (pastoral)

Matthew 5–7: By the Spirit’s power, it meets us gently—awakens expectation for gifts, healing, and bold witness.

Matthew 5–7PentecostalKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5–7 — Progressive/Social Justice (edgy)

Matthew 5–7: Through the margins, it doesn’t flatter us—demands a faith that repairs harm and includes the excluded.

Matthew 5–7Progressive/Social JusticeKingdom EthicsDiscipleship

Matthew 5:1-12 — Eastern Orthodox (edgy)

Matthew 5:1-12 1:1-6 refuses shallow life; holiness is deep healing—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:1-12Eastern OrthodoxBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:1-12 — Anglican (edgy)

Matthew 5:1-12 4:11-12, 22-28 confronts performative piety; liturgy without love is still empty—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:1-12AnglicanBeatitudesKingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:21-37 — Baptist (edgy)

Matthew 5:21-37 4:11-12, 22-28 exposes cheap belief—saving faith produces obedience—today, not someday.

Matthew 5:21-37BaptistMoral LawAnger

View all 397 illustrations →