Historical Examples — Discipleship

658 illustrations

All (1,552)⛪ LensLines™ (810)🏛️ Historical Examples (658)⛪ Tradition Perspectives (56)📖 Stories & Illustrations (15)🙏 Devotionals (4)✨ show dont tell prompt (4)🎯 Application Points (3)💭 Theological Reflections (2)

Historical

Tasting and Declaring God's Word: From Private Sweetness to Public Testimony

yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103).

Psalms 119:103Universalintimacy with God

personal transformation

Charles H. Spurgeon

217 words

Historical

The Look and Tone That Words Cannot Capture

"We may believe," Maclaren writes, "more than anything He said, riveted these men to Him." Here lies the scandal of mere textual analysis—we read the confession "Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel" and wonder...

John 1:45-49Universalthe power of Christ's presencefriendship as spiritual bond

Alexander Maclaren

231 words

Historical

The Wise Shall Understand God's Righteous Ways

Before we can comprehend Divine truths, there must be prudence and wisdom illuminating the mind from within.

Ezekiel 14:9UniversalGod's righteous characterthe transformative power of Scripture

Joseph S. Exell

243 words

Historical

The Mischief-Makers Far from God's Law

Consider the varieties of mischief-making: some men deliberately pursue evil and delight in tempting others.

Psalms 119:150Universalthe danger of compromiseinfluence of personal example

Charles H. Spurgeon

209 words

Historical

Divine Severities: The Judgment of Spiritual Homelessness

and they shall be wanderers among the nations." This pronouncement from Ezekiel carries the weight of divine judgment in two dimensions.

Ezekiel 9:17Universaldivine judgmentspiritual homelessness

Joseph S. Exell

216 words

Historical

The Land's Rest: Spiritual Training Through Prolonged Conflict

Exell observes that God deliberately extended this campaign for Israel's spiritual formation.

Ruth 4:23Universalspiritual training through adversityGod's sovereignty in delaying victory

Joseph S. Exell

191 words

Historical

The Disciples as Witnesses to Heaven's Abundance

In one sense, they have already been there and returned.

Leviticus 12:27UniversalChristian witnessheavenly reality made visible

Joseph S. Exell

222 words

Historical

Pardoned Sin's Unceasing Harvest in the House

Absalom's rebellion springs directly from David's disgraceful crime with Bathsheba, as surely as a poisoned root bears bitter fruit.

2 Samuel 15:1-12Universalconsequences of sinparental weakness

Alexander Maclaren

230 words

Historical

We Will Go With You: The Resolution of Faith

This wise determination encompasses five essential dimensions of Christian commitment.

Ezekiel 5:23Universaltestimony and witnesstransformation through grace

Joseph S. Exell

213 words

Historical

The Preacher's Plea: Never Silence the Word of Truth

The psalmist cries, "Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth" (Psalm 119:43), and herein lies a pastor's deepest dread.

Psalms 119:43Universalfaithfulness under pressurethe power of testimony

Charles H. Spurgeon

227 words

Historical

Dying Prophets Cannot Stop God's Living Word

and the prophets, do they live for ever?' (Zechariah i.

Zechariah 1:5-6UniversalGod's Word endures beyond human mortalityThe permanence of divine utterance

Alexander Maclaren

254 words

Historical

God's Prolonged Warfare: Training Through Sustained Conflict

Jehovah could have crushed all Canaanites in one decisive blow, yet He withheld this miracle for spiritual pedagogy.

Judges 10:23Universalspiritual training through struggleGod's purposeful delays

Joseph S. Exell

195 words

Historical

The Student's Prayer and the Scholar's Testimony

First, he prays as a learner, confessing his need: "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts." He does not presume knowledge but applies to the Fountain of all wisdom—Elohim himself—requesting understanding of God's statutes.

Psalms 119:27Universalseeking understanding from Godtestimony through instruction

Charles H. Spurgeon

205 words

Historical

When Speech and Purpose Walk Together in Faith

Are speech and purpose truly allied, or do they drift apart like summer brooks in drought?

Joshua 1:10Universalintegrity of speech and heartpassion versus principle

Joseph S. Exell

205 words

Historical

The Golden Balance of God's Sanctuary in Self-Examination

But by what standard shall we measure ourselves?

Galatians 6:4Universaldivine justiceself-awareness

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

The Christian's Joy and Grief: Rejoicing with Others

He is a ruminating animal, forever chewing the cud of private joy or grief.

Romans 11:15Universalsympathy with othersChrist's sufferings

Joseph S. Exell

227 words

Historical

The Fear of the Lord as Wisdom's Instruction

Wisdom speaks as a person in Scripture, and the New Testament declares, "Christ Jesus is made of God unto us Wisdom." Thus Christ the Son of God Himself teaches the fear of Yahweh in this text.

Proverbs 13:33Universalreverent fear versus slavish dreadChrist as teacher of Wisdom

Joseph S. Exell

229 words

Historical

Knowledge Lost in Captivity: Israel's Failure to Internalize Truth

Israel possessed intellectual knowledge—their scribes could recite the Law—yet this knowledge never reached the heart.

Isaiah 5:13Universalthe cost of spiritual negligencehead knowledge versus heart knowledge

Joseph S. Exell

215 words

Historical

How the Earth Shelters God's Persecuted People

When Abram fled Ur of the Chaldees, renouncing idolatry in a pagan land, westward distance became his sanctuary.

Revelation 9:16Universaldivine protection in persecutionGod's use of creation

Joseph S. Exell

190 words

Historical

The Marks of Christ: Paul's Final Authority

Growing old, Paul refuses further interference in his calling, appealing to the Master whom he serves and by whom alone he shall be judged.

Galatians 6:17Universalconsecration to Christauthority through sacrifice

Joseph S. Exell

230 words

Historical

Grace Versus Gifts: The Hierarchy of Christian Virtue

Both originate from God, yet they operate differently.

1 Corinthians 14:1Universalcharacter versus abilityspiritual maturity

Joseph S. Exell

233 words

Historical

Mercy Preferred to Sacrifice: God's Heart Over Ritual

Christ quoted Hosea 6:6 to challenge the Pharisees' misaligned devotion.

Matthew 9:13UniversalGod's characterheart over ritual

Joseph S. Exell

208 words

Historical

Capernaum: Where Christ Taught Humility Among the Proud

Capernaum, meaning "field of repentance" or "city of comfort," sat on the western shore of the Galilean Lake, a prosperous junction where the Damascus-to-Accho highway brought commerce and wealth.

Mark 1:21UniversalChrist's incarnational ministryhumility amid prosperity

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

Led, Not Driven: The Disciple's Path Through Persecution

Mark 13:11 reveals three essential principles for disciples facing trial.

Mark 5:11Universalpersecution and faithsurrender and trust

Joseph S. Exell

194 words

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