How many sermon illustrations are there for the book of Colossians?

IllustrateTheWord has 814 sermon illustrations referencing Colossians, across all 4 chapters. Most are free to browse and preview.

How do I find illustrations for a specific Colossians passage?

Use the chapter grid on this page to jump to any chapter of Colossians, then filter by verse. Each Colossians passage shows matching illustrations plus LensLines™ — the same text read through seventeen theological traditions.

Illustrations from Colossians

814 illustrations across all 4 chapters

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Movie Analogy

Chariots of Fire: Seek First the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)

In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell refuses to run his Olympic heat on Sunday—the Sabbath. He's mocked, pressured, called unpatriotic. But he's already decided: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.

Matthew 6:33Universalkingdom

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⛪LensLines™(432)📖Stories & Illustrations(120)🙏Devotionals(63)🔍Biblical Insights(38)🎬Movie Analogies(33)

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Movie Analogy

The Tree of Life: All Things Hold Together in Him (Colossians 1:15-20)

In The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick juxtaposes a 1950s Texas family with the creation of the universe—dinosaurs, galaxies, cells dividing. The connection seems strange until you realize: the cosmic and the intimate are one story. He is the image...

Colossians 1:15-20UniversalcreationChrist

Movie Analogy

Gladiator: What We Do in Life Echoes in Eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Before the first battle, Maximus rallies his men: "What we do in life echoes in eternity." It's a soldier's cry, but it carries theological weight. Paul writes: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18Universaleternitylegacy

Movie Analogy

Jiro Dreams of Sushi: Working as Unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)

In Jiro Dreams of Sushi, 85-year-old Jiro Ono has made sushi for over sixty years. His restaurant has three Michelin stars. He still wakes early, still perfects his craft, still dreams of better sushi.

Colossians 3:23Universalvocationexcellence

Historical

Serving Christ in All Labor, Not Divided Service

Two essential requirements emerge for realizing this ideal.

Colossians 4:23Universalundivided allegiance to Christexcellence as spiritual practice

Historical

Christ in You: The Hope of Glory Incarnate

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).

Colossians 4:11-12Universalindwelling Christeschatological hope

Historical

Divine Energy and Human Effort in Christian Labor

The work of Christ in us and for us does not exempt us from work.

Colossians 4:29UniversalDivine partnership with human agencyActive participation in salvation

Historical

God's Supply Through Christ: Need Met by Divine Riches

The promise "My God shall supply all your need" (Philippians 4:19) stretches across Old Testament pledges: "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" and "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Yet...

Colossians 4:19Universaldivine sufficiencyChrist as mediator

Movie Analogy

Gladiator: Strength and Honor (Philippians 4:8)

"Strength and honor"—the greeting shared between Maximus and his loyal soldiers. Two words that defined their brotherhood and their code.

Philippians 4:8Universalintegrityhonor

Movie Analogy

Avatar: The Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15-20)

In Avatar, Jake Sully connects to his Na'vi body through neural link—seeing through different eyes, feeling with different skin. The invisible becomes visible; the foreign becomes intimate. Christ is the image of the invisible God. In Christ, the unseeable God...

Colossians 1:15-20Universalincarnationimage

Movie Analogy

The Intern: Whatever You Do, Do It Well (Colossians 3:23)

In The Intern, 70-year-old Ben Whittaker becomes an intern at an online fashion company. He could rest on retirement, but he wants to contribute. He brings old-school work ethic to a startup culture—ironing his handkerchief, arriving early, paying attention.

Colossians 3:23Universalworkintegrity

Movie Analogy

The Bourne Identity: The Old Has Gone (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne wakes with no memory of who he was—only skills and instincts. As his past resurfaces, he must choose: become the assassin he was, or become someone new. He chooses new.

2 Corinthians 5:17Universalidentitynew creation

LensLines™

Colossians 1:15-28 — Lutheran (edgy)

Colossians 1:15-28 shatters self-salvation—your best efforts can’t pay what only Christ can forgive—today, not someday.

Colossians 1:15-28LutheranChrist's SupremacyRedemption

LensLines™

Colossians 3:1-4 — Traditional (classic)

Colossians 3:1-4 81:1, 10-16 calls us back to the historic faith: repentance, trust in Christ, and life shaped by Scripture.

Colossians 3:1-4TraditionalHeavenly FocusNew Life

LensLines™

Colossians 1:15-28 — Eastern Orthodox (classic)

In Colossians 1:15-28, salvation is medicine: God restoring the image through prayer and repentance—today, not someday.

Colossians 1:15-28Eastern OrthodoxChrist's SupremacyRedemption

LensLines™

Colossians 1:1-14 — Anabaptist (edgy)

Colossians 1:1-14 confronts our violence—if we excuse harm, we haven’t understood Jesus—today, not someday.

Colossians 1:1-14AnabaptistThanksgivingPrayer

LensLines™

Colossians 3 — Anglican (classic)

Colossians 3: With Scripture, Tradition, and Reason, it forms faithful worship and thoughtful public witness.

Colossians 3AnglicanNew SelfHoliness

LensLines™

Colossians 1 — Arminian/Wesleyan (pastoral)

Colossians 1: By prevenient grace, it meets us gently—invites a real response that grows into holy love.

Colossians 1Arminian/WesleyanSupremacy of ChristReconciliation

LensLines™

Colossians 3:1-11 — Traditional (edgy)

Colossians 3:1-11 exposes counterfeit faith—right words without repentance are still rebellion—today, not someday.

Colossians 3:1-11TraditionalNew LifeSpiritual Focus

LensLines™

Colossians 1 — Black Church (classic)

Colossians 1: From the struggle for freedom, it proclaims hope, dignity, and God’s liberating justice.

Colossians 1Black ChurchSupremacy of ChristReconciliation

LensLines™

Colossians 3 — Christocentric (classic)

Colossians 3: In the red thread, it leads us to Jesus—the center and fulfillment of Scripture.

Colossians 3ChristocentricNew SelfHoliness

LensLines™

Colossians 1 — Traditional (pastoral)

Colossians 1: In the Church’s witness, it meets us gently—calls us to repent, believe, and walk in holy obedience.

Colossians 1TraditionalSupremacy of ChristReconciliation

LensLines™

Colossians 3:1-4 — Reformed (classic)

Colossians 3:1-4 11:1-3, 8-16 magnifies sovereign grace—God saves, sustains, and secures His people for His glory.

Colossians 3:1-4ReformedHeavenly FocusNew Life

LensLines™

Colossians 1 — Christocentric (pastoral)

Colossians 1: In the red thread, it meets us gently—leads us to Jesus—the center and fulfillment of Scripture.

Colossians 1ChristocentricSupremacy of ChristReconciliation

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Application Points

(30)

📜Theological Quotes(21)

📝Commentary(20)

🏛️Historical Examples(17)

🧘Spiritual Disciplines(16)

💭Theological Reflections(9)

🕊️Prayers(6)

🌍Contemporary(4)

⛪Tradition Perspectives(3)